11 Techniques Students Use to Cheat on Online Exams and How to Stop Them?

11 Examinee cheating online
Because they are convenient and simple to administer, online tests have gained popularity as a result of the quick evolution of technology. But while taking examinations online is convenient, there is a chance that you will cheat. It can be difficult for instructors and organizations to identify and stop candidates who cheat because they can use a variety of techniques and resources. People find ways to get around obstacles and get better results faster by taking advantage of their uncertainties and lack of experience. Additionally, every area has introduced a variety of remote proctoring choices in an effort to adjust to the new learning environment. This post will go over eleven inventive ways to cheat on online tests and how to stop yourself from doing so.

Why is hiring practices so sensitive to cheating?
Because recruiting fraud can have major repercussions for the company as well as the individual, it is a serious concern. Any corporation must carefully consider candidates before hiring them because this process entails choosing people who will be given significant responsibility and who will embody the culture and values of the organization.

An unfair advantage over other candidates who have followed the rules and may be better qualified for the post can result from someone cheating on online exams during the recruiting process. This may occur in an instance where the company selects a candidate who is not the most suitable for the position, which could lead to subpar work output and detrimental effects on the group or company.

Additionally, lying can harm the organization’s reputation and the fairness of the recruiting process, particularly if the lies are made public. Inaccurate information about one’s qualifications or the falsification of credentials are examples of cheating, which can put an organization in legal hot water and raise ethical and legal concerns.

How do proctored tests work in the hiring process, and what are they?
An exam that is proctored is one that is overseen by an official, sometimes known as an invigilator, who makes sure that the questions are answered truthfully and in compliance with the regulations. In order to guard against cheating and guarantee that a candidate’s abilities and knowledge are fairly evaluated, proctored tests are frequently utilized in the employment process.

Using video conferencing or specialized software, the proctor can oversee the exam in person or remotely during a proctored exam. In addition to confirming the candidate’s identity and outlining the exam guidelines, the proctor will keep an eye on the candidate’s behavior to make sure they are not cheating.

Exams proctored online use a similar process to regular exams administered in person. Before beginning the evaluation, students must successfully complete the identification process and provide proof of identity. As a result, after customers activate their webcams and upload a picture or scan of their ID, the system will compare information from two different sources. Once their identity has been adequately verified and their required equipment has been examined, a student can begin the test.

When test takers exhibit any suspect behavior, the proctoring software will identify it and, depending on the program, will either alert the human proctor or produce a report that needs to be looked into further. Additionally, online proctoring includes both data collection and real-time detection of dishonesty, allowing test results to be reviewed in the case that any questionable situations emerge.

Candidates can cheat on online proctored exams in 11 clever ways, and here’s how to stop them.
In recent years, online tests have gained popularity as a means of evaluation, particularly with the advent of remote learning. Although taking tests online has numerous advantages, there is a chance that students will cheat. During online exams, students might employ a variety of inventive methods to cheat with the aid of technology and the internet. These are eleven such instances along with prevention methods.

1. Making Use of External Devices
   Most people know that remote proctoring software frequently blocks the majority of on-screen activities. They mirror their desktop screen to an external display or projector so that an assistant may view the exam content and indicate the right answers. During online exams, candidates may try to cheat by using external devices like tablets, cellphones, or smartwatches. These gadgets allow them to interact with others, access notes, and look up information.

Prevention: Make it illegal to utilize outside electronics while taking the test. Make use of online proctoring software that is capable of identifying any gadget that is linked to the candidate’s PC.

2. Displaying Screens
   Applicants can show their exam screen to someone who can assist them with the answers by using screen-sharing software.

Proctoring software that recognizes screen sharing and notifies the exam supervisor is a preventive measure.

3. Pasting a copy
   Applicants may paste their notes or answers from internet sources.

Prevention: Make use of plagiarism detection software and answer duplication checkers.

4. Computer programs
   A configuration that mimics a computer is called a virtual machine. While proctoring software monitors the device’s principal operating system (OS), some applicants turn on a virtual machine as an extra operating system to search up the answers to the test questions. Exam candidates can run multiple instances of the test on virtual PCs, which enables them to look up answers without ever leaving the exam interface.

Use software that can identify virtual machines and forbid their use as a preventive measure.

5. Posing as someone else
   This is one of the most prevalent types of misconduct. It proposes that applicants ask someone else to take a test in their place. Pre- or during an online assessment session is when impersonation happens most frequently. In the first scenario, students attempt to find a way to trade places with someone else prior to the verification. For example, they could change their identity documents or exchange exam login credentials. Before handing over their identity to a forger, some students choose to verify it themselves. It is very typical for this kind of dishonesty to occur because most online proctoring systems only perform identification and verification before to the test, which makes it impossible to stop.

Prevention: Make sure the person taking the test is a registered candidate by using identity verification techniques like face recognition or biometric identification. It’s also advised to use AI-based proctoring software, which can recognize odd body language, other devices, and suspicious noises.

6. Cooperation
   During the exam, candidates can work together via video conference or interact with other candidates or individuals.

Preventive measures include using software that can identify numerous IP address logins and block communication while the test is being administered.

7. Counterfeit Identification
   A proctor or facilitator can confirm a candidate’s identification during an in-person exam. But it is more harder to ensure that only the right people can take examinations when they are administered online, particularly if they are not proctored or monitored. Even when a proctor is observing via webcam, candidates can have others mimic them by exhibiting forged identification, such as a phony driver’s license or school identity card, which may be challenging to verify digitally.

Preventive methods include using biometric authentication or government-issued identification as means of identity verification.

8. Key Recorders
   Candidates can learn the answers typed by the previous candidate by using keyloggers to record keystrokes.

Prevention: Make use of programs designed to identify keyloggers and stop their installation.

9. Deceptive Websites
   Websites that offer exam questions and answers are available to candidates.

Preventive measures include using software that can identify and block access to websites that are known to be fraudulent.

10. Using a Blade
    To get into the exam, candidates can employ brute force to crack encryption or guess passwords.

Prevention: Make use of strong passwords and hard-to-guess or hard-to-break encryption techniques.

11. Malicious software
    Candidates may utilize malware to access the supervisor’s computer or the exam.

Prevention: To identify and stop malware infections, use firewalls and antivirus software.

Candidates may employ inventive methods to cheat on online tests, which are vulnerable to cheating. Nonetheless, the integrity of online exams can be preserved by utilizing technologies that can identify cheating strategies and putting preventative measures in place.

How Can the Cheating on Online Exams Be Reduced?
It is possible to lessen online exam cheating during the hiring process in a number of ways. The following are some useful tactics to think about:

Employ proctoring software: Using proctoring software is one of the best strategies to lessen cheating on online exams. During the exam, this program may keep an eye on a candidate’s computer usage, webcam, and microphone to make sure they aren’t accessing any unlawful materials or asking for help from others.
Exam question randomization is a further measure to prevent cheating by ensuring that no two applicants receive the same set of questions. Candidates will find it more challenging to share answers with one another as a result.
Employ anti-cheating AI tools: Artificial intelligence-driven anti-cheating technologies are able to examine a test taker’s behavior and identify any questionable behavior. These techniques can assist in identifying patterns of cheating, such as accessing internet resources or copying and pasting answers.
Employ plagiarism detection software: This tool can be used to determine whether an applicant has submitted someone else’s work or copied responses from the internet.
Confirm the identification of the candidate: Requesting identifying documents, such as a passport or driver’s license, and comparing them to the candidate’s picture or webcam stream will help you confirm their identity.
Make a code of conduct: Draft a code of conduct outlining the guidelines and penalties for exam cheating. Make sure that every candidate is aware of this code in advance. By putting these procedures in place, it will be possible to drastically lower exam cheating online and make the hiring process more equitable and transparent for all applicants.
In summary
Many technical advances have allowed us to deploy strict and secure testing solutions. Its integration into the examination system at all levels is assisting teachers in resolving significant issues. Technologies that use online proctoring are the underdogs.

To update tests and assessments, a state-of-the-art online monitoring system known as proctoring was developed using artificial intelligence. Teachers can pursue new career paths by enabling the safe hosting of online tests (with anti-cheating designs) and automatically detecting cheating in online assessments.

Furthermore, as long as proctoring technologies are used to stop test-takers from cheating on online tests, AI’s integrity will continue to advance. Therefore, organizations or institutions that administer examinations online need to make use of the newest AI-driven proctoring technologies. The pre-employment testing tool SkillRobo offers a comprehensive proctoring system for exams and tests. This will assist the company in separating the ideal applicant from dishonest applicants during the online hiring process. It will also help eliminate any potential means of exam cheating used by candidates. Sign up for the free trial of SkillRobo right away to learn more about it.