Proctored Exams

How Do Proctored Exams Operate and What Is Their Meaning?

What Is And How Does A Proctored Exam Operate?

What exactly is a proctored exam, and how does it differ from non-proctored, online, and proctored exams?

This post will explain the fundamentals of proctored tests and go over the ramifications of using digital proctoring services to move exams online. We will also address students’ worries regarding this new technology and walk through the standard, sequential procedure of online proctoring.

A proctored exam: what is it?

An exam that has a proctor present to watch over and manage the pupils is known as a proctored exam.

In order to ensure that students are adhering to exam requirements and instructions, these proctors often authenticate students’ IDs, monitor time, and keep an eye on the class.

Proctors keep an eye on pupils as participants complete tests. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com: Z-fq3wBVfMU

Proctored versus Unproctored Examinations

An test that is administered without proctors or supervisors present is known as a non-proctored exam. This is especially applicable to exams that assess problem-solving abilities rather than memorization of facts, and it is typically the case in scenarios where textbooks are permitted for reference throughout the test.

Since most examinations have been administered on paper in traditional classroom settings until recently, proctored exams have become the most popular. Proctors are typically present in these situations to distribute test papers, keep track of exam duration, and keep an eye out for instances of cheating among the pupils.

However, proctoring has shifted from supervisors to online proctoring as more students study and take examinations online. There are two types of online exams: proctored (live or recorded monitoring) and non-proctored.

Reasons For Using Online Proctoring in Schools

For a variety of reasons, colleges and universities are moving to online proctoring. The most prevalent explanation might be the rise in online learning among pupils. This indicates that traditional exam formats are being replaced with digital ones.

Online tests are generally less expensive for educational institutions and more convenient for instructors and students in terms of setting up test dates and times. Students from all around the world can take exams online rather than congregating in one location. This is crucial since it enables students to take tests at convenient times, especially those who are employed or have children.

Online proctoring is now required due to the increase in the number of tests taken online in order to prevent cheating and keep an eye on students taking exams at home.

This image shows a student taking an exam at home: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sitting-on-bed-3954635/

The Operation of Online Proctoring

Online proctoring keeps an eye on students while they take exams by either recording test takers to discourage cheating or overseeing over live video. An example of a normal test with online proctoring is provided below.

Prior to the test

Online proctoring programs will verify that the right student is taking the test by comparing student IDs before the exam. Either live authentication or auto authentication is used for this operation.

Auto authentication: Typically, students start by confirming their identification by a biometric signature, a challenge question, or a photo of their ID and face.

Live authentication is an additional choice where a live proctor compares the student’s ID to their face.

In the exam

Online proctoring platforms keep an eye on the students in a few different ways throughout the exam. Live proctoring, record-and-review proctoring, and automated proctoring are possible options.

Proctoring that is done automatically involves keeping an eye out for movement and sound in the surroundings of the students.

Record-and-review proctoring: This type of proctoring involves recording the exam so that it can be reviewed once it is over. This indicates that the student is not being observed while taking the test, but the fact that it may be reviewed will discourage cheating.

Live proctoring: Probably the simplest approach, live proctoring is using a computer to simulate a live proctor in a classroom setting so that students can complete their exams at home.

The Cheating Issue

The problem of cheating is more visible when exams are taken online. Since it is easier to cheat on non-proctored online exams, online proctoring aims to stop cheating by keeping an eye on the surroundings of the students.

This is accomplished by keeping an eye on students’ computer screens, filming them, or asking for a video sweep of the students’ rooms to make sure no textbooks or other information is lying around.

An entirely new set of obstacles arises with online tests. A person writing in a notebook (photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo-4145190)

Students’ Responses to Proctored Online Exams

In situations when their screens or rooms are being watched, many students have responded to online proctoring with concerns about their privacy.

While some students may find online tests more convenient, others may find the required online proctoring to be bothersome or intrusive.

Students have reported feeling uncomfortable with proctors watching them in their dorm rooms and have been asked to clear the area of any furniture or decorations, turn on additional lights to make themselves more noticeable, among other things.

Ways to Stop Cheating

Exams that don’t need to be monitored can be developed as an alternative to online proctoring. Students can still take tests at home without intrusive proctoring by modifying them to meet the standards of the online format.

Here are some pointers for avoiding exam cheating at home.

Ask questions at random.

You can make a question bank if students are sharing information and taking the exam at different times, which makes the exam challenging. This enables the platform to present each learner with a unique, randomly selected set of questions.

Establish a timer.

It takes time to cheat. Students find it more difficult to cheat when they are given a time limit on their answers.

Pose inquiries aimed toward resolving issues.

Since material can be verified using online resources like textbooks and the internet, information-based tests are typically simpler to cheat on. Problem-solving questions, on the other hand, require students to apply critical thinking skills and their own minds to solve difficulties; these are skills that cannot be obtained or duplicated via the internet.

In summary

We’ve explained and addressed the query, “What is a proctored exam?” in this post. An online proctoring system is used to keep an eye on people taking tests online. Students from all around the world and with different schedules can complete their degree online by offering online tests.

Despite the benefits of online proctoring, which let students take examinations remotely, many students are worried about privacy concerns and the intrusive aspect of online proctoring.

Exams that are designed with online test takers in mind can both assure that online exams are used going forward and discourage cheating.

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