How Does Online Proctoring Work?

How does online proctoring work and what is it?

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring uses monitors online exams with software and/or live proctors to prevent cheating and support test takers.

Four types of online proctoring:

  1. Browser lockdown: prevents test takers from using other browsers and keyboard functions
  2. AI proctoring (automated): monitors online exams with AI proctoring software only
  3. Live proctoring: a live proctor watches test takers the entire time they take the exam
  4. Blended proctoring: Combines AI proctoring with live proctors. AI monitors exams and alerts a live proctor if it detects potential dishonesty. Blended solutions typically include browser lockdown software.

Can online proctoring be used on different exam formats?

Online proctoring can be used for nearly any type of assessment. Whether it’s an online exam using standard question types (multiple choice and true/false), in-person tests, and even authentic assessments where a test taker is completing a task such as a live presentation or demonstration.

How does online proctoring work?

First things first: the online proctoring software should directly integrate with the Learning Management System (LMS). A direct LMS integration makes it easy to proctor online exams; it streamlines implementation, no extra logins and passwords are needed, and it creates a familiar environment for exam takers and instructors.

Here’s how blended online proctoring works:

Instructors create the test in the LMS like they usually do, and the proctoring software collects the necessary information through the integration.

Instructors pick the exam proctoring features to use

Instructors have plenty of proctoring features to choose from, such as detecting cell phones, locking the browser, detecting voices, verifying ID, and more.

Test takers get set up and start the online proctored exam

  They’ll simply log in to the LMS like they already do, verify their identity in about a minute, and then launch the proctored exam. Ideally, they’ll be able to get support directly within the exam window.

AI software monitors the exams

  A key feature of using a blended proctoring solution is that AI software monitors each exam session and alerts a live proctor if it detects any potential dishonesty. The benefit of this approach to proctoring online exams is that it’s non-invasive and less intimidating because a live proctor isn’t watching them throughout the exam. Additionally, the proctor can quickly review the situation and determine if they need to intervene and address it with the test taker and then help them get back on track.

Instructors review reports after the exams

  The exam proctoring software collects extensive data and provides actionable reports and time-stamped recordings to the instructor within the LMS dashboard. The exam proctoring software collects extensive data and provides it to the instructor for review within the LMS dashboard. To help save time, the reports should provide time-stamped recordings of violations and suspicious behavior.

Online proctoring features

We’ll break the proctoring features in this section into two parts:
  1. Common: features used by most online proctoring companies
  2. Exclusive: features used by one or very few proctoring solutions

Common online proctoring features

  • Video monitoring: uses the webcam to monitor behavior, scan the testing room, and verify ID
  • Basic audio monitoring: monitors audio but doesn’t listen for specific keywords or phrases that can indicate potential dishonesty
  • Browser lock: an entry-level proctoring feature that just prevents the use of other browsers and certain keyboard functions
  • ID verification: uses the webcam to verify identity

Exclusive online proctoring features

  • Cell phone detection: AI software that can detect when test takers attempt to use their cell phones or other devices to access test bank content during the exam
  • Smart voice detection: more advanced than the previously mentioned basic audio because it listens for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Alexa,” “OK Google,” or “Hey Siri.” Then, it alerts a live test proctor to intervene
  • AI+Live proctoring: blended online proctoring software that monitors the exam session for potential academic dishonesty and alerts a live proctor to join the session in real-time if it detects any issues
  • Test question integrity: a technology that searches the internet to identify leaked test questions. If it finds leaked questions, instructors can take steps to control their exams’ integrity

Why use online proctoring?

Online proctoring creates a fair test and equitable environment

While some believe that online proctoring is just used to catch cheating on online exams, it’s much more than that. When proctoring is done right, it helps create a non-invasive and equitable testing environment that holds everyone accountable.

Supports test takers

Some proctoring companies had their proctoring teams trained by a nationally certified counselor and educator about supporting test takers during moments of assessment frustration and anxiety.

Provides instructors with valuable insight into test performance

In-depth reports and recordings help instructors understand how test takers approach online exams and where they’re struggling or excelling.

Protects reputation

Reputation is a foundational element in higher education and any corporation. Prospective students, accrediting bodies, and employers need to know that the programs are academically sound.

Online exam proctoring services play a critical role in protecting reputation and online exams.

What is Honorlock?

Honorlock was the first to combine AI software with live proctors to make online proctoring simple, easy, and human.

Honorlock upholds academic integrity with online exam proctoring that’s monitored by AI and reviewed by humans. Our proctoring software monitors each exam session and alerts a live, US-based test proctor if it detects any potential problems. This provides our proctors with the opportunity to enter the exam session and help the exam taker get back on track.

Sign up for more online learning & higher education resources

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

Is a Browser Lock Enough to Protect Online Exams?

This article will show you what a browser lockdown can and cannot do and provide additional proctoring solutions to solve for areas that browser lockdown software may miss.

When it comes to proctoring online exams, browser lockdown software can help to a degree, but they lack features to truly protect your exams. A browser lock is a no-frills way to check the box of proctoring exams.

This article will show you what a browser lockdown can and cannot do and provide additional proctoring solutions to solve for areas that browser lockdown software may miss.

What is browser lockdown software?

Browser lockdown software helps prevent cheating on online exams by automatically restricting access to certain websites and alternative browsers on a student’s computer. They also disable keyboard shortcuts and other functions that might be used to gain an unfair advantage. 

Here’s what browser lockdown software can do:

  • Restricts access to other websites, browsers, and applications
  • Disables keyboard shortcuts and functions such as printing, copy and paste, and screen capture
  • Removes toolbar and menu options such as browser refresh, back, forward, and stop
  • Blocks the ability for students to minimize the browser display screen
  • Prevents students from exiting the exam until they submit it

While a browser lock checks the box as a baseline tool for institutions that proctor online exams, they’re only a small part of the picture for schools and faculty who seek to preserve academic integrity.

Browser lockdown cost information

Why browser lockdown software isn’t enough to protect online exams

The features of browser lockdown software highlighted above will help prevent cheating, but there are significant things it cannot do:

Browser lockdown software can’t see the student

While a browser lock can “see” if a student attempts to access another browser tab or computer application or if the student attempts to use keyboard shortcuts, it doesn’t offer the benefits of video proctoring, which uses the student’s webcam to view them during the exam.

Video proctoring often involves recording the student’s exam session for later review by the proctor and instructor. Video proctoring is especially useful because it allows ID verification and can tell if a student is using unauthorized resources or if another person is in the room.

Cannot detect voices or audio

Browser lockdown software can’t hear when a student may be talking on the phone or asking a friend for an answer to a test question.

Some online proctoring software monitors the exam session and goes beyond simple audio detection by listening for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google.”

A browser lockdown can’t verify student ID

Student ID verification before a proctored exam has become a priority and a basic browser lockdown can’t solve this. With no video proctoring capabilities, browser lockdown software can’t verify student ID. 

Director of Learning Technology at Polk State College, Cody Moyer, summed it up perfectly, “If we can’t verify that our students are the ones who are completing the work, and all of our quizzes are out there on the internet where anyone can look up the answers, what kind of quality is that degree?”

Browser lockdown software can’t detect cell phones

A student can simply use their cell phone or another device to look up test questions and answers on the internet. But this weakness can be solved by multi-device detection software, as we’ll discuss in the next section.

Browser lockdown software lacks the human touch of online proctoring that students deserve

Because browser lockdown software is only an automated proctoring solution, there’s no human touch involved to help support students during the exam. We know that exams can cause anxiety and that technical issues can happen during the test and that’s where a human proctor can help students successfully complete their exams. Online proctoring services that combine AI test monitoring with human proctors are the best of both worlds.

Online proctoring options when browser lockdown software isn’t enough

The good news is that Honorlock provides a browser lock as a part of our standard proctoring features, but it also provides many more features and benefits such as:

 

  • Video proctoring 
  • Detecting cell phone use and voices 
  • Blending AI test monitoring software and live proctors
  • Verifying student ID
  • Reducing unauthorized use of your test questions and content on the Internet 

Advanced video proctoring

Early forms of video proctoring were unsettling for students because many didn’t appreciate having a remote proctor’s face hovering on the screen during the entire exam. 

Honorlock’s video proctoring capabilities allow:

  • 60-second ID verification
  • Room scans to make sure that no other people or test resources are present 
  • Detection of possible acts of academic dishonesty

Honorlock can detect cell phone use during proctored exams

Honorlock proctoring software can detect when students use a cell phone, tablet, or laptop to access test bank content during an online exam.

The proctoring software also captures a screen recording of specific websites that the student visited to provide evidence in the event of a violation. The recording can be reviewed by the instructor to determine if academic dishonesty occurred.

Verifies student ID in 60 seconds

Our remote proctoring software completes ID verification in about 60 seconds by capturing the content on the student’s ID along with their photo to make sure the student taking the online exam is the student getting credit.

Detects voices with Honorlock proctoring software

Honorlock’s smart Voice Detection feature listens for specific keywords or phrases to identify students who may be talking to another student or using Siri or Alexa to get the answers to test questions. If the proctoring software detects potential academic dishonesty, it alerts a live test proctor to enter the exam session to intervene and redirect the student.

Helps protect your test questions and answers from unauthorized use on the Internet

You’ve probably heard of students finding and sharing test questions and answers on test banks and homework-help sites. Maybe you’ve even seen your own test content on the Internet. It’s frustrating and it’s quick and simple for any test-taker. 

However, if instructors choose, Honorlock proctoring software searches for leaked test questions, answers, and content and can also request the removal of the material by filing DMCA copyright takedown notices.

Blends AI test monitoring with live test proctors

Honorlock was the first online proctoring service to combine the benefits of automated proctoring with those of a live test proctor. 

What is Honorlock and how does it work?

Our easy to use online proctoring software monitors the exam session for potential academic dishonesty and alerts a live proctor to join the student’s session in real-time if it detects any issues. 

This blend of AI and human review delivers a less intimidating proctored testing experience for the student because they aren’t constantly watched.

Choose to proctor online exams a better way

Browser lockdown software checks the box as a first line of defense against academic integrity but with all its shortcomings, choose to proctor online exams a better way with Honorlock. 

Our approach to online proctoring creates a non-invasive and fair testing environment that benefits the student, instructor, and institution.

Want to see Honorlock in action? Schedule a demo.

Sign up below to receive more resources for tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

Online Proctoring LMS Integration

The online proctoring and LMS integration doesn’t sound very exciting, but it’s the difference between a quick and secure integration or one that can leave your data vulnerable and cause frustration for your instructors and students.

Keep these considerations in mind when you compare online proctoring services.

Why the online proctoring and LMS integration is important

Faculty and students will test within the LMS platform they’re comfortable with

Your faculty and students are busy, and the last thing they need is to spend time learning new educational technologies. Using proctoring software that directly integrates with your learning management system keeps your faculty and students in a familiar environment for online testing. 

Online proctoring with a direct LMS integration reduces any learning curve because:

  • Instructors can create online exams in the LMS like they normally do
  • Students can log in and launch the exam in the same LMS platform they’re accustomed to
  • After the student launches the exam, they’ll just verify their ID and complete a room scan in about a minute before starting the proctored exam.

No extra passwords or logins

Many online proctoring services require faculty and students to create an extra account and password to set up proctored exams and view reports. It’s an inefficient and frustrating process that wastes time and causes unnecessary stress before a proctored exam.

Directly integrating proctoring with LMSs removes the need for extra logins and passwords, which saves your faculty and students time and reduces headaches.

Proctored exam reports are available in the LMS

Proctoring software with a plug-and-play LMS integration makes it easy to access proctored exam reports within the LMS. The proctoring software should collect data during the exam and provide instructors with actionable reports within the LMS.

Implementation is quick

Institutions want a quick and easy implementation that takes days, not weeks or months. A key component of quickly implementing online proctoring is how fast it can integrate with the LMS. A direct online proctoring and LMS integration can be set up in about an hour.

“The integration between Canvas and Honorlock was really seamless. Very easy to get it launched. It was great, we had no problems launching it and making it work.” – Peter Burrell, Associate Professor at University of Cincinnati and Business Attorney

Keeps your data secure

A direct LMS proctoring integration means that data is exchanged securely between the proctoring software and your LMS only. Make sure the proctoring services you’re evaluating are compliant with data privacy standards.

Honorlock online proctoring software and services

Online proctoring software with a plug and play LMS integration

In addition to offering custom integrations, Honorlock’s proctoring platform integrates with Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, and Intellum so that:

  • Instructors can create proctored online exams and review reporting results within the LMS as usual
  • Students launch the online exam within the LMS and can access support without having to leave the exam window
  • No additional passwords or logins are required for test-takers or faculty

“You want an integrated system; you don’t want faculty and students to have separate sign-on. That was important for us,” said Director of Assessment Services at Indian River State College, Stephen Daniello, who also added that integrating Honorlock with their LMS was very easy and took less than an hour.

Learn more about integrating with Honorlock

Easy to use online proctoring software

Honorlock makes online proctoring easy and convenient for instructors and students. It’s easy for instructors to set up proctored online exams, choose which features to use, and review actionable exam reports. The proctored testing experience is just as simple for students; they log in, verify identity, and begin the proctored exam.

Proctor third-party exams

In addition to a direct proctoring LMS integration, Honorlock allows you to proctor third parties such as MyMathLab, ALEKS, Pearson, McGraw Hill, and others. Faculty can register third-party exams and customize settings in the LMS.

Honorlock’s online proctoring software protects your data

Honorlock uses an encrypted and secured connection during each online proctored exam. All videos and photos are stored on Honorlock’s platform. All data is stored in an encrypted format on isolated storage systems within Honorlock’s private cloud in Amazon’s AWS U.S. data centers.

When you compare online proctoring services keep the online proctoring and LMS integration in mind because it impacts the entire online testing experience for your students and faculty.

Sign up to receive more tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

Top 10 Benefits of Online Proctoring

Benefits of online proctoring services

As more universities and colleges are using remote learning and online exams, the need for online proctoring is increasingly important. But what are the key benefits of online proctoring and why is it important to institutions, faculty, and students? 

Top 10 benefits of online proctoring

    1. Verifies student ID
    2. Online proctored exams are easy to set up and customize 
    3. Proctored testing features prevent and deter cheating
    4. Proctoring creates a fair online test environment for students
    5. Detailed reporting provides insight into learner behavior and patterns
    6. Online proctoring works for a variety of exam types
    7. Proctoring software is accessible and allows accommodations
    8. Proctored testing removes administrative burden on test centers
    9. Students can schedule online exams 24/7/365
    10. Affordably scales to your institution’s needs

A deeper look into the top benefits of online exam proctoring

1. Online proctoring software verifies student ID

Did you know that some educational programs are required by law to verify student ID?

While some are required by law, it’s safe to say that all institutions want to ensure that the student taking the online exam is the same student enrolled in the course. To verify their ID, students simply launch the online exam and the online proctoring solution will capture the content on the student’s ID along with their photo, so you can be sure that the student taking the remote exam is the student getting credit.

2. Proctored exams are easy to set up and customize

Setting up a proctored exam can be quick and simple for instructors. With a complete online proctoring solution, instructors can enable online proctoring in three steps: 

  1. Create the exam in the LMS as you normally would
  2. Enable online proctoring and choose the features you’d like to use
  3. Review the results

Customizing the proctored exam features is easy because the proctoring solution should integrate with your existing remote learning platform. This allows you to pick and choose which remote proctoring features you’d like to use, such as webcam, disable printing, record screen, browser lock, room scan, and more.

3. Proctored testing features prevent and deter cheating

One of the benefits of online proctoring is that these services tackle academic dishonesty in a variety of ways using common features and select features that are more advanced.

Common proctored testing features to prevent cheating

  • ID verification
  • Video monitoring and sound detection
  • Browser lockdown software
  • Allowed URL sites and applications

Some online proctoring services go beyond common online proctoring methods with advanced features such as:

  • Cell phone detection: Nearly all students have access to a cell phone or secondary device. This proctoring technology can detect the attempted use of cell phones and other devices.
  • Live Pop-In: This proctoring feature combines the benefits of AI proctoring and live human proctoring. Live Pop-In uses AI proctoring software to monitor students during the online exam and prompts a live remote proctor to join a student’s exam session in real-time if it detects potential academic dishonesty. Combining AI proctoring and live human proctoring aims to  provide a less intimidating and non-invasive testing experience for students.
  • Exam content protection: It’s frustrating for instructors to find their test questions on unauthorized websites, such as Chegg and Quizlet. This proctoring feature searches the internet for unauthorized sharing of test questions. Some proctoring solutions will also submit a DMCA takedown notice on your behalf to request that the test content be removed.
  • Meaningful voice detection: Sound detection and monitoring is a common test proctoring feature, but often results in an abundance of false flags. Meaningful voice detection listens for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” to identify students who may be attempting academic dishonesty and alerts a live remote proctor in real-time to pop into the online test session to intervene and help redirect the student. This feature can save instructors time by reducing the number of false flags to review and allows students to read questions out loud without being inappropriately flagged.

4. Proctoring online exams creates a fair testing environment for all students

The proctored online exam benefits and features mentioned above are meant to create a fair testing environment for all students. By preventing and deterring academic dishonesty, students know that the value of their education will remain strong and institutions protect their reputation. 

5. Detailed reporting helps faculty understand student test-taking behavior

In-depth reporting provided by proctoring solutions can give instructors a wealth of information about test-taking behavior by identifying patterns and understanding how students engage with online exams. This data can be used to improve online exams and drive toward better student outcomes.

“Honorlock was more than a tool to guard or block students from using inappropriate information. It was also a means to detect and determine many different ways that students approach the exams. Because of access to the wealth of data/information through Honorlock, I became better able to utilize it.”

– Ryan P. Mears, PhD, University of Florida

Download a free customizable RFP template for online proctoring6. Online proctoring works for a variety of exam types

Exams come in many forms such as in-person, online, and paper-based. Online proctoring can be used for each. 

As an example, how can you successfully proctor an online, paper-based STEM exam? The good news is that with a few simple steps, paper-based exams can be proctored much like a “regular” online exam through the LMS or other testing platform. 

Tips for online proctoring paper-based exams:

  • Provide the remote proctor with specific instructions and expectations for student behavior 
    • Specify resources and objects that students can use, such as pens, paper, and designated textbooks.
  • Prepare a list of exam settings
    • Develop a comprehensive list of online exam settings to use or share with other faculty members. This removes any confusion and ensures the proctoring tool is used to its fullest capacity. 
  • Offer reasonable exam time limits
    • Students should have ample time to complete the proctored online exam but it’s recommended that instructors don’t release exam results until all students have completed the exam to prevent knowledge sharing or exam content.

7. Proctoring software is accessible and allows accommodations

Any technology used in education should be accessible; whether it’s online proctoring or laptops and keyboards. The online proctoring solution should be accessible for all students and integrate with your existing LMS. Additionally, the proctoring solution should provide instructors with the ability to provide accommodations. Accommodations in an online test can mean extending time limits and adjusting due dates or allowing bathroom breaks.

8. Proctored testing removes administrative burden on test centers

Campus testing centers are adopting online proctoring services because of the significant benefits it provides. Online proctoring provides all the benefits of in-person proctoring and more. By combining AI proctoring and live proctoring, testing centers can eliminate the need for in-person proctors which makes scheduling easier and can reduce costs.

9. Online proctoring software provides flexible exam scheduling

One of the biggest benefits of online proctoring is that it removes many of the scheduling hassles associated with online exams. With proctoring services that combine automated proctoring and live proctoring, students can schedule their online exam at a time that works for their busy schedules, 24/7/365. 

10. Remote proctoring affordably scales to your institution’s needs

Universities and colleges face a major challenge with expanding education programs without sacrificing academic integrity. Online proctoring services need to be easy to use and flexible for students and instructors, secure and reliable for administrators, and provide cost-effective scalability for decision-makers.

As you grow your online programs, you need cost-effective online test proctoring. Online proctoring services that charge a flat rate per online exam or per student protect your bottom line and help you accurately estimate testing costs.

Online proctoring is a resource for student and institutional success

Online proctoring isn’t simply a way to catch cheaters – it’s a resource for students, faculty, and institutions. Proctored testing features ultimately drive toward the goal of providing a fair testing environment to improve student outcomes. 

Read our 5-Part guide to comparing online proctoring services, which provides information on functionality, implementation, support, cost structure, and specific questions you should ask proctoring companies as you evaluate. 

Sign up below to receive more resources for tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

Want to see Honorlock in action? Schedule a demo.

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

What is online proctoring?

What is online proctoring for remote testing

The sheer number of online proctoring services and software—some similar, some different—is enough to make your head spin.

But there’s good news: this article covers everything you need to know about proctoring online exams, from what it is and how it works to the different types of software and tools and how they impact the exam experience.

Understanding the basics of online proctoring

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring is a remote exam supervision method using software, live proctors, or both to maintain exam security and academic integrity. By monitoring desktops, audio, and video, online proctored exams deter and prevent cheating while offering convenient, flexible, and accessible assessments.

What is a proctored exam proctoring?

A proctored exam is a supervised virtual assessment that starts with verifying identity and scanning the room for unauthorized items like cell phones and notes. Remote proctoring software monitors video, locks the browser, and tracks various activities to prevent cheating. Online proctored exams uphold academic integrity, protect credibility, and promote equity and fairness in assessments.

What is an online test proctor and what do they do?

An online test proctor protects academic integrity by verifying test taker identity, monitoring behavior, and managing processes like enforcing rules and providing accommodations to keep the test environment fair and secure. Online proctors with appropriate training can also support test takers during stressful moments.
Back to menu

Online proctoring services and software compared

Types of online proctoring services and software

Different types of online proctoring options

  • Record and review captures the exam session’s audio and video, which the institution’s staff or the proctoring service reviews after the exam is completes.
  • Automated proctoring uses AI to monitor exams to detect and flag academic dishonesty.
  • Secure test browsers are a type of automated proctoring software that restricts access to other sites and applications and blocks keyboard shortcuts like copy and paste.
  • Live proctoring relies on human proctors overseeing multiple exams in real time and intervening if potential misconduct is detected.
  • Hybrid proctoring combines AI and human proctors; the AI monitors behavior, while human proctors review flagged incidents and may also monitor behavior directly.

Same type of exam proctoring… multiple approaches… different experiences? 

Even if you’re using the same type of proctoring, the experience can be completely different depending on each company’s approach.

Example: all three remote proctoring companies offer a hybrid solution, but each one approaches it differently, which changes the test experience.

  • Company A: a live remote proctor watches a dozen or so test takers simultaneously—the proctor is typically visible in a box on the test takers’ screens—while AI monitors behavior.
  • Company B: AI monitors and pauses exams when potential misconduct occurs—even for innocent actions like sneezing—and a live proctor intervenes.
  • Company C:  AI monitors exams, but instead of pausing the exam for potential misconduct, it alerts the proctor to review the behavior, and they’ll only intervene if necessary.

Think of it like this: you found three restaurants that will cook you a filet mignon.

One restaurant microwaves it until it’s like a hockey puck, another boils it in water (gross), while the other grills it to perfection.

Technically, they all check the box because they cooked a filet mignon for you.

Can you imagine how much different they taste?

This shows how different the same type of proctoring can be, and the same goes for individual tools, regardless of how specific their purpose is.

For example, some companies offer “cell phone detection,” but it actually just relies on a remote proctor seeing a phone while monitoring multiple test takers at once. Other companies use AI that can detect phones in the test area and identify when test takers try to use them to search for test questions.

So, if you’re comparing proctoring technologies, don’t just rely on feature names—dig deeper into how they work to make sure they meet your needs.

Schedule a demo

Online proctoring software tools and features

Standard remote proctoring tools

Standard proctoring tools

  • Video proctoring uses the webcam to scan the room and monitor and record behavior during a remote proctored exam.
  • Browser lockdown software secures test browsers by preventing access to unauthorized applications and sites and restricting keyboard shortcuts like copying and pasting.
  • Sound detection records and monitors all audio to detect cheating.
  • ID verification confirms identity before the proctored assessment starts.
Advanced exam proctoring software

Advanced proctoring tools

  • Cell phone detection uses AI to catch a range of phone activities, like looking up answers and even when a phone or another device is in the testing area.
  • Exam content protection automatically searches the internet for leaked exam questions and allows instructors to submit takedown requests with one click.
  • AI blocking uses a combination of proctoring features to block students from using generative AI like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, as well as AI browser extensions.
  • Smart Voice Detection triggers when phrases like 'Alexa' or 'OK Google' that may indicate cheating, records the audio, alerts a remote proctor, and provides a transcript.
  • Live Pop-in combines live proctors and AI proctoring software; the AI monitors test takers’ behavior and alerts a remote live proctor if it detects potential academic dishonesty. Then, the proctor reviews the situation to determine whether to intervene or not. This way, the test taker won’t be interrupted unless it’s necessary.

Get more details on features and functionality

Whether the tools are standard or advanced, the proctoring solution should make it easy to pick and choose which features you want to use, turn off, or customize based on your exam needs. For example, instead of blocking all websites during a proctored test, you can allow access to specific sites, such as research studies, while still restricting all others.

This offers an extra layer of customization and oversight in the entire assessment process while still keeping up with the challenges of preventing cheating in online exams.

Schedule a demo

Types of proctored online exams

What test formats can be remotely proctored?

Use cases and benefits of proctored exams

Who uses online proctoring?

Online proctoring is used in higher education by universities and colleges and in professional education for licensure and certification exams, corporate training, and other continuing education programs.

Higher education
Schools of all sizes use online proctoring to administer remote exams with the same rigor as in-person. This makes it easier to take and deliver exams in any format while maintaining academic integrity, even when students aren’t on campus.

Professional education & corporate
Organizations use online proctoring to prevent cheating and grow their certification programs and other exams for corporate training and continuing education by offering participants the convenience and flexibility they need, reducing travel costs and time constraints.

What are the benefits the online proctoring?

Most assume proctored exams are just to catch cheating, but they actually create tangible benefits that improve the entire testing experience for all users, such as:
  • Student benefits: taking proctored exams online offers students more convenience, flexibility, and access than in-person tests while reducing test anxiety and validating the credibility of online programs.
  • Instructor benefits: virtual proctoring prevents cheating, frees up class time by eliminating in-class tests, protects test content from being shared on the internet, and helps instructors understand students’ behavior and test-taking strategies.
  • Institutional benefits: remote proctoring protects reputation and credibility, reduces overhead costs, and helps meet the identity and attendance verification requirements for accreditation and federal funding.

Schedule a demo

Proctoring costs and LMS integrations

How much does online proctoring cost?

The cost of online proctoring varies significantly based on the type of software and services used, and especially their pricing model. If the proctoring service charges by the hour, you’re at the mercy of variable costs, like exams running longer than expected, which can put a serious dent in your budget.

What if the proctoring company charges by the hour, and final exams take longer than expected?

Now, you’re hit with a hefty bill for those extra hours of test proctoring that weren’t in your budget… Whether it costs $1,000 or $10,000, it’s too much.

Instead of playing a guessing game to cover variable costs, find an remote proctoring company that offers a flat rate cost per exam or per test taker—your bottom line will thank you.

Online proctoring and LMS integration options

There are two ways to integrate your LMS with an online proctoring platform: direct, out-of-the-box integrations or custom integrations using APIs. Online proctoring platforms typically have direct integrations with LMSs such as Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L, Open LMS, Intellum, and Docebo.

Schedule a demo

Resources
Comparing software & services
Compare platform software and services of the best online proctoring companies
Proctoring for Higher Education
Proctoring for Professional Education

Specific tools & features

Cell Phone Detection
Search & Destroy
AI Blocking
Smart Voice Detection
BrowserGuard
ID Verification
LMS Integration
3rd Part Integrations
Exam Reports
Schedule a demo

What is Browser Lockdown Software?

Learn about what browser lockdown software is

A browser lock is an automated proctoring solution to help deter and prevent cheating on online exams by automatically restricting access to websites and other browsers and disabling keyboard shortcuts and functions. Browser lockdown software is a good starting point to proctor online exams, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle to prevent cheating and protect academic integrity.

How does browser lockdown software work?

  • Restricts access to other websites, browsers, and applications
  • Disables keyboard shortcuts and functions such as printing, copy and paste, and screen capture
  • Prevents test takers from exiting the exam until they submit it
  • Removes toolbar and menu options such as browser refresh, back, forward, and stop
  • Blocks the ability to minimize the browser display screen
Browser lockdown cost information

What can browser lockdown software see?

Generally speaking, browser lockdown software can see if a test taker attempts to access another browser tab or computer application and if they attempt to use keyboard shortcuts.

Can browser lockdown software detect cell phones?

A browser lock does not detect cell phones and other secondary devices, such as a tablet. Most test takers have secondary devices and while their primary device may be proctored by a browser lock, they can easily access the internet from another device to look up test answers during an exam.

When does a browser lock flag a test taker?

They can be flagged during an exam for several reasons such as accessing other browsers and computer applications, and attempting to use keyboard shortcuts such as print, copy, and paste.

Can browser lockdown software see or hear?

Browser lockdown software can’t see or hear because it does not require a webcam or microphone. If online exams aren’t monitoring video and audio, test takers can use study resources such as textbooks or get help from someone in the room. 

Can a browser lock verify ID?

It isn’t possible to verify ID when only using a browser lock. No webcam is required, so the proctoring system cannot verify that the person taking the online exam is the one getting credit.

Can browser lockdown software detect screen-sharing and multiple monitors?

Yes, most browser locking software can detect the attempted use of multiple monitors or screen-sharing on the primary device.

Are browser locks accessible?

Browser lock accessibility depends on the service or application being used. It’s important to check the browser lock’s VPAT to see if it meets your needs and guidelines and if it also integrates with your existing LMS.

Is browser lockdown software enough to protect your exams?

Probably not.

They check the box as a first line of defense to protect academic integrity but it’s pretty easy for test takers to cheat using a browser lock – such as using a cell phone to look up test answers or even having a friend complete the exam for them.

Click below to learn more about the pros and cons of browser lockdown software

Pros & Cons of Browser Lockdown Software

Alternative online proctoring solutions

Browser locks provide a basic foundation to protect academic integrity, but there are other aspects of academic dishonesty to address, such as using a cell phone to look up answers, taking the online exam with another person in the room, or even another person taking the exam for them. 

Aside from a browser lock, there are three alternative proctoring solutions:

  1. AI proctoring
  2. Live proctoring
  3. Blended proctoring

AI proctoring (automated proctoring)

AI verifies identity and then records and monitors the proctored online exam. Once the proctored exam is complete, someone reviews the session and provides a report to the instructor.

What are the pros and cons of AI proctoring?

AI proctoring is convenient because exams can be taken at any time and live proctors do not have to be present. However, AI proctoring can miss some types of academic dishonesty, reviewing the session is time-consuming, and cheating is only addressed after the online exam.

Live proctoring

A live online exam proctor watches test takers taking exams in real-time. The online exam session is also recorded for later review.

What are the pros and cons of live proctoring?

Live proctoring is valuable because it provides the same benefits of proctoring an in-person exam but the proctor is also responsible for simultaneously watching several test takers, which can make it easier to miss academic dishonesty. Scheduling can also be difficult because test takers have to schedule their proctored exam ahead of time and at a time that aligns with the exam proctor’s schedule. Additionally, live proctoring can increase exam anxiety because test takers know they’re being watched at all times.

Blended proctoring

Blends the benefits of AI proctoring and live proctoring. AI proctoring software monitors the online exam and alerts a live exam proctor if it detects potential academic dishonesty. The live proctor can then review the situation in an analysis window before intervening.

What are the pros and cons of blended proctoring

This method of proctored testing may provide a less intimidating and non-invasive exam experience for test takers because they aren’t being constantly watched by a live proctor and flagged for irrelevant issues. Scheduling is also easy because test takers can take their proctored exam at any time, 24/7/365.

Protecting academic integrity when browser lockdown software isn’t enough

Protecting academic integrity is a complex and ongoing effort. There are initial defenses, such as browser lock exams, to deter and prevent cheating. However, with ever-changing technology, you need advanced proctoring features to make sure your online exams are secure.

Sign up below to receive more resources for tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

Want to see Honorlock in action? Schedule a demo.

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

Discover Honorlock

Here at Honorlock, we know there’s a better way to protect exam integrity and promote student success. We’ve dedicated ourselves to taking the technical proctored testing experience and making it human. The result is a remote proctoring solution that supports integrity, makes test-taking less stressful, and saves everyone time and hassle with resources for academic success.

Remote Proctoring Toolkit

Is online learning a decades-old trend that is still in its infancy? Many experts would say yes. That’s exciting news for innovation and access to education, but for those tasked with protecting academic integrity, the challenges have never been greater. According to a recent study by Wiley, 93% of instructors surveyed believe students are more likely to cheat in an online learning environment. To combat the growing opportunities and temptations for some students to act dishonestly, a majority of institutions have been turning to remote proctoring to protect their academic integrity.

Why online exams need remote proctoring

Donald Cressey, designer of the well-known Fraud Triangle, explained that the average individual needs a combination of need, rationalization, and opportunity to commit dishonest acts. This triangle is relevant to online academic dishonesty as well. Dr. Ryan P. Mears, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Florida, and an Honorlock online proctoring customer, explains that “the fraud triangle in online learning involves a student’s need for top grades.

The rationalizations might include the prevalence of cheating, a low likelihood of being caught, a mismatch in the expectations of students and the course instructor, and even normalization by means of social media. Then the disconnected nature of online learning often provides the opportunity.” Institutions have learned that all three of these components must be minimized as much as possible in order to fully protect academic integrity. 

When exams shift from being proctored and in-person to being unproctored and online, both the opportunities for cheating skyrocket and the likelihood of catching such violations plummets. Whether it’s a quick Google search on their phone, a whispered answer from the roommate who has already taken the test, or an online test bank that includes all the questions and answers, online assessment opens up many ways for students to satisfy the “triangle” criteria and be overwhelmed by temptation. Certainly, it won’t be every student who resorts to dishonest acts when faced with unproctored online exams, and the morality of students, in general, is not being disparaged here.

But, in a high-stakes testing situation without remote proctoring, it is simply human nature that a) the need for a positive outcome, b) the rationalization that everybody’s doing it, and c) the increased opportunity and sense that the risks of being caught are low, may combine to result in higher rates of academic dishonesty. A widespread lowering of such standards could ultimately harm your school’s reputation and your students’ quality of learning. 

Many institutions realize how online assessments change the game for academic integrity protection, and regard remote proctoring software as an indispensable tool within the larger academic integrity toolkit.

When institutions combine the security of remote proctoring with other online testing tools, such as clear academic integrity policies and well-designed assessments, they can feel confident in embracing everything distance learning has to offer without worrying about academic dishonesty. 

What holds some institutions back from implementing remote proctoring?

If remote proctoring in higher education is becoming more and more indispensable for protecting academic integrity, what holds back some schools, and maybe your own school, from taking the next steps?

Across our numerous conversations with administrators considering these steps, we have noticed that the most common reservations arise from the three categories below.

Remote proctoring effectiveness: Institutions want to know if the solution works, plain and simple. Some wonder if online exam proctoring can stay ahead of the online tactics for dishonesty. Can proctored testing really ensure a test environment that provides fair and equitable assessment for all students?

In order to “work,” a strong online proctoring solution requires a variety of capabilities to stop the vast majority of online exam dishonesty. At Honorlock, we use a multi-faceted, comprehensive approach, leveraging AI technology combined with trained remote proctors to monitor the online exam in real-time. We then send reports of incidents to the instructor along with the recordings to review as needed. Honorlock goes several steps further than

other online proctoring systems, offering exclusive features, such as:

  • Cell phone detection: patented technology that detects cell phones searching test answers online during exams
  • Live Pop-in: an automated system that will prompt a live remote proctor to “Pop-in” to a student’s exam session if there’s a problem
  • Search and Destroy: secures your online exam answers with technology that automatically searches your test content from across the Internet and issues takedown notices on your behalf to unauthorized sites.
  • Voice Detection: Artificial Intelligence listens for keywords to identify possible acts of academic dishonesty and alerts a live proctor to intervene in real-time.

Clearly, our developers recognize that to be worthwhile, your proctoring service should leave you with no doubt that it can catch online exam academic dishonesty when it occurs.

Here’s a list of 12 features to look for when you evaluate and compare online proctoring services.

Cost in time and money: Schools need solutions for virtual teaching and learning that will be easy to implement and train faculty and students to use. They also want solutions that are cost-effective and can show tangible results.

The better tools for online proctoring are not labor-intensive to set up, as they are usually browser extensions that work within your LMS.

Setting up Honorlock is simple and easy: customers can have the online proctoring platform running in as few as two days. Many institutions came to Honorlock in the early days of the pandemic with urgent requests for proctored testing and were surprised by how pain-free the setup was. St. Petersburg College (SPC), for example, had to set up a solution just two days before finals.

Christopher Harvey, Executive Director of Academic Technology at SPC, stated, “All of the faculty were able to adapt within the two days; all were able to use it and review the tests. We did it quick!”

Lindsey Eaton, Online Course Testing Coordinator, said, “The transition was almost seamless.” Honorlock also makes this implementation so easy by offering a variety of training for administrators and faculty, as well as 24-hour support for students, which keeps the pressure off the institution and its resources. 

Honorlock works with colleges and universities of all sizes to make sure they get only the coverage they need, and within budget. No institution is too small or too large, and our rates scale with your need for a cost-effective solution, no matter the size. 

Honorlock’s detailed academic integrity reports also ensure that institutions can see results in protecting academic integrity in significant detail, as Ryan Mears from University of Florida notes:

 “I felt that I couldn’t trust my test scores before Honorlock. The analytics that comes with the flags and real-time recording helped me to understand how students were approaching the course and what strategies they were using to pass the test. Honorlock helped me make sense of what was going on in my online course and it gave me confidence that academic integrity was upheld.”

Mears was able to adjust his questions to better encourage his students to show him what they had learned, which is what all course assessments strive to do.

Student trust and well-being: Honor codes and codes of conduct are not just words to higher education institutions. Schools expect a level of trust with students and want their students to trust in them. Part of earning that trust is ensuring students are protected in the areas of privacy and well-being. Any virtual teaching and learning solution, including proctoring platforms, shouldn’t erode this trust or goodwill.

The best online proctoring companies work within your academic integrity policies, acting as a deterrent to protect these policies. At Honorlock, our primary goal isn’t to “catch cheaters”, but to prevent dishonesty before it happens by eliminating the opportunities. Behind this philosophy is a key value of treating all our customers, whether they are administration, faculty, or students with the same level of professionalism and respect.

Honorlock was actually built by students at Florida Atlantic University, and we continue to take steps to ensure the student perspective is always taken into account, training our proctors to communicate in a way in which they would want to be communicated with, no matter the circumstance. This perspective also extends into our solution design, which centers around student flexibility. Honorlock online proctoring is simple to use with any computer, without software downloads, and available 24/7 without prior scheduling with full technical and proctoring support. Respecting the student perspective is a key way Honorlock sets itself apart from other proctoring solutions and helps institutions maintain trust with students while protecting their academic integrity. 

Test proctoring should never hinder the learning experience. It should should lower test anxiety and provide peace-of-mind to students that they and their peers are all taking tests on a level playing field, without anyone being able to game the system. When taking online exams, students don’t want extra things to worry about, and expect an online proctoring solution to stay in the background when they are adhering to the rules.

Dr. Juliette Mersiowsky, former Director of Distance Education at Longwood University, another Honorlock institution, has been impressed with Honorlock’s reputation among students there, stating “I don’t get any complaints about [Honorlock]. [Students] say it’s quick and easy, once they start the exam, they don’t even notice that they’re being proctored, which helps to reduce test anxiety.” 

Daphne St. Val, Senior Instructional Designer at Broward County Community College, which also uses Honorlock’s proctoring platform, noted that students were initially concerned about their privacy, but “little by little,” she said, they became comfortable. Ultimately, the best online proctoring companies work with the school to balance building student trust with ensuring a fair test-taking environment, not only to protect against academic misconduct but also to provide the best environment for the student to succeed.

When it comes to adopting new educational technology, many people are understandably hesitant. Individuals want to know that the technology being presented to them really works without negative consequences. Whether it’s online banking, social media, or simple online searching, it takes time for these technologies to prove they are safe and useful. Over time, these online functions have all added security layers, which helps build trust with customers. At Honorlock, we see the best online proctoring solutions already becoming the type of essential security feature that makes sure online assessments are a viable option.

Honorlock’s blended proctoring solution offers the best of both worlds

The flexibility of online assessments is extremely compelling, both for faculty and for students. Yet many faculty—and entire institutions—have been hesitant to move exams online due to academic dishonesty concerns. On the surface, in-person testing seems difficult to beat when it comes to upholding academic integrity. In-class tests are almost always proctored by an individual, students generally take tests simultaneously, and it is arguably more difficult for students to cheat when being surrounded by their peers and in a contained environment. 

When the pandemic struck, an immediate need arose for many assessments to be pushed out of the classroom and online. At that point and afterward, unprepared institutions struggled through the fear of their online assessment environments becoming like the wild west. For many of these schools scarred by academic dishonesty and student distrust, moving back to classroom exams seems like the obvious solution.

For many customers using Honorlock’s blended proctoring, however, there’s no going back from online assessments, as they quickly realized they could achieve the best of in-person protection with the flexibility of students being able to take tests wherever and whenever they want.

When facing the pandemic in the spring of 2020, Ken Craver, Director of Distance Education at Tyler Junior College, said “we knew when our testing center was no longer available that Honorlock would be the answer to our proctoring needs…[with Honorlock, students] don’t have to make a reservation like they used to do. They just log in and take the test anytime within the time window provided by the faculty member. It just works!” For customers like Tyler College, online proctoring was truly the best of both worlds.

300+ colleges and universities that have implemented Honorlock’s online proctoring software and services.

From the academic integrity perspective, the best online proctoring solutions go beyond just trying to equal the protection afforded with in-person exams. In many ways, the level of detail and service provided to an institution is significantly stronger than anything that can be done in the classroom.

With Honorlock’s blended proctoring approach, AI technology monitors the online exam live, combined with online human exam proctors that can review the exam recording when necessary. Reports of any incidents are sent to the instructor along with the recordings to review as needed. Imagine getting that type of security from one in-classroom proctor! 

It’s easy to see why institutions with this tool in their academic integrity toolkit are confidently expanding their online learning capacity without fear of compromising their reputation. While online learning is arguably still in its infancy, its acceleration by the pandemic shows few signs of slowing down. You want to make sure your school is taking advantage of virtual teaching and learning, while simultaneously living free from worry about a loss of academic integrity. With the security of an online proctoring solution, you can do just that!

To learn more about how Honorlock can help your institution, sign up for a demo today!

SCHEDULE A DEMO

Sign up below to receive more resources for tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

https://www.wiley.com/network/instructors-students/covid-19-online-teaching-resources-1/is-student-cheating-on-the-rise-how-you-can-discourage-it-in-your-classroom

Dave Dupert

Dave has over 15 years of experience in B2B SaaS and higher education marketing. He is passionate about helping organizations discover technology that improves the lives of students, employees, and customers.

Is your school a candidate for a new online proctoring platform?

Preventing academic dishonesty takes a multifaceted approach. As more exams move online, this approach has increasingly included online proctoring as a tool to protect academic integrity.  

When you compare Honorlock’s online proctoring platform to others, you’ll find multiple features that set us apart.

Cell phone detection

As students have more access to electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, it becomes more difficult for instructors to prevent cheating on online exams – especially in an online testing environment.

Honorlock’s online proctoring software detects if a student is using a cell phone, tablet, or laptop while taking a remote proctored exam.

Our remote proctoring services can detect when other devices are accessing test bank content during a proctored online exam, and we also capture a screen recording of any websites that the student visited so that the instructor can use it as evidence in the event of a violation. This online proctoring feature deters students from using their cell phones or other devices, and you protect the academic integrity of your proctored online exams.

Test content protection

We know how frustrating it is for instructors and faculty to find their online exam questions are available on test bank websites. Test bank websites make it easy for students to find and share your exam questions.

Honorlock’s Search & Destroy technology searches the internet to identify exam questions that have been shared online and if leaked exam questions are found, instructors are given simple steps to take control of their exams’ integrity. Search & Destroy provides an added layer of content protection and insights into the uniqueness and quality of exam questions.

Blocks AI like ChatGPT

Honorlock’s online proctoring platform provides a number of tools that work together to block and control AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Transcript browser extension, which could be used to cheat on exams.

So, whether you want to block AI entirely or even allow it at certain times (like interactive course assignments), Honorlock can help. Download the ebook to see exactly how this works.

Honorlock blends AI and live proctors

Most online proctoring companies follow two methods of proctoring: automated proctoring and live remote proctoring – both present challenges for faculty and students.

Honorlock was the first online proctoring service to combine AI proctoring software and live remote proctors. This keeps the human touch while delivering a much less intimidating and non-invasive proctored testing experience for the student. Faculty save time when reviewing the assessment report because they don’t have to review false flags.

Live Pop-In AI monitors the student’s online exam for potential problems, and, if it detects any, our live remote proctor is prompted to join a student’s online exam session in real-time to address possible dishonesty as it happens

Online proctoring software that integrates with your LMS

Honorlock’s proctoring software directly integrates with LMSs like Blackboard Learn, Canvas, Moodle, D2L Brightspace, and Intellum. And Honorlock also provides custom integrations with your platform with our easy-to-use APIs and Elements toolkit. Our exam proctoring platform is developer-friendly and highly customizable, giving you the flexibility and power needed to create an integration that meets your needs.

Voice detection (different than sound detection)

Instead of creating flags for unimportant noises, like coughing or a dog barking, Honorlock’s AI listens for words that may indicate cheating, like phrases that activate voice assistants, such as “Hey Siri.”

Learn More

Access more related resources:

Sign up below to receive more resources for tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

Want to see Honorlock in action? Schedule a demo.

Dave Dupert

Dave has over 15 years of experience in B2B SaaS and higher education marketing. He is passionate about helping organizations discover technology that improves the lives of students, employees, and customers.

Compare Online Proctoring Services

Guide for comparing different online proctoring services

When you compare online proctoring services, you may be surprised to find that they come in many shapes and sizes.

  • Can the proctoring software detect cell phone use?
  • Does it protect my exam questions from being posted on unauthorized test banks?
  • Are proctored exams easy to use to set up for faculty and students?
  • Is a flat-rate cost or will it cost more for variable requirements?
  • Does the proctoring software integrate with our Learning Management System (LMS)?
  • How does it ensure that student data privacy?
  • How long does it take to implement?
Click any part below to skip to that section

Part 1: What is online proctoring and why is it needed?

Online proctoring, sometimes referred to as remote proctoring, monitors students during an online exam using software and/or live proctors to:

  • Prevent cheating and protect exam integrity
  • Preserve accreditation
  • Improve student success
  • Scale online programs at an affordable cost

Some proctoring services use one method or a combination of both to effectively proctor online exams.

How does online proctoring protect accreditation?

Some online programs are required by law to verify identification. This is to ensure that the person taking the proctored exam is the same student enrolled in the course. 

According to the federal government’s 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, higher education institutions that receive Title IV funding are required to verify the identity of enrolled online students by at least one of the following methods:

  • Online proctored exams 
  • New or other technologies and practices which verify identify
  • Secure login and password, such as a Learning Management System (LMS)

Improving student success

The right proctoring service will offer your students two key things: convenience and academic rigor.

Proctored exams can help provide online courses with the same level of quality as in the classroom with more flexibility. Students can take online exams at a time that works for their schedule and get needed support at any time

Part 2: What are the four types of online proctoring services?

Common methods of online proctoring services:

  • Browser lockdown software
  • Automated proctoring 
  • Live proctoring
  • Blending automated proctoring and live online proctoring

Browser Lockdown Software

What is browser lockdown software?

Test software tools like browser locks are used to prevent students from accessing other browsers, websites, or applications during an exam and to also restrict certain function keys and keyboard shortcuts. A browser lock is a starting point for proctoring online exams but lacks many features that address academic dishonesty.

How does a browser lockdown work?

They integrate with the LMS and prevent students from accessing websites, applications, and keyboard functions during the exam.

What are the benefits of a browser lockdown?

  • Easy to implement
  • Simple functionality prevents one aspect of academic dishonesty
  • Printing and screen capture is disabled

What are the issues of using a browser lock?

  • They only address one aspect of academic dishonesty
  • Students can easily work around a browser lock to find answers and cheat
    • If no other proctoring software is used along with the browser lock, a student can use their cell phone to search for answers or refer to their class notes

Automated Proctoring

What is automated proctoring?

Automated proctoring, also referred to as AI proctoring, uses AI software to monitor students during the online exam. 

How does automated proctoring work?

  • A student sits down for the online assessment, verifies their identity, and then starts the exam
  • AI technology monitors the student during the online exam 
  • Someone reviews the recording of their session and prepares a report for the instructor
  • The instructor can also review the session recording to better evaluate any flagged incidents

What are the benefits of automated proctoring?

  • No one has to be present during the online exam
  • Students can access online exams day or night
  • Reports provide critical details about student behavior
  • Instructors can easily review reports and decide if any academic dishonesty has occurred

What are the issues with automated proctoring?

  • Cheating is addressed after the exam
  • AI can miss some potential academic misconduct
  • The exam recording has to be reviewed in its entirety which can be a lengthy process
  • The lengthy review process delays grading, which can frustrate faculty and students 

Live Proctoring

What is live proctoring?

Proctoring services that aren’t using automated proctoring typically use live remote proctors who watch students as they take the exam.

How does live proctoring work?

  • Live remote proctors watch the student while they take their online exam to ensure that academic integrity is upheld
  • Remote proctors can intervene if any issues arise
  • After the online exam, live remote proctors create an exam report and send the recording to the instructor for review

What are the benefits of live proctoring?

  • Live proctoring means that you get many of the same benefits of proctoring an in-person, on-campus exam
  • Having a human monitor the online exams can make instructors more comfortable with the integrity of their exams
  • Live remote proctors can communicate with students in real-time
  • Sessions are still recorded so instructors can review if needed

What are the issues with live proctoring?

  • Live remote proctors are often watching multiple students simultaneously, which increases the chance of missing incidents
  • Students know they’re being watched which can increase exam anxiety and negatively impact exam performance
  • Scheduling is a hassle because students have to schedule ahead of time and align with the availability of the remote proctor
  • Some students have described live proctoring as “creepy” because the proctor is visible on their desktop throughout their exam

Blending AI Proctoring and Live Online Proctoring Services

Proctoring services such as Honorlock combine AI and live remote proctors to prevent cheating, protect academic integrity, and support students throughout.

How does Honorlock’s online proctoring services work?

  • Students can schedule and take their exam at any time – 24/7/365
  • AI monitors the student during the exam and prompts a live human proctor to enter if any issues are detected. This means that when a proctor is alerted, their attention is on one student only
  • Proctors can review the situation before intervening, which provides a less intimidating and non-invasive exam experience
  • Faculty save time when reviewing the assessment report because they don’t have to review false flags
  • Actionable exam reports and recordings are provided to instructors 

Ultimately, you should carefully evaluate and compare online proctoring services and decide what works best for your institution.

Part 3: What questions should I ask about proctoring software features and functionality?

There are seemingly endless features and functionality to consider when you compare online proctoring software.

You’re not just preventing cheating and protecting academic integrity, you’re also setting your faculty and students up for success.

Use these questions to drive your conversations with online proctoring companies:

Can the proctoring software detect the use of cell phones and other devices?

This is an important problem that most proctoring services haven’t solved, yet most students have a cell phone, a tablet, or even a smartwatch. As technology advances, your testing software needs to advance along with it.

Follow-up question: Does the proctoring software capture a screen recording of the specific sites visited by these devices and provide it to the instructor?

How does the proctoring software protect your exam questions and answers from unauthorized use on the internet?

Faculty spend a lot of time crafting exam questions that will allow students to demonstrate their newly gained knowledge. It’s frustrating when these questions are copied and shared with common study sites such as Quizlet, Chegg, and Coursehero.

Follow-up question: Does the proctoring software you’re considering automatically take steps toward removing that exam content from unauthorized sites?

Does the proctoring software integrate with your LMS?

The online proctoring software should directly integrate with your LMS, such as Canvas, Blackboard, and D2L Brightspace, so that faculty and students can work in a testing environment they’ve already mastered. The LMS integration should also allow you to operate within your LMS without requiring additional logins and passwords.

Follow-up questions:

  • How long does the integration process take?
  • Does the proctoring solution natively acquire your institution’s branding in the LMS?

Can you proctor third-party exams such as Cengage, Pearson, and McGraw Hill?

When faculty need to administer exams outside of your LMS, they need a proctoring solution that will provide effective evaluation while preventing academic dishonesty. Make sure your proctoring software seamlessly works with third-party systems.

Is real-time reporting available? If not, how long does it usually take to receive exam reporting?

Many online proctoring systems can take up to three days to provide exam recordings for faculty review. After that, faculty need to log into a third-party system for access. Make sure that the online proctoring service provides timely access to exam reports and recordings.

Follow-up questions: 

  • Are the proctored exam reports provided within your LMS?
  • Is there an additional cost associated with reporting?

When can students schedule and take their online exams?

With live proctoring, students usually find that they have to schedule their exam time in advance. Limited proctor hours can prevent students from being able to take the exam when they are most ready and most alert. This creates headaches and frustration. Be sure that exam scheduling is on-demand to provide a smooth experience for your students.

Follow-up question: If the proctoring software requires scheduling ahead of time and a student needs to reschedule their online exam, will they be penalized?

Does the proctoring software have voice detection?

Online proctoring solutions with voice detection features are often sensitive to sounds which can cause over-flagging. This sensitivity is not only annoying for your faculty but also causes unneeded stress for students. Ideally, you’ll find proctoring software with robust voice detection that reduces false flags. This also gives students who like to read questions aloud the peace of mind that they will not be flagged inappropriately.

The voice detection AI should go beyond simply listening for a voice and have the capability to identify common phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” to identify students who may be attempting academic dishonesty. Additionally, instructors and administrators should be able to create and update a list of dynamic words and phrases specific to their needs.

Follow-up questions:

  • Is the voice detection in real-time?
    • When an issue arises, the proctoring software should alert a live proctor who can enter the exam session to determine whether the student is acting appropriately
  • Does the proctoring software provide a written transcript when a voice is detected?

Does the online proctoring service quickly verify the student’s ID?

Many online proctoring services state perform identity verification, but how?  Be sure to ask.

The software should read the content on the student’s ID and match it to the student’s name and information in your LMS before the student is can launch the proctored exam. 

Follow-up questions: 

  • How long does the proctoring software typically take to verify a student’s ID? 60 seconds, a few minutes?
  • Does the online proctoring service charge extra for ID verification?

Is the proctoring software easy to use?

If you’re investing in online proctoring software, make sure it will actually be used by your faculty.

Easy-to-use proctoring software will actually get used. This is important because it can be the difference between true technology adoption and a better proctoring experience vs wasting money on a platform that isn’t being used. 

Follow-up questions:

  • What features save instructors time? 
  • What steps are involved for instructors to enable a proctored exam?
    • There should be minimal steps required: Instructors should be able to create exams like they normally would and select the proctoring features to use.
    • The software should also fully integrate with the LMS which means no additional logins or passwords.

Can you customize online exams based on accessibility needs?

Accessibility in the classroom is ever important and instructors need the ability to create specific instructions for any student requiring accommodations. It’s also important to review the company’s VPAT and have it validated by your team. 

Follow-up question: What assistive technologies are supported by the online proctoring solution?

Common assistive technologies are:
  • Natural Reader 
  • JAWS
  • NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
  • Text2Speech 
  • Ultra Hal TTS Reader 
  • TTS Add-ons for Browsers.  
  • SpeakIt! 
  • FoxVox 
  • SpokenText 
  • SpeakingFox 
  • Talkie 
  • Chirpy 2.0 
  • Read Aloud 

How does the online proctoring service protect student privacy?

Student privacy is incredibly important to students, instructors, and institutions. It should be a top priority for online proctoring services as well. Obtain the online proctoring company’s privacy policy which should address why and how they’re protecting student data. 

Follow-up questions:

  • What data is collected by the online proctoring service and why is it needed?
  • Does the company sell or share student data?
  • How long is data kept by the online proctoring service?

How does the online proctoring service secure your data?

  • Is the proctoring software reliably hosted by a cloud service provider? 
  • Are employees of the online proctoring service trained and certified in FERPA and Data Protection?
  • Does the online proctoring service have the company’s data, security, and business practices audited annually by independent third parties to obtain certifications such as SOCII?
  • Is the online proctoring company GDPR compliant? This information should be readily available on their website.

Part 4: What should I ask about implementation, training, and support?

Critical variables that are often overlooked when purchasing online proctoring technology are implementation, training, and ongoing support.

Online proctoring implementation should be streamlined, project managed and fully supported during and after

Implementation

How long does it take to implement the proctoring solution?

 You need a quick and easy implementation that takes a few days, not weeks or months. This ensures that you’re getting your money’s worth as early as possible.

To set your institution up for success, you’ll want to establish a few things before you begin the implementation:
  • What’s your go-live date?
    Once the go-live date is established, the full implementation including training and onboarding sessions take place
  • Who are your administrators?
    This is the list of who at your school should have admin accounts (list names and emails)
  • What dates and times are open for your team?

Training

Training should be thorough and leave your faculty with confidence moving forward. Be sure that the online proctoring service provides ongoing training materials and 24/7/365 support for students, faculty, and administrators.

What training for online exam proctoring is available?

 Ask the online proctoring service to provide a sample training plan that details each segment and the goals.

What ongoing training resources are available?

 Online proctoring services should include resources such as quick reference guides, FAQs, and technical information for users. An added bonus is holding pre-semester webinars that cover commonly asked questions by other customers.

Customer Success Managers

 Whether you have feature requests or want help, make sure that the proctoring service includes a dedicated Account Manager or Customer Success Manager to help you along the way.

Support for faculty and students

Since education is an around-the-clock endeavor, remote proctoring support for your faculty and students should be too.
Ask these questions to ensure that you’re receiving the best support possible:
  • What are the support hours of operation?
    Student support should be readily available anytime, 24/7/365, for your students and faculty.
  • Does the proctoring service include technical support or is it an additional cost to the online proctoring software?
    Technical support for online proctoring software is often an added expense. To keep your costs under control, make sure that the online proctoring service includes this price along with the software.
  • How is support provided?
    Ideally, instructors, students, and administrators will have multiple options to connect with a human for support such as support via phone, live chat, and email.Follow-up questions:
    • Is support built into the remote proctoring software or do users have to go to a different program or application?
    • Is remote proctoring support provided in real-time?
    • Will your faculty and students speak with a human or a bot?

Part 5: What are the cost structures and how do you avoid additional costs?

Each instructor, not to mention each course, has variable requirements for proctored online exams. This can lead to unfair hikes in cost.

To avoid unfair online proctoring cost hikes, ask the following questions:
  • Do you charge a flat rate per online exam/student or does the cost vary?
    • With flat rates, you’re able to protect your bottom line and better estimate online exam proctoring costs. As an example, when online proctoring services charge per hour, you may pay twice as much for longer proctored online exams.
  • Do students have to pay extra to reschedule an exam?
    • Some live proctoring services require that students pay a fee to reschedule the exam.
  • Are implementation and training an additional cost
    • Be cautious of additional costs such as implementation and training, which can be tossed into the contract at the last minute or added later. To provide the best experience possible, online proctoring services should provide implementation and training at no additional cost.

Honorlock Online Proctoring Services

Honorlock combines AI and live remote proctors to protect academic integrity. We make online proctoring simple, easy, and human.

Additionally, Honorlock’s online proctoring services can be implemented in as little as two days and provides 24/7/365 faculty and student support.

The benefits of Honorlock’s proctoring services:

Cell phone detection

 Honorlock not only detects the use of cell phones, tablets, and other devices – our patented AI captures a screen recording of the violation to provide evidence of academic dishonesty. This helps deter students from using their phones out of view and you get to proctor beyond the webcam.

Combine AI and live test proctors

Honorlock combines the benefits of AI with those of a live test proctor. Our remote proctoring software partners with our trained proctors to reduce test anxiety and provide human support while upholding exam integrity. 

Our AI software monitors each exam session for problems and alerts a live, US-based proctor to join the session to address possible dishonesty. Our software equips the proctor with an analysis window so they can review the situation before entering the exam session via chat-box to address the situation.

Detect voices

Honorlock’s Voice Detection feature goes beyond by listening for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” to identify students who may be attempting to cheat on an exam. If the AI detects any dishonesty, it alerts a live proctor in real-time to pop into the exam session via chat to intervene and redirect the student.

Our AI delivers a more robust voice detection system that reduces false flags, such as dog barking. Honorlock also provides a written transcript to instructors whenever a student’s voice is detected.

Reduce illicit exam content from the Internet

 Once you enable Honorlock in an online exam, our test bank removal technology, Search and Destroy™ searches the Internet for leaked online exam questions.

Plug and play LMS integration

Honorlock’s online proctoring software directly integrates with your LMS.

This also means no additional sign-ons or passwords for faculty and students – in just a few clicks, your students and faculty are ready for the proctored online exam.

Remote proctor third-party exams

 Our proctoring software provides instructors with the ability to proctor third party exams with MyMathLab, ALEKS, Pearson, McGraw Hill, and others. Faculty can easily register third party online exams and customize exam settings in the LMS.

Actionable reporting

Extensive data is collected during the proctored exam in the institution’s LMS. Reports on student activity are provided at no additional cost to the institution.

Honorlock’s analytics provide quick results for a number of potential violations. For instance, if the student’s face goes outside the view of the camera, the violation is detected and available to the instructors via the Honorlock dashboard. The detailed reports that are available to each instructor include violations and any suspicious behavior/activity. 

24/7/365 exam scheduling

 Students can take online proctored exams with Honorlock at any time—even if it’s at 2 am over Thanksgiving break.

Verify student ID in 60 seconds

 Honorlock’s proctoring software quickly captures the content on the student’s ID along with their photo so you can be sure the student taking the proctored online exam is the student getting credit.

Easy to use and quick to set up

Honorlock was designed with the user in mind and removes much of the manual labor involved. Additionally, the LMS integration makes setup quick and simple.

The instructor creates their test in the LMS as they normally would, and then simply clicks “Enable” and the test is ready for online proctoring. And it’s just as easy for the student.

Protect student data privacy

 Student privacy is incredibly important to students, professors, and Honorlock.

Here are a few keys to remember about Honorlock’s approach to student privacy:

  • Honorlock is FERPA compliant
  • Honorlock does not sell or monetize student data
  • Honorlock does not use any student data for anything other than carrying out online exam proctoring services
  • Only appropriate school personnel have access to student data
    • Key staff from Honorlock will have access if needed to help provide quality control and support for instructors.
  • Your school owns the data
    • Honorlock uses an encrypted and secured connection during each online proctored exam. All videos and photos are stored on Honorlock’s platform. All data, including photos and video, is stored in an encrypted format on isolated storage systems within Honorlock’s private cloud in Amazon’s AWS U.S. data centers.
  • We store data in accordance with your institution’s MSA
    • After the specified time of your MSA, all student-related data is automatically purged unless the university requests an extension of a particular student’s data related to an academic integrity case. Upon request from the university, Honorlock can extend the data retention of a student’s data up to an additional 12 months.
Implementation can be completed in 2 days

Honorlock’s implementation is streamlined, project managed, and fully supported throughout to ensure your success and that faculty feel confident and will actually use the proctoring software. 

Training and ongoing training materials

Training is available for instructors and staff at no additional cost.

Honorlock also provides a comprehensive list of quick reference guides, help articles, and videos for faculty and students. This includes resources provided to the admin to assist in student orientation and training. The guides and tutorials are effective as a means of providing ongoing training for new faculty and administrators.

24/7/365 support for students and faculty

 Just like our online exam proctoring, our support is on-demand 24/7/365. From implementation to proctoring online exams, our US-based, trained support agents are available via phone (faculty only), live chat, and email. Support access is available within the online proctoring software in real-time and you’ll speak with a real person.

Fully accessible and customizable online proctoring software

Honorlock is ADA accessible and compliant with Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Honorlock has also been developed and tested to conform to WCAG 2.0 level AA guidelines for accessible use. Conformance to accessibility guidelines is part of our development process and testing is completed using various tools including screen readers (eg: Jaws and NVDA) and Deque’s aXe. All information including details and disclosures have been specified in our VPAT.

Additionally, instructors can restrict or provide access to specific websites and applications during the proctored exam. Instructors are also able to provide descriptive guidelines for students to let them know exactly what is allowed and what isn’t allowed on your proctored exam. 

There is also a section for instructors to put in any specific notes for remote proctors. This is where instructors can list any students that have any specific accommodations. The student guidelines make it easy for the remote proctor to see what guidelines the instructor provided for the student. 

Honorlock’s online proctoring services are used by more than 300+ institutions:

Read quotes from their customer success stories:

Ease of use
 “The faculty loved it because it did what we wanted it to do and it was super easy to use. Even students said they liked Honorlock best.”

 – Jill Simpson, Ph.D. University of North Alabama

24/7/365 support
“Having access to customer support 24/7/365 is huge. Especially during times like this when students may be taking exams at any time of day. You want them to have access to someone who can troubleshoot with them.”
– Daphnee St. Val, Senior Instructional Designer, Broward College
Protecting online exam content from unauthorized use
“One of the unexpected features that has surprised and delighted our faculty is Search and Destroy. So fabulous!”
– Dr. Juliette Mersiowsky, Director of Distance Education and Digital Education Collaborative, Longwood University
Customizing proctored online exams
“Instructors like how they can set different parameters in the exams. It’s a better experience for the students because instructors can be very specific, whitelist sites, and easily administer third-party exams. Overall, the semester has started out very very smoothly!”
– Paula Rodriguez, Director of the University Testing Center, Colorado State University
Quick implementation
“We were working with Honorlock to do a pilot in the Spring and… was able to get us up and running for the Fall finals right away. All of the faculty were able to adapt within the two days; all were able to use it and review the tests. We did it quick!”
– Christopher Harvey, Executive Director of Academic Technology, St. Petersburg College
Reporting benefits
“Honorlock was more than a tool to guard or block students from using inappropriate information. It was also a means to detect and determine many different ways that students approach the exams. Because of access to the wealth of data/information through Honorlock, I became better able to utilize it.”
– Ryan P. Mears, PhD, University of Florida
Blended online proctoring features
“When the AI is triggered, a skilled human proctor intervenes. This model worked better than the competitor’s model having all exams proctored by people who were unable to properly provide student support.”
– Kate Beverage, Director of Technology for Teaching and Learning Services, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
24/7 exam scheduling
“They don’t have to make a reservation like they used to do. They just log in and take the test anytime within the time window provided by the faculty member. It just works!”
– Ken Craver, Director of Distance Education, Tyler Junior College
Exclusive remote proctoring features
“The features Honorlock had to offer blew everyone else out of the water; Search and Destroy and Multi-device Detection made us realize that we had to get this product… If we can’t verify that our students are the ones who are completing the work, and all of our quizzes are out there on the internet where anyone can look up the answers, what kind of quality is that degree?”
– Cody Moyer, M.Ed., Director of Learning Technology, Polk State College

Online proctoring services are an ongoing strategic advantage for your institution’s online learning efforts and plays a vital role in improving student success and learning outcomes.

“We know universities have many options when it comes to online test proctoring. Our goal is to be the best option. We’re committed to leading the industry through innovation and customer success.”
– Michael Hemlepp, CEO of Honorlock

To learn more about how Honorlock’s online proctoring services can help your institution, sign up for a demo today!

Schedule A demo

Sign up below to receive more resources for tips, best practices, white papers, and industry trends

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.