When you’re prepping to roll out an online or in-person exam and ask yourself, do proctored exam record you, the short answer is yes. Proctoring platforms capture video, audio, and screen activity to keep things fair and honest. In this guide, I’ll walk you through what gets recorded, how it works, and how to respect student privacy while maintaining exam integrity.
Understand proctor recordings
Proctoring solutions aim to deter cheating by logging certain behaviors and feeds during an assessment. You or your team can review these recordings to spot anomalies, confirm student identity, or settle disputes.
Proctor captures typically start when the exam begins, pause if the test is paused, and stop when it ends. Some platforms record continuously, others snapshot at intervals or flag suspicious behavior for deeper review.
Different exam formats handle recording in distinct ways. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Live Proctoring | AI-based Monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| Human oversight | Yes | No |
| Automated alerts | No | Yes |
| Real-time intervention | Yes | No |
| Post-exam review | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy controls | Manual | Configurable |
You stream a student’s feed to a trained proctor who watches for rule breaks, like looking off-screen or having unapproved materials nearby.
Software uses computer vision (tracking eye movement) and audio analysis to flag events such as extra voices or missing faces. You get alerts to review those clips later.
Address privacy considerations
Recording exams can feel invasive to students, so it’s crucial to set clear boundaries.
Explain your recording policies in writing and get consent. Transparency builds trust and reduces stress.
Keep recordings encrypted and delete them after your retention period. Check institutional rules on how long you can store exam footage.
Make sure you meet regulations like FERPA in the US or GDPR in Europe. You may need to limit access or allow students to request deletion.
Once you’ve decided on a proctoring setup, use these tips to keep things smooth.
If you need to run tests entirely online, take a look at our proctored exam online overview. For in-person or hybrid classrooms, our guide to proctored based exam options can help you pick a fit.
Even the best tech needs human oversight, so run training sessions on spotting anomalies, respecting privacy, and troubleshooting issues.
Run a mock exam with a small group so you can iron out any kinks. That way, you won’t face surprises on exam day.
With these points in mind, you’ll know exactly what your proctoring tool captures and how to implement it fairly.
