You are finally in college, but the moment you get your proctored exam started, you realize this will not be a fun time. Most students who are unprepared for proctored exams resort to cheating.
Many students look forward to cheating in online exams to gain an advantage over their peers and possibly even the College Board.
This article will discuss common methods used by students who cheat on proctored exams and how they get caught.
Can you Cheat on Proctored Exams?
Proctored exams are a great way to test your knowledge and understanding of the material. More than proctoring is needed to guarantee that exams are fair and accurate.
You can cheat on proctored exams. However, some students may get tempted to cheat on proctored exams by using notes or other materials during the exams.
There are many ways to cheat on proctored exams, including:
- Using a friend or family member to search for answers for you through virtual means.
- Bringing a cell phone with you to the exam site
Also, you can cheat on proctored exams although it is illegal to do so. A proctor monitors your exam and gives you a time limit during which you should finish the test.
Any attempt to cheat will result in immediate disqualification from the test and may lead to serious consequences.
How Proctor Software Detects and Prevents Cheating
Using the Webcam
The webcam is one of the most critical features of proctor software. It allows the software to check whether someone is doing something wrong. The webcam can be used for many purposes, including:
- To check whether you are taking a test or not.
- Ensure that you are taking your tests at the right time and place and at the right time and place.
If there is a problem with your computer, for example, if it crashes or freezes, then the camera will record what happened onscreen so that you can get help immediately.
Using a Microphone
The microphone is a very important part of a proctor system. It’s used for recording voice data and also for detecting cheating.
The microphone should rest in such a way that it can record all the sounds while one is taking exams.
The microphone will also detect when there is too much background noise from other students in the room or even from other rooms if they’re using earphones or speakers. This way, you will know when someone else is using earphones to cheat on an exam.
Eye and Body Movements
The Proctor program has tracking devices that measure eye movement and head movement. Proctor software can use this information to detect cheating on a particular exam or even across all exams.
The software will determine whether students are cheating by comparing their pupil dilation with other students taking the same exam. If there is a difference, it might indicate that one of the students is cheating on the exam.
Universities can use this information to prevent cheating and ensure that students are given fair opportunities to succeed in exams.
Blocking Printing and Copy-paste
Proctor software blocks all printing and copy-paste of answers by users, even if they are blocked from viewing the web page.
Blocking printing and copy-paste prevents students from copying and pasting their answers into the test.
This method of cheating has been used by students who have access to a computer or smartphone during the test but need more time to complete their work.
When they attempt to copy their answers into the test, they are stopped by the proctoring software.
Limiting the activities of the Test-taker
Proctor software ensures that only one person is taking the test simultaneously. This ensures that no one else can peek at you on your computer and gives you more privacy since another person is not watching you.
Proctoring will monitor the activities of each student taking the test, and if they go out of their way to cheat, they will be caught red-handed by the proctoring system.
How you will be caught if you try Cheating Proctor
Impersonation
An impersonation is a form of cheating involving someone else pretending to be somebody else, usually to gain access to a test or exam.
A common example of impersonation is when a student pretends to be someone else to take an exam for the benefit of another student.
The student may face severe penalties, including expulsion from school and legal action if caught.
You will be caught if you try to impersonate someone on a test. If a student tries to impersonate another candidate, he will be caught by the proctor and asked to leave the exam hall immediately.
Talking
One way that helps the examinee to catch you is to talk or whisper answers to your colleagues. That is because the proctored exam records all noises or sounds in the background.
For that reason, the tutor will access the content of the recorded audio and determine its integrity.
9 ways Students cheat on Proctored Exams
1. Using a virtual machine
One of the most common cheating attempts is the use of virtual machines. In this case, the test taker can run two operating systems on the same computer. You let one Operating system run like the computer while minimizing another one.
Here, you will let your computer operate like two computer devices. Let your knowledgeable friend sit in the next room and do the test for you.
The main operating system will be running the webcam while doing the test in the background Operating system.
Using a virtual machine effectively allows the test taker to surf the internet and get the right answers for the given questions without getting caught.
2. Using an External Projector
Students who have to take exams at school or college can use the external projector. The external projector is a device that helps students to see the exam on the screen.
It is used in classrooms, especially for exams. Students can use this device to check their answers and then correct them.
The external projector has a screen that projects an image of the exam paper onto it. Students use external projectors to view the exam without being detected by the proctor.
Students can also watch their classmates take the exam, so they can see how they do and what questions they get right or wrong.
3. Using Screen mirroring
Screen mirroring is where two or more people sit in one room and take turns watching the other person’s exam on a computer screen. Screen mirroring is a process that allows you to see what a person is doing on their computer screen.
Candidates like this method while taking the examinations remotely and accessing answers to the questions given. But with sound proctor systems that work like how Edgenuity detects cheating, you will be caught.
During this time, the monitor will mirror these questions to the other person researching and providing answers. This process has to happen simultaneously because the proctored exams are timed.
4. Using Multiple Technological Devices
Some test takers may use multiple devices to cheat during the examination session. For that matter, they will try to use a secondary device to cheat.
Such devices may include laptops, Google glasses, smart watches, or smartphones to stone formulas or notes.
5. Interrupting Exams to get additional Time
Sometimes test takers may opt to get more time by making deliberate interruptions.
For example, a student may fake a system error to convince the proctor to pause the exam session. As such, it will prompt the examinee to secure more time to solve the problem.
6. Fidgeting with the webcam
Sometimes students may facilitate cheating by switching off the webcam for a while to access answers and then put it on later. Such a loophole works in the short term.
7. Using Forbidden materials
Students may use forbidden materials like notebooks, books, and formulas to cheat during the exanimation. Some students will write formulas on their screens using an erasable marker.
8. Accessing questions before exams
Such a method is perfect when working during varying time zones. Suppose your friend did exams before you, then he can leak them to you.
9. Teamwork
The examinees may use private message apps to find help amongst themselves. Such a method is risky, especially when the webcams are working well. They can hide their phones behind the view of the webcam.
Ways Colleges Prevent Cheating
Teach Digital Responsibility
Students are more likely to cheat if they don’t know how to deal with their cheating. Students who aren’t taught digital responsibility are more likely to act unethically.
Teach digital responsibility among students. This means that teachers should teach students how important it is not to cheat and how dangerous it is for them if they get caught doing so by their peers or teachers.
Teach about Honesty and Integrity
Schools should teach students the importance of integrity and honesty during exams.
Even if your students are familiar with certain concepts, it does not hurt to remind them about academic integrity.
Create an Anti-cheating Pledge
One way of enforcing integrity and honesty is creating an anti-cheating pledge. They can use a pre-generated document to make them accountable for their actions.
When finalizing the document’s details, every student should agree and sign to commit to upholding everything included in it.
Another way of doing so is handing it on the classroom wall to make the students see it whenever they are in a class.
