Proctored Exams

The Six Most Typical Techniques Used by Students to Cheat on Online Proctored Exams

DISPLAYED ON JUNE 20, 2023 IN: DIGITAL PROCTORING & EXAMS
With the advancement of technology and the rise in popularity of remote learning, online proctored tests have grown increasingly common in recent years. Online proctoring solutions are becoming more and more popular among educational institutions and organisations as a simple and effective way to administer exams. Exams can be taken from the comfort of home with this option, which does away with the necessity for testing facilities and gives scheduling flexibility.

In order to preserve academic integrity and minimise cheating, online proctored tests use specialised software and technology to remotely monitor and invigilate students. The goal is to imitate the monitoring and supervision of traditional in-person exams. Using webcams, microphones, screen-sharing features, and AI-driven algorithms, this system keeps an eye on students’ behaviour and flags any questionable activity. The software analyses trends to spot any cheating behaviours through screen monitoring, audio and video recordings, and sophisticated algorithms, guaranteeing a safe and equitable exam setting.

The Value of Upholding Integrity in Online Proctored Examinations
Since it directly affects the fairness and legitimacy of the assessment process, educational institutions and exam administrators must take serious measures to ensure the integrity of online proctored exams. In this piece, we discuss the regrettable truth of exam cheating by students, a problem that exacerbates as more and more education is offered online. By investigating the most popular techniques used by students to cheat, we hope to give teachers, administrators, and educational institutions useful information to address this problem. By being aware of the strategies that students employ, we may take proactive steps to improve the security and impartiality of online proctored tests and guarantee that students are assessed according to their true competencies.

Advantages of Proctored Exams Online
Easy Access and Adaptability
Students can take examinations remotely with online proctored exams, which removes the requirement for in-person attendance and allows for flexible scheduling. This is especially useful for students who have hectic schedules or who live in different time zones.

Time and Cost Effectiveness
There is no need for invigilators, actual exam centres, or extra logistical planning when using online proctoring. By doing this, administrative overhead is decreased, saving educational institutions and students time and money.

Improved Availability
With the flexibility to take exams from their preferred places, online proctored exams provide educational accessibility for students with disabilities or those experiencing physical or geographic limitations.

Quick Outcomes and Input
Students can get their results instantly using automated grading capabilities found in many online proctoring systems. To further improve the learning process, teachers can use the recorded exam sessions to give students individualised feedback.

Effects of Examinee Cheating Online
In addition to having a negative effect on the individual student, cheating on online proctored tests can have serious repercussions for the educational institution. It erodes trust and fairness in the assessment process by undermining the core values of academic honesty. It impedes students’ academic and personal development by denying them the chance to authentically exhibit their knowledge and abilities. Moreover, it undermines the legitimacy of educational establishments that provide online tests, damaging their brand and diminishing the worth of the degrees or certificates that graduates obtain. Additionally, cheating keeps students from learning vital skills that are necessary for their future academic and professional endeavours, like critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective time management.

Taking Care of Common Issues
One of the most prevalent worries in the realm of online learning is the potential for proctored exam cheating. “Can you cheat on proctored exams?” is a question that is frequently asked. The significance of upholding academic integrity in online examinations is emphasised by this question. Even with the introduction of advanced proctoring solutions by technological improvements to prevent cheating, cheating is still a persistent problem in digital learning. In order to effectively detect and deter cheating, educational institutions and exam administrators must constantly alter their techniques. Nonetheless, the dynamic terrain of technology and human resourcefulness necessitates constant attention to detail and inventiveness in the fight against academic fraud.

Examining pupils in the classroom
The 6 Most Common Ways Students Cheat: 1) Unauthorised Collaboration: During online proctored tests, some students use social media or external communication tools to collaborate without authorization. They use instant messaging apps, video conferencing, or online chat rooms to communicate with their peers in real time about exam-related material and to exchange answers and help. They can work together as a result, giving them a distinct advantage over other test-takers.

2) Impersonation: During online proctored tests, students use impersonation techniques, such as creating false identities or even employing impostors. To trick the proctoring system or get around identity verification procedures, they might fabricate profiles or share login information with third parties. In more severe situations, students attempt to rig the exam results by hiring someone else to take the test on their behalf.

  1. Plagiarism – Using online resources to copy and paste answers is a prevalent strategy used by students in online proctored tests. They don’t fully understand or synthesise the topic; instead, they rely on easily accessible material. By highlighting the need of accurate citation and originality, educators may significantly contribute to the fight against plagiarism. Promoting critical thinking, analysis, and pupils’ own word-of-mouth expression of ideas cultivates genuine comprehension and deters plagiarism.

4) Unapproved Sources
During tests, students try to obtain an unfair advantage by using unapproved resources like cellphones, textbooks, or notes. They conceal these materials within easy reach or use covert techniques to access them while taking the test. Due to the ease with which students can look up answers online, consult electronic textbooks, or rely on private notes scribbled on covert paper, smartphones and the internet present an especially alluring option for cheating.

5) Exam Malpractice: Students who manipulate the exam setting to get unfair benefits turn to exam malpractice. They try to divert the proctor’s attention, use gadgets or equipment as help, or conceal cheat sheets or notes in plain sight. This involves writing important information or responses on little pieces of paper and hiding them under desks, under garments, or in other discrete items. The integrity of the exam process may also be compromised by students using devices like smartwatches, calculators, or wireless earbuds to obtain information or get help from outside sources.

6) Gadgets & Advanced Methods: Students that are tech-savvy use sophisticated methods to cheat on online examinations that are proctored. These include sharing exam questions with others via screen-sharing apps, hiding cheating activities via virtual machines, or even trying to get into the proctoring system to gain unauthorised access or change exam settings. Proctoring solutions encounter difficulties in identifying these sophisticated techniques since students are always coming up with new ways to get around the systems. Because of students’ creative thinking and the always evolving state of technology, it might be particularly challenging to identify strategies such as screen sharing or virtual machines.

Techniques & Tools for Stopping Cheating
Proactive methods that detect and discourage cheating are essential for preserving the integrity of online proctored exams. Through the application of sophisticated technology and the implementation of strong tactics, educational institutions may establish a safe and equitable evaluation environment that supports academic integrity and guarantees the validity of online tests.

An important deterrent against online exam cheating is remote proctoring, as evidenced by numerous research papers. Many techniques and tools are available to stop and identify cheating on online proctored exams. Among these are artificial intelligence (AI) proctoring algorithms that keep an eye on students’ activity and identify questionable behaviours like irregular eye movements or frequent screen swapping. Trained proctors actively monitor students in real time through remote live proctoring, stepping in when they see questionable activity. An extra degree of supervision is provided by human invigilation, which guarantees the validity of the examination procedure. By limiting access to external websites or programmes, lockdown features and secure browser applications establish regulated settings that deter students from utilising unauthorised resources or multitasking in ways that facilitate cheating. The integrity of online proctored examinations is preserved by the combination of these tactics and technologies.

How Talview May Help Cut Down on Exam Cheating in Online Proctored Courses
Exams with proctors

A comprehensive platform called Talview Proctoring Solution was created to improve the security and integrity of online proctored tests. Using artificial intelligence, Power with Dual Camera offers a dependable and effective proctoring experience. Talview aims to provide practical solutions that reduce these dangers since it recognises the difficulties that educational institutions and educators encounter in the fight against cheating. Talview has the following capabilities to combat several forms of cheating:

Comprehensive Integrity Score: An integrity score, which indicates the degree of possible malpractice, is calculated for each test taker and is made available 24 hours after the exam ends. This consists of a complete recording complete with proctor comments, timestamps, and low, mid, and high “risk” event records.

Live Proctoring: Talview provides a remote live proctoring system that guarantees students will be observed by a qualified proctor during their tests. In order to protect the integrity of the exam and respond quickly to any infractions, proctors step in in real time if they see any indication of cheating.

Secure Browser: During the exam, students cannot access unauthorised websites, programmes, or other resources thanks to Talview’s secure browser function. By locking down and safeguarding the exam environment, it lowers the possibility of plagiarism and improper use of resources.

Candidate Authentication: Talview uses sophisticated speech recognition and face-to-photo ID technology to verify the test-taker’s identity. This keeps imitation at bay and confirms that the student taking the test is, in fact, the authorised person.

Record and Review: Talview’s AI proctoring feature records the whole exam session in both audio and video formats. When the exam is over, their highly skilled proctors—or those assigned by the exam administrators—can promptly analyse and validate any red flags before attesting to the exam’s legitimacy and the test takers’ veracity.
Secondary Camera: Talview provides an additional degree of protection with secondary camera proctoring, which covers a larger area around the test-takers and improves visibility of any malpractice. This is in addition to the primary laptop/desktop camera.
The security and integrity of online exams can be greatly improved by making an investment in a dependable online proctoring service like Talview. Comprehensive anti-cheating protections are provided via Talview’s AI-powered proctoring algorithms, secure browser, two-factor candidate authentication procedure, and recording capabilities. Institutions can maintain fair assessments, protect their reputation, and maintain academic integrity by working with a reputable proctoring provider.

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