The University’s exam paper archive is moving from the current OXAM service (on WebLearn) to SOLO, the online catalogue platform provided by the Bodleian Libraries. WebLearn is due to be retired by the end of 2024.
From Michaelmas term 2024, the existing exam paper archive, plus any papers sat during this Trinity term, will be available in SOLO. The existing OXAM archive will remain available until after the new service comes online, to ensure no break in service. Communications on how this will happen, will be provided as the activation of the new service approaches. With SOLO already familiar to those involved with teaching and learning at Oxford, the new archive will provide enhanced search functionality and while protected by SSO, will not require a University network or VPN connection.
Do you use direct links to exam papers in OXAM?
After transfer to the new service, any hyperlinks you use to papers in OXAM referenced in Canvas will need to be updated from OXAM/WebLearn URLs to the new SOLO equivalents. The old OXAM links will not work once OXAM/WebLearn is switched off. The timing of this will not precede the availability of the new service.
With no option to automate this process, your help is required with reviewing your own course pages and creating an inventory of existing links in use, details of the specific papers they link to and the location of these in your teaching materials.
The existing OXAM archive will remain available until the introduction of the new SOLO service, at which point it will be switched off. You will be informed of the date from which the new SOLO platform for exam papers will be available as soon as possible, but in the meantime, you have a couple of ways to be prepared:
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Please review your course pages and create an inventory of existing links. You will be able to replace old links with new ones, when the new service comes online.
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If you prefer to replace OXAM links with uploaded PDF copies of exam papers, then this can be carried out at any time, and no further action will be required.
Note: If you currently only use PDF versions of exam papers and upload those to Canvas, then you need take no further action regarding this communication.
If you have questions, please email the Exam Paper Archive Project team.
