How has online remote proctoring transformed high-stakes exams?
Higher educational institutions and governing bodies in India have been leveraging technology to make the process of conducting examinations simpler and meet global examination standards. Computer-based testing has been introduced in examinations like CAT and GMAT to eliminate major geographical barriers for millions of students in the country, and other high-stakes examinations like UPSC, NEET and JEE have followed suit by going online as well. This has enabled nearly 17 lakh aspirants in the country to appear for these examinations without having to travel too far away from home.
Challenges in conducting large-scale examinations, however, remain; many major examinations in the country are still vulnerable to various modes of cheating. This is where state-of-the-art assessment technologies such as remote proctoring can step in to alter the dynamic and make the examination process more transparent, secure, and safe from malpractices. THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR ASSESSMENTS
The sheer scale of examinations like NEET or UPSC, conducted simultaneously at thousands of centres across the country, amplifies the problems and challenges that are associated with conducting such highstakes tests. This gap is what remote proctoring addresses. It is the ideal companion to any online or computer-based test and provides an additional level of security and authenticity to the entire assessment process.
Remote proctoring technology enables efficient online invigilation by employing AI algorithms and analysing a student’s biometric responses to detect possible impersonation at any given time during the test. Since the candidate is remotely tracked throughout the test, proctors can intervene at the slightest hint of any malpractice such as cheating. Most remote proctoring tools employ video/audio recording to monitor examinations, right from the registration stage till the test is completed. This makes the efficacy of this technology almost indisputable, as the major challenges to conducting online or computer-based tests efficiently lie in areas such as security, transparency, and cost-per-assessment (including infrastructural, operational, and human resource costs).
Manual processing of results also often leads to slow turnaround time, adding to the incremental costs incurred and increasing the possibility of malpractices during tests.
However, with remote proctoring, the security and compliance requirements of conducting computer-based tests can be fulfilled easily through a techdriven approach.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ASSESSMENT PLATFORM?
A credible online remote proc- toring solution must be scalable and customisable in terms of design, must provide malpractice-proof authentic assessments compliant with the norms of the examining authority, and must create reports that can be accessed remotely for easy auditability.
Here are some of the key features that are essential for any remote proctoring platform or software:
Remote assessments
The remote assessments feature helps flag suspicious behaviour and secure candidate authentication using advanced techniques of facial recognition or biometric scanning.
System compatibility
An efficient platform must be designed to run on any kind of system without the need for additional hardware, augmenting the potency of the highstakes tests like UPSC and NEET.
Automated reports
Automated report generation both during and after the examination helps eliminate the need for manual verification and result generation for test assessments.
Seamless user experience
The platform must be designed to deliver a hassle-free user experience for both examiners and students.
API integration
The platform must eliminate the risks of cheating, allow comprehensive management of testing procedures, and give the examining authority full control, along with enabling hassle-free integration into the existing Learning Management System.
Today, we have several stateof-the-art online assessment platforms capable of tackling the entire suite of exam-centric challenges through technologyenabled solutions that extensively leverage data and automation to drive superior assessment.
In the future, remote proctoring will only raise the academic integrity of high-stakes tests and become the benchmark for online courses and examinations. Not only will this curb malpractices such as cheating and question paper leaks, but will also ensure a fair chance for each aspirant. NEW DELHI: All candidates who appeared in the UGC NET that was held on 5 November can now access the scanned OMR answer sheets with their recorded responses as well as the answer keys on the website of CBSE from December 12 to 18 December. A fee of ₹1,000 per question will be required to be submitted through credit/debit card up to December 18. The fee once paid is non refundable.