Eliminate top 6 challenges of Offline exam with Remote Proctored Exams

Eliminate challenges of Offline exam process with Remote Proctored Exams

Have you ever wondered, how easy would it be if the entire education sector and corporate companies adopted modern and innovative ways of teaching and learning? How easy would it be if all schools, colleges and universities adopted e-learning by conducting online classes and remote proctored exams?

Well, the Covid-19 outbreak has given us an excellent opportunity to stop wondering and actually living our imaginations. The education sector is getting digitalised and we are going to see how in this blog.

E-learning is the upcoming way of education, making it a USD 100 billion-plus industry. More students are opting for online courses and diplomas, to add to their resumes. The advantage of such courses is that they can be availed remotely and thus students can complete multiple courses (online and offline) simultaneously.

Online Educational Courses are getting traction across the world. They have gained huge popularity since 2012, and according to a study by Class Central, the number of students enrolled in such courses surpassed the 100 million mark in 2018.

With so many students learning on the web, new challenges arise. Assessment and certification of students is a major challenge faced by online course providers. With many worthy and Ivy League universities coming up with their own online and distance learning courses, exam assessment and certification grows to be a major challenge. 

Conducting entrance exams like SATs for universities is a challenging ordeal because it requires money, infrastructure, certified proctors and careful scheduling. With more students willing to travel across the globe for quality education, providing infrastructure and manpower for such exams becomes a nightmare.

We have listed down 6 challenges faced by offline and non-proctored online exams as below:

Challenges faced by online and non proctored exams

1.Test Centres

Providing test centres near the candidate’s location is a huge challenge faced by institutions and universities conducting any form of offline and non-proctored examinations. Finding schools or other suitable infrastructure is a herculean task.
In case if you are conducting exams across multiple cities or locations then it adds to the challenge of managing all exam centres.

This issue can be addressed by opting for remote proctored exams which are conducted online. The candidates can appear for any exam from any remote location by using devices such as computers, laptops, tablets or even mobile phones with a stable internet connection.

2. Certified Proctors

Recruiting certified proctors for any exam is a hard job as this is a subject to their availability. Sending them to these test centres is an added challenge and it requires time and money. Logistical activities to be communicated to the test centre address to proctors or students are another administrative thing to be managed.

The Eklavvya platform, developed at Splashgain offers the best solution to conduct online exams along with remote proctoring services. The techniques of remote proctoring helps the proctors to supervise the candidates remotely by using web camera, microphones and speakers.  Hence, it helps to overcome the challenge of finding, recruiting and assigning proctors to examinations

3. Scheduling the Exam

Due to the availability of a limited test centres, scheduling the exams is a nightmare. It has to be carefully planned taking into consideration many factors such as public holidays, gaps between the different exams, etc. This means that often such exams are scheduled for long periods and go on for several weeks.

As remote proctored exams are conducted online, hence the management, students and proctors do not need to worry about the exam schedule. The students can appear for these exams from their home using any internet based device. The exams can be conducted on any day at anytime as also these exams can be conducted for different subjects, time limits, marks, etc. simultaneously.  

4. Avoiding Malpractices

Conducting online exams, without proctoring makes it very easy for candidates to carry out malpractices such as impersonation and cheating. In this case, opting for remote proctored exams which provide additional security mechanism with the help of advanced technology can be considered by the institutions to avoid malpractices during Online Examination Implementation.

5. Candidates have to Travel

Candidates may have to travel long distances to reach the test centres as they are unevenly placed or might not be present anywhere close to those candidates who reside in remote areas. This means that students will have to spend more time on travel and accommodation.

Eklavvya’s platform helps to conduct exams online which means candidates can give the exam from their homes or any location with the help of any internet based device. This helps them to avoid travelling and save time as also enables the candidates belonging to any faraway location such as any remote small village to appear for the exam.

6. Providing Security

Providing logistical support and security to these test centres at different locations over large periods of time is difficult. Hence, there is an urgent need to find a solution to these challenges.

This challenge can be overcome by opting for a platform which helps to conduct remote proctored exams. Such a platform will help to conduct exams online which the candidates will be able to launch on their personal computers or device having internet connectivity. They would not have to travel to test centres and thus the issue of providing logistical support and security will be eliminated.   

REMOTE PROCTORING is the best solution to all your problems!

Let us understand about remote proctoring and remote proctored exams in more details:

What is Remote Proctoring?

Remote Proctoring is a process wherein a proctor is an officer who is certified to invigilate examinations to avoid any foul play and cheating. Remote proctoring is a technology which aids in the supervision of candidates from any remote location. This technology allows the test to be taken from any location provided that the candidate has access to computers, laptops, tablets or mobile phones and an internet connection.

How does Remote Proctored Exams work?

In case of remote proctored exams, candidates are monitored for the duration of the test via webcam, microphones/speakers and by accessing the screen of the candidate’s device.

To take such a test the candidate needs:

  1. A suitable device such as a desktop PC, laptop, mobile phone, tablet.
  2. Access to the internet.
  3. A functioning webcam and mike or speakers

The following process takes place when a candidate appears for remote proctored exams:

Working of Remote Proctored Exams
  1. Candidate Identity verification
    The candidate can flash his valid identity card to the webcam which can be verified by the remote proctor.
  2. The candidate is allowed to appear for online exam
    The candidate is provided the access to begin with the exam only when the identity is verified.
  3. Images and video capturing
    In image based capturing, the images of the candidate are captured after certain time intervals while in video based proctoring, the video footage of the entire remote proctored exam is captured. Later the images or the video is analysed for any discrepancy.
  4. Auto Proctoring
    Auto Proctoring keeps a track of key events of the candidate’s movements, mobile phone usage, and suspicious audio to monitor the entire exam process.

Type of Remote Proctoring

1. Live Online Proctoring

In this type of remote proctored exams, the proctor assesses the candidate in real time through web camera, microphone and speakers. They do this by accessing the candidate’s device screen. 

2. Recorded Proctoring

In this technique, no proctor assesses the candidate in real time. The audio-video feed for the duration of the test is recorded. A proctor later goes through this feed and flags any malpractices if noticed.

3. Automated Advanced Proctoring

There is no need for any manpower when the remote proctored exams are conducted using this method of proctoring. An automated system is programmed to monitor the candidate and detect any malpractices and flag them.

Here’ an introductory video explaining more about Remote Proctoring and Remote Proctored Exams

Future of Remote Proctoring

Certain challenges faced by remote proctoring currently such as internet access and credibility of such remote proctored exams are being answered by universities and global improvement in telecommunication infrastructure.

A few things that we can look forward to improving are:

  1. A wider population should get access to high-speed internet so that more candidates will be able to take such examinations.
  2. Better authentication process is required which will minimize the risk of impersonation.
  3. Improvement in AI and automated systems will minimize the need for proctors.
  4. Facial recognition, audio and video analytics and touch screen behaviour recognition systems will improve and further reduce the risk of cheating in remote proctored exams.

The number of students opting for online courses has already passed 100 million and is definitely going to increase. Institutions and universities are trying to reach a wider pool of students. Taking an online course helps you to learn multiple skills simultaneously. Similarly, opting for remote proctored exams benefits the students by helping them to take up exams from any remote locations which in turn help them to get certified and make themselves more employable in future.

This not only adds to your knowledge but also helps you build a good resume. Thus, the need for remote proctoring is only set to rise in the coming future.

We wanted to simplify our Test Series for IIT JEE, NEET/ Board Exams using technology.
We found the Eklavvya platform very user friendly.
It is very easy to design online exams/ tests and assign them to students.
Our test series for IIT JEE has been shifted online and students are able to practice for their entrance exam preparation.
Thanks for developing such a great platform, looking forward to your continued support and new features to help our students prepare for IIT JEE / NEET/ Board Exams.

Shkula-Classes-Online-Test-Series (1)
Arun K Shukla
Owner Shukla Chemistry Classes

Big thanks to Team Eklavvya for professional support.
All our recruitment exams were conducted perfectly.
We were looking to automate and simplify campus tests for the students.
Your platform has helped us to manage campus placement activity across multiple locations.
Thanks for the great platform and looking forward to continued support in the future recruitment activities of the company….

Rakesh Budhe (Deputy General Manager), Softlink International Pvt Ltd
Rakesh Budhe
Deputy General Manager – Softlink International Pvt Ltd

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