Proctoring

Pros and Cons of Proctored Exams

Miss Ai
07 Jun, 2024

Pros and Cons of Proctored Exams

As the name suggests, online exams are those that are conducted via an online system. The exams are conducted and evaluated through an online system. Online proctored exams are no doubt the most convenient option for educators and employers to assess the knowledge, skills, and competencies of students or potential hires. Also, know about the Pros and cons of Online assessment test

Pros of Online Proctored Exams

1. Environmentally Friendly:

The impact that conventional examination methods have on the environment is well known. The paperwork and the infrastructure that offline exams involve leave a strong carbon footprint. Online exams do away with the paperwork and infrastructure requirements.

2. Time and cost saving:

There are several ways in which online exams save money. Printing costs, logistics, and transport costs, invigilation costs, and administrative costs can be avoided via online exams. With advanced proctoring technology, the invigilation time is also eliminated. The online assessment creator also provides reports and analytics on performance, which eliminates the time for paper evaluation.

3. Improves candidate experience:

Online assessments are powered by technology, which enables a superior user experience. Tech-centric online exams are super easy to scale, easy to set up, and convenient for candidates to appear for the exam. Online exam platforms use advanced technology to create a secure browser environment that prevents fraud and cheating.

4. Convenient:

Conducting online exams is convenient for the employer or the educational institute. They simply have to share the exam link via email with the candidates. The students or candidates can appear for the test from any convenient place, at a time convenient to them.

Cons of Online Proctored Exams

1. Technological challenges:

Although technology enables convenient and efficient remote assessment, it also poses certain challenges. The transition from paper-based exams to online mode might be challenging for students and educators. Examiners might require training to get used to the system. Failure of the Internet, when the test is ongoing, disrupts the flow of the exam and sometimes resets the entire exam for the student.

2. Infrastructural impediments:

One of the main challenges of online proctoring exams is that in some remote locations access to a stable internet connection, electricity, and other basic system requirements is difficult to provide. Such infrastructure barriers affect the candidate’s experience while taking the exam. Institutes must consider such infrastructure challenges while making a decision to shift to online assessments.

3. Grading challenges:

Grading in assessments that require long answer questions is a challenge in online exams. Evaluating objective types of questions is relatively easy in the online format, but grading long answer types requires manual grading.

4. Susceptible to cheating and fraud:

The scope for cheating and fraud is greater in online exams. Especially in high-stakes examinations, students resort to fraudulent practices like impersonation, referring to answers online, using external storage devices containing solutions, and other means. Online proctored exams need to have fool-proof fraud prevention measures in place to ensure that students take the test in a fair manner.