Prevent Cheating in Online Exams to Enhance Credibility | Proctortrack (2024)

Why Cheating a Huge Deal?

Ways of Cheating During Online Exams

• Virtual Machines

Virtual machines are a very advanced technique that students use. A parallel operating system works during the online exam, and the proctoring tools fail to identify and block browsing and study material during exams.

• Screen Sharing

Sophisticated technology comes into play to share the screen of the student appearing in the exam with another screen where the students can get help accessing notes and answers.

• Unauthorized Browser Access

Students can use search engines and browsers to access the study materials and related help for their exams. If the proctoring solutions are not robust enough, students can find a way to access the browser that helps them to find answers.

• USB Keyboard Use

In the market, standard-looking keyboards are available with data storage capability. Most examiners will not even suspect that such devices are at work to help students cheat during exams. They operate in a simple plug-and-play mode and help students with their study notes and references.

• Identity Fraud to get third-party help

There is always a risk of imposters in online exams where competent biometric and identity verification methods fail to be effective. Instead of the students, another person can sit through the exams, and the students may get an unfair advantage.

• Using Other Devices

If the online proctoring is not robust enough, students can always access data and references on other devices hidden in the space of their exams. Students can bypass online invigilation to keep such devices for cheating during exams.

How to Prevent Cheating in Online Exams?

• Using Secure Browser

This technology has been very popular for preventing cheating in online courses. When a test taker tries to open any window other than the exam browser, the remote administrator or proctor will get a notification in case the student attempts to open another browser.

• Online Automated Proctoring

• Data Encryption for Sharing Documents

Many institutes share their exam papers over emails. Subsequently, students are supposed to attempt their online proctored exams over the webcam for the invigilator’s assessment. During this process, institutes should use encrypted files for added security. Encryption does help the sender and the receiver to keep their data secure while using the internet.

• Human in Loop Online Proctoring Tool

We can say that this is the most secure way possible right now to use online exam technology. Here the technology is at the service all the time in automated mode to detect and highlight issues. A remotely based human proctor also monitors the students during the exam duration. In this human and machine partnership, the highest possible exam invigilation occurs. Especially for high stake exams, this method is a boon.

It is Possible to Prevent Cheating: Summing Up

Deploying and using advanced proctoring tools and technology like Proctortrack to prevent cheating during online exams is crucial for schools and colleges. Having these tools onboard will enhance their credibility in the education sphere concerning the integrity of their results. Call it a lack of maturity of fundamental human nature; students will attempt to find inventive ways to cheat. However, intelligent virtual proctoring tools such as Proctortrack will always have the technological edge and foresight to prevent and challenge these techniques to aid institutes with their live proctoring technology.