> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.timelygrader.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.timelygrader.ai/canvas-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-canvas/try-as-student.md).

# Trying an oral activity as a student

Run the activity with its current settings before students do. Preview attempts aren’t saved, don’t count as student attempts, and send no grade.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F2fxvIUk6kO5NV6YbNqZ3%2Farticle-banner.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Try as Student** runs the activity with its current settings, exactly as a student meets it, with the same questions, modes, timing, retries and feedback. Preview attempts aren’t saved, don’t count as student attempts, and no grade is sent to your LMS.

## Before you start

* **Try as Student** is in the **Oral Grading & Feedback** panel on the activity page.
* For an Oral Defense, it appears once questions have been generated. See [Generating and releasing Oral Defense questions](/canvas-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-canvas/oral-defense-release.md).
* The preview uses the real timings, so allow time to sit through them.

## Running the preview

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Start the preview

Click **Try as Student**. A **Preview** banner stays at the top throughout. If something required is missing, the page says **The preview can’t run yet** and lists what to add, each linking to the right tab.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Pick a submission (Oral Defense)

Under **Choose a submission to preview with**, pick a student and click **Continue**. Their questions are based on their real submission. If the student hasn’t submitted, you see the message they would get, asking them to submit their work in your LMS first. Click **Choose another student** to pick someone else.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Read the intro

The intro shows how many questions there are, how you’ll answer, the time per question and the retries. For an Oral Defense it also lists the files the questions are based on.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose how to answer

If more than one mode is allowed, choose one under **How will you answer?**. For video or audio, **Check your devices** lets you pick and preview your camera. Click **Test Mic** to record three seconds and hear it played back, and **Test Speaker** to check your sound. Click **Begin**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Prepare and answer

Each question shows its number, which attempt you’re on, and any media. Preparation time counts down first, with a tip from Hugo. Click **Start answering now** to begin early. While answering, click **Submit Answer** when you’re done. If retries are allowed, **Retry** discards the current answer and starts the question again, which counts as an attempt.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review, retry or continue

After each answer you see your transcript and, if it’s on, the immediate feedback. **Retry this question** asks you to confirm and shows how many attempts are left. **Keep this answer and continue** keeps your latest attempt as the final answer. With **Per entire attempt** retries, you can retry the whole activity at the end.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Finish

The end screen lists each question with how many attempts were used and which was final. Click **Restart preview** to run it again with different choices, or **Back to the activity**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## FAQ

<details>

<summary>The preview won’t start.</summary>

Something required is missing, such as questions, a rubric, a Bloom’s level or a response mode. The message lists each item with a link to fix it.

</details>

<details>

<summary>There’s no Try as Student button on my Oral Defense.</summary>

Import the student work and let the questions generate first. The button appears once questions are ready.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Does the preview create an attempt?</summary>

No. Nothing is saved, it doesn’t count as a student attempt, and no grade is sent.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Is it the same as what students see?</summary>

Yes, apart from the **Preview** banner. Students also see a waiting message on an Oral Defense until you release questions.

</details>

## Related articles

* [Response settings: answer modes, timing and retries](/canvas-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-canvas/oral-response.md)
* [Generating and releasing Oral Defense questions](/canvas-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-canvas/oral-defense-release.md)
* [Grading an oral attempt](/canvas-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-canvas/oral-review.md)