Online examinations, test assessments and certifications are becoming the norm, thanks to their numerous benefits and lower costs. The exam process consists of test creation, administration, marking and invigilation, which is an effort, time and manpower-intensive process and can turn out to be an expensive affair. Automation of the entire online exam process makes it very convenient and economical. Proctoring or invigilation is, therefore, undergoing a sea change to keep up with the changing exam format. Online proctoring just like the regular invigilation helps maintain and safeguard the integrity of the exam.
Online assessments allow companies to recruit talent without any geographical constraints which is a great convenience. But unless these online assessments are reliably proctored, there is a chance of the assessment results being manipulated in different ways which may affect the authenticity and reliability of the outcome. Online proctoring services can greatly help in the mission of hiring the right candidates based on their true performance.
Types of Proctoring
Proctoring lends credibility to assessments, their outcomes and to the learning and performance of candidates. Broadly, there are two types of proctoring:
Offline proctoring: This type of proctoring is nothing but the traditional invigilation, which requires the candidate to reach the allotted venue to take up the test or exam. The exam may be a pen-and-paper test, computer-based testing or even optical mark recognition (OMR) test. A dedicated proctor or invigilator is assigned to monitor the candidates to ensure they do not indulge in any malpractices and/or use any unfair means during the examination. This whole process, in addition to being expensive and cumbersome, is restrictive too as it requires both the candidates as well as invigilators to physically reach a particular examination centre. The advent of technology has transformed the entire way of conducting tests and assessments which is now flexible enough to allow the candidates to take up remote assessments. In such a scenario, proctoring services too have undergone the necessary transformation.
Remote proctoring: As the name suggests, it helps in the reliable and smooth conduct of remote assessments. There are three major types of remote proctoring as follows:
Live online proctoring services: It involves a proctor remotely monitoring the candidates taking up an online assessment throughout the test duration. If the proctor suspects the candidate indulging in any suspicious activity, he/she has the right to disable the test. Live online proctoring services come with their own set of disadvantages. Some of the prominent ones being:
It requires a dedicated proctor during the test even if it is at a remote location.
In case there are more than one candidate for the proctor to monitor, his attention and time gets split between the multiple screens.
The quality of the proctoring service is only as good as the proctor.
It is the most expensive one amongst the remote proctoring.
Recorded proctoring services: In this type of proctoring, the data that includes images and logs are saved and reviewed by the proctor later. It is less expensive than live online proctoring and a single proctor can review several recorded exam sessions one by one without compromising on the quality.
Automated proctoring: Software and applications take on the role of the proctor in this type of proctoring. It generates alerts and red flags in case a candidate is cheating or using unfair means. For example, everything from mouse movement to changing the browser and other such actions get recorded which can be reviewed by the proctor to decide on the authenticity and integrity of the candidates. Not only does automated proctoring work out cheaper, but it is also foolproof as compared to offline proctoring.
MeritTrac’s End-to-End Exam Services
MeritTrac guarantees convenient and foolproof recruitment assessment solution to organisations. We offer both remote as well as offline proctoring services, but given the convenience, economy and foolproof nature of remote proctoring, most of our clients go for it. The system analyses mouse movements, records changes in browser and other actions. It then generates a comprehensive report for the proctor or recruiter to make their own suitable judgements about the integrity of the candidates’ performance and results.
Our platforms CodeTrac, Pariksha and SmartTest allow for end-to-end assessment solutions right from test design, administration, and proctoring to evaluation and result generation. These highly adaptive platforms are easy to set up, completely secure and allow for remote delivery and proctoring with or without the Internet. They come with plug and play feature, allow for easy integration with external tools and are suitable to be uploaded onto the cloud. These platforms can be used on any device including smartphones.
FAQ
FAQ
1. What are proctoring services?
A. Traditionally known as invigilation, proctoring services have transformed to cater to the new age examination system of remote assessments. It is the process of keeping a check on the candidates to ensure that there are no malpractices during the test.
2. How does remote proctoring compare with offline proctoring?
A. Remote proctoring supports remote assessment allowing the proctor and candidates to be geographically apart from each other, while offline proctoring is the traditional one that requires invigilators and examinees to be present at the same place.
3. Why go for remote proctoring in the first place?
A. The way assessments are conducted has changed allowing for greater flexibility to the candidate and the recruiter. With remote proctoring, the candidates and proctors/recruiters can be at different locations without compromising the integrity of the assessment. This makes the recruitment process economical and easy.
4. What are the advantages of remote proctoring?
A. Remote proctoring, especially automated proctoring, is easier, flexible, foolproof and economical as compared to traditional proctoring
5. What are the USPs of MeritTrac proctoring services?
A. MeritTrac’s end-to-end assessment solutions make recruitment almost automatic and efficient process. Our proctoring services ensure the credibility and integrity of the assessment outcome allowing for complete confidence in the candidate selection.
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