With athabasca university i know exams are done once your done the course and your exam gets mailed to the test centre and an invigilator is with you while you write the exam.
However, what about general tests and assignments?
Are tests also written in this format?

I am taking Econ 248, and my quizzes are all done online whenever I get around to covering the content.

For my assignments, I answer everything (including calculations) into a word doc and then there is a place on the course homepage to submit assignments. I submitted, and got mine back with comments the next day.

Mine did not have any tests, but I believe you book those the same as the exam.

Edit: Hooray this is my 500th post!