Do proctored exams record you?

Yes, proctored exams record the test-taker. Most online proctoring solutions, whether employing a live proctor, AI-based monitoring, or a hybrid approach, are fundamentally designed to capture and log various streams of data to ensure exam integrity. This process is used to deter cheating and provide evidence for post-exam review or to settle disputes.

Types of Recorded Data on proctored exams

Proctoring software records several distinct types of data simultaneously throughout the assessment session:

• Video Stream: This is captured from the student’s webcam, showing the test-taker and their immediate environment. Some systems require the webcam view to be recorded throughout the test. In some cases, the test-taker’s identity is first authenticated using AI before the exam begins.
• Audio Feed: The audio of the testing environment is monitored and recorded to detect prohibited events such as excessive background noise, talking out loud, or speaking to another person.
• Screen Capture and Computer Monitoring: The software records the activity on the student’s computer screen, often continuously. Advanced monitoring tools can track and record logs of network activity, mouse clicks, and open applications, determining if a user has opened unauthorized text or applications, or if devices have been plugged in or disconnected. Some programs may even record specific keystrokes made on the keyboard, though this depends on the specific monitoring software being used.
• Behavioral Monitoring: Certain advanced services track student behaviors, such as looking away from the screen, excessive fidgeting, or specific seating posture, which can be flagged by AI monitoring systems. For instance, some online proctored exam guidance explicitly advises test-takers to be mindful of reading exam material aloud, as this could lead to the exam being flagged or paused if the voice is clear enough for the proctor to understand. Taking a picture of the exam content or using a recording device directed at the exam content is also cause for suspension.

How Recording Works

The mechanisms of recording vary depending on the type of proctoring used:

• Live Proctoring: A human proctor watches the student’s feed in real-time and records suspicious behavior for later review. They may also intervene in real-time to pause the exam, for example, if a student leaves the testing environment without approval.
• AI-based Monitoring: Software uses features like computer vision (for eye movement tracking) and audio analysis to automatically flag events. The full recording is saved, and automated alerts direct evaluators to specific clips of suspicious activity for post-exam review.
• Recorded Proctoring: The entire exam session is captured, including webcam footage, audio, and screen activity, for human review at a later time.