Online learning and examinations have become a growing trend among different institutions, especially when distancing has become the new norm. Online exams do not need an extra setup like pen-and-paper-based exams and can be conducted easily with just a system and internet connection. The only issue is maintaining the credibility and integrity of online exams. Since test takers are located remotely, there are no physical supervisors or invigilators required. Several market players have developed remote proctoring solutions to ensure tighter invigilation due to the growing need for remote online exams. With artificial intelligence and machine learning, many of the proctored exam solutions give accurate and bias-free results. This article discusses some of the best online test proctoring software options to make your online exams cheat-proof.

Proctoring software is an online surveillance program that acts as a virtual invigilator during remote online exams to monitor test candidates. It helps prevent malpractice and ensure that test conducting agencies and institutions can fairly track test-taker’s performance.

Remote proctoring can work in different ways depending on the type of solution and online exam requirements. For live online proctoring, dedicated proctors monitor the students and their surroundings remotely through a live feed. Based on their discretion, they can pause or terminate the test for a student(s) if they suspect suspicious behavior. If you opt for recorded proctoring, test-taker’s data, including relevant activity logs, images, audio, video, and so on, are stored for review by a proctor later. The proctor does not have to sit through the entire exam in real-time to monitor students. Auto proctoring software takes remote proctoring even further. It uses AI to flag and generate alerts for suspicious behavior in audio/ video recordings with high accuracy. The proctor can review all such behavior like browser change and background noise to make the final decision.

Just like traditional invigilation at an exam center, exam proctoring software ensures that remote tests are conducted in a reliable, fair, and standardized manner. Once candidates log in to online proctoring software, they use biometric authentication (like facial recognition, or ID scan) through a webcam to verify their identity from the registered database. Once approved, candidates can begin their tests. When candidates begin their test, it locks the browser to prevent students from accessing other tabs or applications during the test. Since online exams are timed, online test procuring software monitors the test taker’s screen, webcam video/ audio, room, etc. Based on any suspicious behavior flagged by the system or observed by the proctor, necessary action is taken.

While selecting a vendor, you must know the in-demand features of an online proctoring solution. Some of them are:

The goal of proctoring software is to automate the proctoring process. Working with it should not be time-consuming because of a steep learning curve or difficult user interface. A good online proctoring software must be customizable and enable easy assessment of remote exams.

Anti-cheating proctoring tools ensure strict invigilation, just like in-person exams, online proctoring software should have anti-cheating tools and features. For instance, there can be secure browsing to prevent on-screen cheating or live monitoring to flag and review suspicious movements of test-takers.

The online test proctoring software must meet data compliance requirements while storing sensitive exams and users’ data. For end-to-end security, features like password encryption, role-based access, and so on are important.

The purpose of proctoring software for online exams is to enable thousands of users to take tests remotely together. So, good proctoring software must have the capacity to handle large-scale exams easily, whenever needed. Factors like time zones and geographical changes should not affect the online process.

Different users like educational institutions, online instructors, corporate organizations, and so on will have different needs. Based on the type of exams to be conducted, proctoring software for online exams must have customizable features for a smooth experience.

The software should easily integrate with existing systems like LMS to streamline all tasks and manage the entire process from a single platform without technical issues. Many solutions are even available as plug-and-play to proctor exams without additional setup.

With exam software, you can automate the process of conducting exams, including test creation, scheduling, grading, and all other steps. However, since the candidates are more prone to cheating remotely, proctoring services are a must to guarantee a fair examination. Some of the main benefits of proctored exam software are:

With proctored exam software, test conductors can allow any user with a genuine issue to take tests remotely. This means that any specially-abled individual or someone with travel restrictions can also take tests simultaneously as others.

A physical invigilator can be biased, but a proctored exam ensures the flagging of anomalies for every test taker without discrimination. With the use of AI and ML, every movement of the test taker and changes in the surroundings can be effectively monitored.

Proctor software for exams helps in maintaining the credibility of exams. Any flags raised for suspicious behavior can be reviewed at any time. Invigilators and proctors can audit the records and take necessary action. The data is stored securely for some time to avoid issues later.

Proctored exam software provides in-depth analytics for better insights so that institutions and other users can make better decisions for improvements in the exam process. Exam-proctored software provides engagement patterns, behavior analysis, and other useful data to pinpoint challenges based on the tests.

Pearson VUEVUE online proctoring software provides a single registration system for several test delivery platforms worldwide. Users can schedule any exam at home from the exam list available during registration.

You must simply sign in and select the purchased exam within 15 minutes of the scheduled appointment time to start the exam. If you choose to take the test at a test center, you can use a whiteboard for taking notes.

Cons: Requires strong Internet connectivity (3Mbps +)Proctoring capacity: On a one-to-one demand basisEnd-user(s): Takers and conductors of certification and licensure exams like ICTPI, ITB, US military assessments, etc.

VUE Pricing: Pricing varies according to your test requirements.

WheeboxWheebox remote proctoring solution supports both live and auto proctoring. There are certified physical proctors to avoid malpractice in live proctoring. It is easy for examiners to create and manage assessments with features like bulk uploading, analytics, customized white labeling, and so on. It can integrate with several third-party ATS, LMS, and assessment solutions.

AutoproctorAutoproctor is an auto-proctoring software that enables users to initialize the software on their webpage and receive detailed performance reports of test-takers. You can create a new assessment or use the one from other platforms like MS Forms, Google Forms, Moodle, and more. This proctoring software for online exams monitors and records actions and the environment of test-takers in real-time to determine violations and malpractices.

ProctorU is an automated remote proctoring service that offers live and auto proctoring. With technology to track suspicious behaviors and actions, exam admins can even watch the sessions live.

ProctorU online exam proctoring software

Test-takers relevant data is saved in AES 256 encrypted servers and automatically removed after a year unless the request is made for a lesser period.

MercerMercer auto proctoring software is a trusted choice for remote and online proctoring for high-stakes exams worldwide. It uses the Credibility Index for the validation of the integrity and credibility of test-takers. With AI-based auto flagging of suspicious cases, you can ensure a fair test-taking experience. You also have the option of live in-person training, and a smart dashboard ensures full visibility.

TalviewProview by Talview is a global plug-and-play proctoring solution that can work with any website, test engine, or app as per the requirements. It monitors the feed to check for suspicious background voices or objects in video and triggers alerts.

The streams can be viewed for 6 months, after which they are removed. This exam monitoring software also has an in-built connection to ILIAS, OpenOLAT, Moodle, Inspera Assessment platform, among others.

Talview Features: Candidate managementID authentication through facial recognitionSafe exam browserAutomated grading candidate blocking for invigilators

Cons: UI can get difficult to understand, Proctoring capacity: 1000s per End-user (s): Universities, E-teaching instructors, training and certification exam conductors, assessment providers.

Talview Pricing: You can schedule a demo. Pricing is available on request at techjockey.com.

MeritTracMeritTrac remote proctoring software provides automated, recorded, and live exam proctoring to conduct online exams securely. The proctor software for exams checks browser changes, mouse movements, and other similar actions to generate integrity reports that are accessible to the proctor. Its exam platforms like Pariksha, SmartTest, and CodeTrac allow proctoring both online and offline.

MeritTrac Features: Customizable dashboardAudio/ video monitoringSafe exam browserAssessment and exam managementAutomated grading.

ExamityExamity proctoring software system provides auto and live proctoring so that tests can be conducted remotely. Test takers can begin the exam immediately after their validation. With its flagging system, you get the exact timestamp for all suspicious events during the exam. Examity proctor software for exams allows the import and export of exam data for up to 60 days unless a red flag by the proctor is raised, due to which it needs to be stored for a year.

SpeedExamSpeedExam web proctoring solution and multilingual exam software simplify the process of remotely conducting tests. The exam monitoring software is easy to set up and enables users to embed candidate sites into their websites without coding skills.

SpeedExam web proctoring solution. You can even edit the role-based access permissions before every exam if needed.

QuestionmarkWith Questionmark remote proctoring solutions, users have the flexibility to manage exams from anywhere and review the videos of exam sessions in case of any red flags. Apart from online proctoring, you can use the proctoring service onsite at a test center too. The data storage feature complies with local security and privacy laws.

Questionmark Features: ID verificationReal real-time audio/ video monitoringProctor control to start/ stop/ pause and un-pause testsFlagging anomaliesLock down exam environment to prevent cheating

Conduct ExamConduct Exam online exam proctoring software enables live and human proctoring to prevent test-takers from cheating. It automates the complex process of creating different types of objective and subjective tests like JEE, CAT, SSE, and NDA, among others.

Eklavvya software uses audio, video, and image proctoring to ensure a fair assessment of candidates attempting online exams. The remote proctor identifies candidates through IDs and can pause, resume, or terminate the exam for anyone if needed. Eklavvya is also suitable for areas with poor Internet connectivity.

Eklavvya Features: Webcam monitoring and image capture secure browser live chat with remote user reports and analytics certificate generation for individuals