Top 6 Techniques to Make Online Examination Secure

Introduction about the Online Examination:

In the education sector, online examinations are replacing the traditional methods, which, if truth be told, were never up to the mark as required by the present day education system. This is because they are insecure, manually operated and take lot of the teacher’s time for arrangement and assessment.

Conduct examinations in a secure manner is important irrespective of the platform – online or offline. There should be a fair assessment of the answer sheets to promote deserving candidates only. But in offline examinations, these measures are often neglected and sometimes the checking is not fair.

In some cases, multiple errors are committed in the calculation of marks which can halt the progress of a deserving student. Each and every mark matters in examination and no student will feel good after losing without any reason. Even one mark can also create large differences in the result of the student.

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Online examinations are way better than offline examinations on account of the following:

Greater security
Saves a lot of paper
Error free questions
Fair evaluation and checking
Student can review the question
Accurate results

Although online examinations possess these benefits, loopholes are a reality in every system. Online examinations are no different. In order to make online examinations more secure, authorities can follow these 6 techniques.

Best 6 Techniques to Make Online Examination Secure:

1) ID Authentication

Some students can misuse the liberties provided by the online examination i.e. taking the exam from a remote location. Online authentication can play an important role in preventing such misuse. Online ID authentication is a great feature embedded in online examination software which prevents unauthorized person from appearing for the exam.

Working:

Candidates are asked to click a photograph with the ID proof once they click the link for the online test. The photograph is verified in real time and, based on identity verification, the student is allowed or blocked from the exam.

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Advantages:

Avoids any paper leak. It protects the integrity of the online examination by scanning the questions on the internet and ensuring the test was not leaked.

2) Auto – Proctoring

It is an anti cheating mechanism that verifies the identity of the candidate and prevents cheating in the examination premises. Proctoring software is used here, which monitors the behavior of the candidate and his activity on the allotted computer. Such monitoring is conducted via audio and video recordings during the online examination.

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Working:

After completing online ID authentication, the candidate is allowed to start the test. The artificial intelligence algorithm continuously monitors the activity of the candidate in the real time and records screen shots for any anomaly. It detects suspicious behavior such as absence of candidate, presence of a unauthorized person, mobile phone detection and suspicious gesture.

Advantages:

This mechanism is cost effective and requires little or no human interference. Also, auto proctoring is cheaper than live proctoring.

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3) Exam Browser

Online examination software offers an in built exam browser which is secure from any kind of cheating techniques. It is another way of preventing cheating in the examination. While using the exam browser, the online exam software will pre-define the allowed applications and websites. Hence, the system will shut down any other application running on the computer or alert the invigilators.

Working:

The exam browser will disable the screen recording or any other desktop based application. Through this action, the candidate will not be able to share the questions or search the answer on any search engine.

Advantages:

It will help conduct open book tests where limited sources will be available to the candidates by blacklisting all the other applications and sources.

4) Record and Reviewing Proctoring

It can provide security of live proctoring while being more cost effective. This system is really effective and a team of experts can later check the session to verify whether integrity is compromised or not.

Working:

In this system, auto proctoring will run by default and the reports will be available after the exam. A team of experts will review the report and search for anomalies. Experts are assisted by the tips provided by the Artificial intelligence which was recorded during the examination hours.

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Advantages:

The audio and the video of the candidate is verified post exam and, therefore, less manpower is required. The same is true for tips submitted by the artificial intelligence feature. Lesser manpower transforms into lesser expenses. The funds so saved can be utilized elsewhere.

5) Live Proctoring

The candidate is monitored in real time by a proctor and by proctoring software. It is the combination of both forms of proctoring viz. human and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, this combination is simultaneous. The proctor has full authority to cancel the exam of the candidate if the latter is found cheating. On the other hand, the artificial intelligence provides tips or flags to the expert whenever it detects any unusual candidate behavior.

Working:

There are two types of live proctoring. The first one is dedicated live proctoring which is dedicated to a single candidate only. Such proctoring is used in very high level exams. The other one is classroom proctoring which is dedicated to whole class. In such type of proctoring, one monitor is dedicated to multiple candidates.

Advantages:

This system is highly secure and there is hardly any chance of cheating. Still, if the candidate dares to cheat then he will be caught red handed.

6) 360 Degree Camera Proctoring

This system allows the proctor to have a wide view of the classroom. It can keep an eye on the areas which are beyond the reach of the webcam. It provides a 360 degree view to the proctor whenever the exam is being conducted.

Working:

360 degree audio video camera is allotted to the candidate to attach it on the monitor. Sometimes, the candidate is provided with a headgear attached with a camera to monitor where the candidate is looking.

Advantages:

It covers a wider range of area and hence it is more effective.

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Conclusion:

When conducted fairly and assessed without fear or favor, examinations become the true barometers of talent. Secure and cheating-free online examinations will go miles in creating an environment of meritocracy.