The education landscape has significantly changed over the past years from traditional classroom settings to online learning becoming more prevalent than ever. And with this change comes the need to ensure that assessments are delivered to be safe and reputable. This is where proctored exams come in.
What are proctored exams, and how do they work? We will discuss that in this article, about online learning, by considering the concept of proctored exams, its benefits, and how you can also take the assistance of the “take my online class for me” service for better results.
What Is a Proctored Exam?
A proctored examination is a controlled assessment administered by the proctor or invigilator to ensure security and fairness in the whole process of assessment. Among the roles of a proctor is the supervision of students during an examination to ensure there is no cheating or any act of dishonesty in academic matters. The proctored exams may be taken in person at a venue or online using specialized software.
Types of Proctored Exams
There are two basic kinds of proctored exams:
In-Person Proctored Exams
These are traditional exams that are conducted in a regularly assigned location, which may be a classroom or an exam center where students attend the exam under the invigilator’s monitoring. The proctor ensures that the students comply with the rules of the exam, for example, no talking or using unauthorized material.
Online Proctored Exams
This type of exam is conducted online, and technology is used to monitor the students. Some specific software can track the activity of a student on his computer, take records of the screens, and even use webcams to monitor the environment of the student.
How Do Proctored Exams Work?
It could be dependent on whether it would be an in-person or online proctored test. Let’s break this down of how they each work:
In-Person Proctored Exams
Check-in: The students enter the test center and check in with their photo identification. The proctor verifies the identity of every student to confirm that each present in the examination room is who they are supposed to be.
Seating and Instructions: Students are seated in an examination room, generally with chairs separated just enough to prevent any form of communication between students. The proctor explains the instructions, detailing clearly what happens during the conduct of the exam.
Monitoring During the Exam: Throughout the exam, the proctor keeps watch over students. No one cheats or hinders during that time. The proctors might roam around the room, searching for suspected students.
Collection and Submission: At the end of the test, the students submit their test materials to the proctor, who checks everything to ensure all materials are brought into the room and appropriate security procedures have been taken to secure completed tests.
Online Proctored Exams:
Identity Verification: Student identifications are verified during the registration process, during which photo ID checks are included often with facial recognition technology. This will ensure that the student who registered to take the test is the one who is taking the test.
System Requirements Check: The proctoring software will also check the computer system used by a student to ensure it will meet system requirements. These may include checking internet speed, webcam functionality, and whether permission is granted to share the screen.
Environment Scan: A student is supposed to present the environment through his webcam. This scan is helpful to confirm that no unauthorized thing or person is involved in the examination space.
Continuous Monitoring: Computer software keeps monitoring continuously a student’s live screen and webcam feed while being examined. It observes any suspicious behavior like looking away from the screen or more than two attempts to utilize another device.
Review after Exam: Footage recorded and screen activity by a human proctor or automated software reviews screens for any cheating attempts.
Common Concerns about Proctored Exams
Although proctored exams have many advantages, some concerns and issues arise notably in privacy and accessibility.
Privacy Issues
One of the biggest concerns with online proctored exams is issues of privacy. While students must use a webcam and share their screen, this very often creates an invasion of privacy feeling. Most institutions have secure encrypted software that comes with clear guidelines regarding data use and storage.
Accessibility Challenges
Not all students have easy access to a quiet, private space or can provide themselves with the requisite technology to access an online proctored exam. Therefore, the institutions must come up with alternatives for those students as well to ensure a fair distribution of assessments.
Tips for Taking Proctored Exams
In both scenarios, if you are attending a proctored, physical examination or an online test, here’s how to ensure you come out on top:
Prepare Your Environment: Ensure that your space is quiet, comfortable, and distraction-free. If you are taking an online test, ensure that your computer and internet meet the minimum set requirements.
Know the Ground Rules: Read about what is allowed and prohibited by reading the rules of the examination. This way, you will not commit unintentional disobedience.
Software Practice: If there are specific software usage requirements for an online exam, try to practice them beforehand. This will help you get accustomed to them, and you won’t have that technical issue during the exam time.
Stay Calm and Concentrate: Just calm down and keep your focus during the time of examination. If some issue continues, then reach the proctor or refer to your institution’s procedure.
If you have a set of responsibilities to juggle or simply feel unprepared, options like “take my online exam” prove attractive. Although these options are helpful temporarily, you need to consider what long-term decisions these selections will reap on your academic and professional integrity.
Lastly, honesty in the academic effort will always pay off for the best possible outcomes.
