How students try to bypass proctoring and how to identify online exam violators

Contents:

• Typical tricks in online exams and how to spot them
• What you need for online testing
• What you need to do immediately before testing
• How else to improve the integrity of online testing

When taking tests and exams online, it is much easier to cheat than during in-person classes, when all participants are in full view of the teacher. That's why universities and corporate academies now often use proctoring—a system for monitoring compliance with exam rules.
Proctoring makes it easier to identify violations. But regardless of whether there is proctoring or not, students try to circumvent the rules in much the same way. Here is a list of the most popular methods of cheating on online exams with tips on how to counter them, as well as a checklist to help organizers prepare and reduce the risk of cheating.

Typical tricks on online exams and how to spot them

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will be able to identify the most sophisticated methods of cheating on your own. But the most popular ones aren't that difficult, and they can be easily detected by simply observing test takers through a webcam.

Using a smartphone and cheat sheets

This is the most common method of cheating - a smartphone allows you to open an e-book or other materials or try to find the correct answer on the Internet. Many people also place notes and other cheat sheets on their desk.
How to detect.You should carefully observe the examinee and, if you have any suspicions, ask them to show their desktop to the camera, and also move the smartphone to the side - but so that the examiner can see the device in the frame. It's important to understand that this isn't a panacea: it's possible that the test taker has a second smartphone.
It's helpful to monitor the test taker's gaze—if they periodically look away, there's a chance they're using additional materials. However, a participant who doesn't look away from the screen can also cheat—some place cheat sheets directly in front of the monitor or even tape them to the screen so they're not visible on camera. Only an experienced observer can spot such tricks.

Assistance from Outsiders

Such assistance can take many forms, from calling a friend with an earpiece to prompts from a stranger in the room.
How to Detect It.Here, again, careful observation will be required. It's best to ask the test participant to point to the camera before the test begins, and if any suspicions arise, repeat this action during and after the test. And periodically listen through the microphone to what is happening in his room.

Switching between tabs and programs

This includes searching for answers on the Internet and using additional programs on the test-taker's computer - instant messengers in which he can ask a friend for a hint, programs for broadcasting the test-taker's screen to an assistant located in another room, or for remote access of an assistant to the test-taker's computer (then the assistant can actually complete the test for the person who is physically in front of the screen), and so on.
How to detect.Perhaps this method of cheating is the most difficult to recognize than others, unless you have access to the broadcast of the test-taker's desktop. Therefore, we recommend simply observing the examinee very carefully, tracking their gaze, and paying attention to whether they are typing (for example, if the test only requires multiple-choice answers rather than filling in fields).

What you'll need for online testing

So, to reduce the likelihood of cheating during an online exam, the examinee must have certain technical equipment and other conditions configured. It's best to include this in your online exam guidelines. Here's what you'll definitely need:

• A laptop or desktop computer.Even if your learning platform allows students to take the test on a smartphone, to ensure compliance with the rules, the examinee must have the camera turned on. It is impossible to take the test on a mobile device and show your workspace to the administrator at the same time, so it is best to warn students from the outset that the online exam can only be taken on a laptop or desktop computer.
• A comfortable workspace - ideally, this should be a desk at the student's home. Allowing people to take the test in a cafe or a subway car is not a good idea.
• The camera can be built into the laptop or a separate device, but it should be positioned so that the person taking the test and their workstation are clearly visible in the frame.
• The microphonemust also be in good working order. During group testing, you may periodically ask individual participants to unmute themselves to ensure that no one is prompting them.
• Sufficient lighting is important to be able to see the test taker clearly. However, the image from the user's camera should not be overexposed.
• Stable internet connection — the minimum connection speed requirements depend on the testing platform and the method of monitoring the test taker (for effective monitoring via webcam, the requirements will be higher). It is important to announce these in advance and ask participants to test their connection speed on any free service.

What you need to do immediately before testing

A few minutes before the exam or test, it is important to ask participants to do the following:

• Turn on the camera — not only to monitor the test-taker's behavior, but also to ensure that the test-taker is the right person. This is especially true for small groups where the teacher or administrator knows the test-takers by sight. Otherwise, a pre-provided photo can be used for identification (although there is a risk that it was initially replaced with a photo of the person taking the test). The most reliable identification is by passport, which the test-taker shows to the camera. But in this case, according to the Law "On Personal Data", you must have the users' consent to collect and process personal data and you must guarantee its safe storage.
• Disable all unnecessary devices - an additional keyboard and mouse, headphones, a second monitor. Without proctoring, it will be difficult to check compliance with this rule - for example, if the second monitor is not on the table, this does not mean that it is not somewhere nearby, out of sight of the camera. But it is still worth at least explaining the ban on a second monitor to test takers.
• Close all unnecessary programs, including other browsers. They can slow down the connection to the testing platform, and also provide an opportunity to cheat. It's difficult to control this yourself, but you can periodically ask the test-taker to show their task manager via screencast—the only active programs should be the browser used for the exam.
• Remove all unnecessary items from the desk (notes, gadgets). This is easy to check—just ask the test-taker to turn the camera so you can see their workspace. If anything seems suspicious during the test, you can repeat this step again and again.
• Show that there are no strangers in the room.As mentioned above, you can periodically ask participants to turn on their microphone to make sure that no one is helping them with their answers.

It is worth considering that such conditions can cause psychological resistance in some participants. To reduce the risk of negativity, it is important to communicate the rules and requirements clearly and correctly. It is best to do this in advance. It is worth drawing up a consent form with the testing conditions, which will regulate all these points, including the consequences of breaking the rules (for example, the annulment of results if a participant is caught cheating). It's also worth detailing the minimum technical requirements for your camera, microphone, browser, and connection speed so that test-takers know what to expect.

How else to improve the integrity of online testing

In addition to the requirements for the workplace and rules for test takers, it is important to pay attention to several organizational aspects. They will also increase the likelihood that testing will produce valid results.

• Prepare a large bank of questions.Test organizers often neglect this, because composing numerous questions and changing the wording is labor-intensive. But if you don’t do this, it may turn out that most test takers will have ready-made answers in advance - simply because the same tasks are used year after year. Therefore, the more unique questions you prepare, the better. And it is important to ensure that the answers cannot be googled in one minute.
• Communicate with test-takers. Ask to turn on the microphone or show the desktop if something arouses suspicion.
• Ask to provide drafts. If the exam contains complex tasks that require calculations or other preparation, you can ask the participants to show drafts of the solutions, as is usually done at Olympiads. This will help, firstly, to objectively evaluate the work in controversial situations, and secondly, to understand how independently the task was solved.
• Reduce the groups of test takers.A proctor who has not undergone special training will be able to monitor no more than three or four test takers at a time. Ideally, online testing without a proctoring system should be individual.
• Use a testing platform.While an LMS itself doesn't protect against cheating, it helps regulate the process: participants log in with their accounts, the system limits the time for completing the test, and saves all results.