Let’s face it. Online assessments have changed the way we test knowledge forever. No wonder, they are incredibly convenient for allowing your candidates to take exams from literally anywhere in the world.
The only challenge is how schools, universities, or organizations can ensure their candidate’s qualifications for passing exams are trustworthy? To save the reputation of your assessment, you need to ensure your online exam security. It’s no more just a box to check.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the real-world journey of exam security in a digital world.
The Evolution of Academic Dishonesty: From Cheating Notes to AI Tools
You must have heard the stories of students passing notes under their desks or whispering answers. Since then, things have seriously leveled up. When exams moved online, so did the cheats—except now, they’re using digital tools that might surprise you.
Early on, it was just simple stuff, like screen sharing with a classmate or searching answers on a second device. But now? Candidates are getting creative in ways you might never expect:
- Remote Desktop Control: Someone else, often a paid professional, logs in remotely to take the exam for a candidate.
- Virtual Machines: Behind the actual screen, the candidates run another operating system so they can hide it from detection.
- Organized Cheating Services: Yes, there are dedicated companies existing with proper payment plans just to help people cheat.
It’s clear that classic monitoring tools can’t keep up anymore. It’s time you implement robust systems in place to prevent cheating in your assessments.
New Cheating Methods: How Systems Are Exploited
There’s no denying it, tech-savvy candidates bring a hacker’s mindset to their exams. Here are a few tactics that for security professionals to look out for:
- Subtle Communication: It includes invisible earbuds, secret hand signals, or messages sent through a hidden window on their screens.
- Strategic Placement: What a webcam can’t see, it can’t catch—so some candidates carefully place their notes or extra devices just out of view.
- Browser-Based Loopholes: Some exploit browser extensions or use incognito modes and multiple logins to hide their digital tracks.
And here’s the kicker, these tricks actually go viral. Once one student figures it out, hundreds more do, too. That’s the reason why online exam security is an ongoing process, not a one-time thing.
The AI-Powered Defense: A Game Changer in Exam Security
But here’s the good news: for every new cheating method, there’s an equally smart solution. For instance, for current circumstances it’s artificial intelligence—the hero of exam security in a digital world.
AI doesn’t just peek over candidates’ shoulders, it’s always watching for patterns and clues that human proctors might miss. Here’s how:
- Facial and Gaze Tracking: If a candidate glances away from screen multiple times, it’s easier for AI to spot it right away.
- Audio Analysis: Whispering, ringtones, background voices? AI microphones are always listening.
- Behavioral Biometrics: Each person has a unique “digital fingerprint”—how they type, move their mouse, and click through questions.
- Environmental Monitoring: Did the lighting change? Did someone else walk in? If so, AI takes note.
- Identity Verification: No more swapping places mid-exam. Ongoing ID checks ensure the right person is always at the desk.
MeritTrac’s comprehensive platform fuses all these layers into a seamless experience.
How to Build a Comprehensive Security Ecosystem
The best strategy to ensure online exam security is to blend the smart tools with well-designed policies and personal touch—aka human monitoring.
1. Secure Browser and Data Encryption
Start with the basics! A secure browser makes it nearly impossible to wander off during a test—it blocks new tabs, stops copy-pasting, and restricts outside apps. Try to sidestep those restrictions and the system sends a warning (or ends the exam).
Then, there’s data encryption. This keeps your question banks and results locked away from prying eyes or hackers. It’s digital peace of mind, plain and simple.
2. Multi-Faceted Remote Proctoring
When exams are online, remote proctoring provides flexibility. Here’s what works:
- AI-Powered Automated Proctoring: It helps you scale up and get around-the-clock monitoring automatically.
- Live Proctoring: In this method, a real person keeps an eye on everything during the online examination.
- Recorded Proctoring: In this case, if something seems odd, you have recorded footage to review later.
Blend these approaches for maximum coverage, adapting based on your risk, volume, and stakes. AI flags issues in real time, but trained proctors still make the final call.
3. Clear Policies and Candidate Communication
Including tech in your systems is great to prevent cheating. But make sure it doesn’t get in the way of conducting exams fairly.
Many times when new rules are implemented, but candidates are unaware of them. Hence, set clear expectations and give them proper briefs for these new implemented policies.
4. Fair and Consistent Adjudication
No system is perfect, so have a plan for flagged incidents. Automated alerts should never automatically penalize someone. Review everything—videos, audio, logs—and always let a real live human weigh in. This keeps things fair and builds trust between test-takers and your institution.
MeritTrac: Your Partner in Comprehensive Exam Security
We get it—navigating the world of exam security in a digital world can feel overwhelming. MeritTrac can change it for you.
Partner with us to get reliable, future-proof solutions to prevent cheating in your online exams and assessments.
