An online proctored exam is a timed evaluation administered using an online platform that monitors the candidates’ desktop activities, webcam video, and audio. Online proctoring is classified into two types.
Proctoring software will initially record this data and then send it to an external proctoring service for review. In the second, a human proctor monitors the exam through a webcam.
Employers, academic institutions, and credentialing organisations interested in administering online proctored tests will find this material useful. We’ll go through how these exams work, the many sorts, the benefits, and how to set one up.
Online Proctoring: Meaning
Proctored testing, often known as online proctoring or remote proctoring, is the use of software and services to overseas students taking online tests.
- Maintain academic honesty.
- Cheating should be avoided and discouraged.
- Assist and encourage pupils to complete their online tests.
What is the procedure for online proctored testing?
Online proctored testing software often enables teachers to design online exams in the Learning Management System (LMS), select the necessary proctoring features, and configure the test regulations.
It is simple to check candidates’ identification and avoid impersonation.
- Online proctoring reduces all sorts of cheating because all applicants are closely monitored.
- Exams administered using online platforms are very customizable, with a variety of evaluation options accessible.
- Online proctored exams are less difficult to administer than in-person evaluations.
- Candidates can be tested online in huge numbers at the same time, and you can even add new candidates after the first booking without necessitating a larger test facility.
The steps below illustrate how teachers can use a blended online proctoring system to offer proctored online testing services, which combines the benefits of AI proctoring with live online test proctors.
Online Proctored Exam DOs and DON’Ts
This section is equally beneficial to you and your candidates. If you are administering an exam to your students, you must instruct them to use personal computers or laptops with specified specs. You could also request that they choose a location with adequate internet connectivity.
Here are some dos and don’ts for your pupils that you should go through with them before the exam:
- An applicant must have a camera and microphone when taking an exam.
- It is also suggested that pupils sit with a plain background.
- Make sure the room has adequate illumination.
- The room should be as silent as possible.
- Ensure that you are alone in the room during the exam.
Setting up an online proctored exam
There are plenty of use cases for online proctored exams, whether you’re wanting to assess potential candidates for a job post, measure the efficiency of your staff training programme, or examine students – and they’re simple to set up:
The first step is to locate an appropriate online testing platform and proctoring service. Many companies, such as Mercer Mettl, may give you both.
You only need to generate your assessment questions and organise the exam from here.
Your supplier will provide you the results as soon as they are available following the exam, as well as ensure that no test fraud occurs during the exam.
What kinds of online proctoring are there?
There are two major types of online proctoring services and software, each with its own set of features for monitoring student behaviour, preventing cheating, verifying student identity, and providing extensive reporting:
Browser lockdown software:
Prohibits students from accessing websites, programmes, or keyboard operations while taking a proctored exam. Browser locks are an excellent starting point for online exam proctoring, but they lack critical characteristics that properly address academic dishonesty.
AI proctoring (automated proctoring):
Employs AI technology to supervise students during online exams. This form of proctoring is advantageous because no proctors are required and students can take examinations at any time; nevertheless, AI may miss academic misbehaviour and has a lengthy review process.
Benefits of Online Proctoring
Online proctoring is a continuous benefit for your institution and a critical component of student success. With apparently limitless technology available to students today, it is more crucial than ever to ensure the academic integrity of your online tests with proctored online testing services.
What is remote proctoring?
The sophisticated software that assists instructors in creating proctored tests in their Learning Management System is at the heart of remote proctoring (LMS). It typically includes three major steps: authentication, real-time monitoring, and data storage and analysis. Let’s take a look at each of them individually.
Features of Remote Monitoring
Authentication
Every exam begins with the candidates’ authentication. When taking remotely proctored tests, students must normally enable their webcam and supply a photocopy of their ID. The software matches the ID content to the student image from the video feed. The exam begins as soon as the identity is validated.
Monitoring in real time
As soon as the test begins, a live human proctor or AI-powered software monitors student conduct and flags any questionable activity. Aside from simple video and audio proctoring, online exams can contain a plethora of different invigilating capabilities such as mobile phone detection, browser lockdown, voice or eye movement recognition, and much more.
Can a proctor see what’s on your screen?
Online proctoring service companies understand how stressful initial online proctored exams may be for test takers. That is why we go above and above to ensure student data privacy. A proctor can only observe a test-browser taker’s screen and never access their files when using ProctorEdu. Furthermore, your proctors are people from your university or group, so there is no third-party human surveillance.
Online Proctoring on Mercer Mettl
Mercer Mettl helps you to Conduct remote proctored tests that are scalable, cost-effective, and cloud-based. Also it has live, automatic, and remote proctoring features that prohibit cheating completely.
Auto proctoring is an AI-based automated proctoring solution that uses camera and microphone feeds from students to automatically invigilate exams.
Advantages of Remote Proctoring with Mercer Mettl
Proctoring through video
It examines pupils’ camera feeds and raises flags if any questionable conduct is seen in the footage
Audio Examining
It monitors pupils’ audio feeds and raises alerts if there are any more human voices in the area.
Proctoring of Images
It evaluates and checks students’ photographs collected at regular intervals.
