How to Take an Online Proctored Exam

Tips for taking an online proctored exam:

  • Ensure that your webcam, microphone, keyboard, and Wi-Fi are working correctly
  • Review the exam instructions ahead of time
  • Set up the room for success (clear desk, well lit, no distractions)
  • Log in, verify your ID, then launch the proctored exam

The 2020-21 academic year will be like none that has ever come before. Millions of students will be starting their formal college experience in circumstances that only a few infectious disease experts ever predicted could be possible. But the educational spirit is strong, and schools and professors are eager to deliver an optimal experience for everyone. If you are entering the world of online education for the first time, you may take a while to get used to the environment. And, no sooner will you have made the adjustment than you may be required to take your first online exam. Such an exam is likely to incorporate a remote proctoring solution chosen by your school. We provide background information and steps to success for your upcoming online proctored exam. Read on.

Online Exams aren’t Going Away

Your job as a student is to learn as much as possible however your classes are delivered, and then to demonstrate your acquired knowledge in formal assessments. These assessments may include term papers, lab reports, group projects, and, of course, online exams. By now it shouldn’t be a surprise that online testing platforms are here to stay and will play an important role in higher education for decades to come. Your first college exam is bound to be exciting, perhaps even intimidating, but there’s no reason to think that it should be any more so because you’re taking an exam that uses remote proctoring software. 

But Why is This Really Happening?

The Federal government requires your institution to “verify the identity of students to ensure those who register for an online course are the ones who participate.” It makes sense, right? You want to receive proper credit for the work that you do and both your school and our society in general also want you to receive that credit. Consider it from another angle: in many fields you are in competition with others. Remote proctoring software helps provide the level playing field so that you can do your best in your online exam, content in the knowledge that no one else is going to be able to gain an unfair advantage over you.

Make Sure You Stay Connected

The internet works most reliably when it’s plugged in! Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots can be perfectly OK, but if you can get yourself hooked up to a broadband connection, you can reduce your chances of being kicked off during your exam. You’ll also want to ensure that your webcam and microphone are working properly, as both are integral to a successful web proctored exam. If you use a wireless mouse or keyboard, you may also wish to check their batteries—every click and tap counts!

Know the Online Proctored Exam Instructions in Advance

Countless exam-takers wait until the last minute to read the directions for online proctored exam. Keep out of this group. Instead, take the time to become familiar with your instructor’s guidelines in advance. Learn what they will allow you to have with you (a separate calculator, for example), and what will they completely forbid (also possibly a separate calculator—get the idea?). Knowing what will be expected of you will help you relax. You’ll be able to focus on the test material rather than find yourself in a sudden panic at the last minute because the directions surprise you.

Set Up Your Room for the Online Proctored Exam

Make sure that your testing environment is ready for your online proctored exam as well. Is the room sufficiently lit? Will it be quiet enough for you to concentrate? Have you cleared up around your study area? Is it possible to lock or otherwise block the door so as to protect your space from wandering parents, siblings, or housemates? When it comes time to sit down and take your exam, you want your face to be seen, your desk to be clean, and your mood to be serene. 

Logging on to Your Online Proctored Exam

Honorlock remote proctoring is meant to make your online exam experience as seamless as possible. Honorlock’s proctoring software is a simple Chrome browser extension that will take you moments to install and then seconds to delete, should you choose to do so following your proctored online exam. Once you’ve taken care of your room, desk, and computer, you will be ready to begin. Make sure you have your Student ID, as you will hold it up to your webcam so that the proctoring AI can match it to your face (this is the government-mandated identity verification part noted above). You’ll then do a 360-degree sweep of your testing area with your webcam so as to demonstrate that the only materials in your immediate vicinity are the materials approved for use by your instructor in the course.

During the Online Proctored Exam

And you’re off! Intently focused on showing your instructor that you know your stuff. With Honorlock, a remote proctor’s face won’t be hovering in a corner of your screen, potentially freaking you out. 

Honorlock remote proctoring was actually created by students for students. We didn’t like that sort of online proctoring where students feel like they’re being watch – and we figured that you wouldn’t either.  Instead, you’ll be monitored by proctoring software artificial intelligence. Should a potential incident occur (say you get up from the computer unexpectedly, or suddenly start speaking with someone else who has come into the room), the AI will notify one of our always available remote proctors, who may then “pop-in” via chat box to make sure everything is going fine and that you haven’t breached the guidelines set down by your instructor. If you are someone who likes to read exam questions aloud to yourself, you will not have to worry that you’ll be accused of cheating. Your instructor receives a report immediately following the online proctored exam and he or she is the person who will determine whether any breaches of academic standards have taken place.

The process, and the goal, is always to provide you with the most convenient, most secure, and least stressful online exam experience. Good luck with your studies!

If you’re a student and you are looking for support on how to use Honorlock remote proctoring, please chat with one of our ready support specialists here.

If you’re a faculty member who is looking for a remote proctoring solution and you would like to speak to an Honorlock representative, please click on request a demo here.

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Tess Mitchell

Tess has 20+ years of experience heading up corporate marketing teams in healthcare and higher education. She is passionate about thinking differently to lead teams to discover new and innovative ways to drive positive outcomes.

A Message to Students New to Online Education and Remote Proctoring

A Message to Students New to Online Education and Remote Proctoring

To students new to online education and proctored exams:

We know you are navigating some very unique circumstances brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic. Your college life has been completely disrupted. You miss your friends, you miss your professors, you miss your college life. You no longer attend class on campus but have been thrust into new online education methods which include online proctored exams. You’re required to use technology that you didn’t sign up for and it feels uncomfortable.

Honorlock is immensely privileged to provide online proctored exams at your institution. We will support you to the best of our abilities and we promise to be trustworthy stewards of your data and respectful of your privacy. 

We’ve compiled your questions and specific issues of concern that you’ve expressed and addressed them below.

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring, sometimes referred to as remote proctoring, uses AI and live proctors to monitor your exam session to support you and provide a fair testing environment. Proctored exams typically use video, audio, and other AI to detect potential academic dishonesty.

How do proctored exams with Honorlock work?

Our proctored exams are quick and easy to begin

You’ll just need to install the Chrome Extension and after that, it only takes about 60-seconds to scan your room, verify ID, and get started. You can find a list of system requirements here.

You aren’t constantly being watched during the exam

  • Honorlock combines AI with live human proctors which means that you aren’t constantly being watched.
    • Our AI monitors your exam session and if something is wrong, it will trigger one of our live proctor to pop-in
    • The proctor will assess the situation and help you get back on track via chat as needed

Schedule and take your proctored exam anytime

As long as it’s within the timeframe given by your instructor, you can schedule and take your exam anytime – even if it’s at 2 am on a holiday weekend.

Support is available 24/7/365

You can access support without leaving the test environment. Our US-based support team is there to troubleshoot issues with you and help make your testing experience as smooth as possible.

Use this quick guide to learn how to prepare for a proctored exam and what to expect.

Honorlock and your computer

Honorlock’s proctoring software is a Chrome extension, which means it is enabled through your Google Chrome browser thus it does not access your computer, your Operating System, or your network. We do not read, change or modify data on your computer, identify storage devices, or manage your apps, extensions, and themes.

Honorlock does have access to the information within the Chrome browser (your IP address, your email address and your name via your school’s LMS). This information is only available while you are actively in your exam as indicated by the flashing red indicator on the extension.

After your exam, Honorlock can be removed from Chrome in a matter of seconds. Simply navigate to the extension in the toolbar of Chrome, right-click and remove. You can reinstall the extension for your next exam in less than 30 seconds

Honorlock and your mobile/secondary devices

Honorlock does not have access to your mobile devices or other devices. Ever.

If you attempt to search test questions on the internet, on another computer, or on a mobile device during your proctored exam, Honorlock can detect your search using our patented process. Honorlock is not “in” any of your devices nor do we have access to any of your devices or network. The information about your search activity comes from the unauthorized websites you may visit. Please don’t search for answers on the web while taking your exam. Study hard, rest well and be prepared for your exam and you won’t have to worry about this.

Honorlock and your webcam and ID

While you are in your online exam, Honorlock will record your screen and webcam via Chrome. We will verify your identity by asking you to take a photo of yourself and show your student ID.  Additionally, your school may require you to do a 360-degree room scan. Once your proctored exam has ended, our access to your screen and webcam ends. If you want, you can delete Honorlock from Chrome in a matter of seconds. Simply navigate to the extension in the toolbar of Chrome, right-click and remove. You can reinstall the extension for your next exam in less than 30 seconds.

Honorlock protects your data

Because Honorlock is not an app you download, we do not require you to set up an account or create a password. You sign in via your school’s LMS.  We collect as little information as possible and only what is required by your school to verify your identity and ensure academic integrity.

Honorlock does not sell your personal data. Ever.

Honorlock securely stores your data for your school. Stored data is encrypted and secured using industry standards with AES-256 block encryption. As an AWS partner, Honorlock follows federal NIST 800-88 guidelines for proof of data/drive destruction.

Honorlock AI proctoring software

Honorlock uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor your test. If the AI detects unusual activity – such as another person in the room – it automatically generates a flag and alerts a live virtual proctor. Depending on the type of flag, a live proctor may pause your exam and open a chat with you to discuss the incident and resume your exam. When your proctored exam is completed, your instructor is able to review the flag recording to determine if there was a possible act of academic misconduct.

Our proctors are a resource for you

Our proctors don’t assume you’re cheating – they assume you need help. Honorlock approaches online proctoring in a way where what’s good for the institution is also good for you. In fact, our full-time test proctors are trained by a nationally certified counselor and educator on how to support you during times of exam frustration and test anxiety.

In Closing

We take this extremely seriously. We welcome your questions and encourage you to provide us with feedback. Our goal is to make this new online testing environment as comfortable as possible for you. We wish you good health and good grades. You can find more student privacy information here.

Stay well,
The Honorlock Team

Tess Mitchell

Tess has 20+ years of experience heading up corporate marketing teams in healthcare and higher education. She is passionate about thinking differently to lead teams to discover new and innovative ways to drive positive outcomes.