Online exam software has turned into a convenient “go-to” technology for anybody who wants to create, conduct, and evaluate exams digitally. And ever since the integration of online proctoring software with it, online exams have only become more scalable and widely acceptable by various sectors and industries.

Furthermore, when we talk about the use of AI in the proctoring system then we can definitely say it has made anything possible virtually. Proctoring software integrated with AI is turning into a boon for exam conducting bodies as it proactively ensures the test-taker’s environment to be cheat-proof, overall producing authentic test results.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

When software is made to learn and think like humans then this technology is known as Artificial Intelligence. AI can turn simple software into a smart thinking technology that can behave, analyze, and advise/explain its users over various aspects. AI in the field of the online examination system and online proctoring plays an important role in regulating all the integrated functionalities of the software.

What is Online Proctoring Software?

In offline exams invigilators are hired to monitor the ongoing test, in the case of online exams proctoring software plays the same role but with more efficiency. Online proctoring software has been designed to safeguard the integrity of online tests and to make them more scalable even when being conducted from a remote location.

Proctoring is mainly divided into three types-

Auto Proctoring – This type of proctoring includes a lot of many AI features. These features help in highlighting any sort of unfair means being attempted by the test-taker during the test. Right from raising flags on the suspicious events to constantly tracking large scale of test-takers throughout the test duration, AI-enabled auto proctoring provides robust means of monitoring an online test. The software can easily detect the candidate’s activities on the screen and even in the room.

Live Proctoring – In live proctoring a human proctor assists the monitoring of the test with the help of integrated technology. The proctor invigilates the entire test from a remote location in real-time through a grid screen view of 10 to 15 candidates. The benefit of this type of proctoring is that the proctor can keep a constant check on the test takers and can interfere when necessary. This increases the security of the test and decision making becomes fast. A proctor knows instantly when the candidate has tried to cheat and can send a warning, in an extreme case the proctor can even end the test.

Recorded Proctoring – This is a flexible proctoring method that helps in conducting exams that don’t have to be fixed with time or require ready availability of a proctor. Whenever the test is attempted by the test taker, the software stores all the audio-video recordings as well as images of the test taker. Also, the test takers screen is recorded which is then checked later by a proctor in a fast-forward mode.

What is the Role of Artificial Intelligence in the efficiency of Online Proctoring Software?

Following are the online proctoring functionalities that make use of Artificial Intelligence to operate-

• Recognizing Pattern

If any candidate is using unfair means during the test then the AI can detect a pattern of behavior in it. By recognizing the pattern it can easily alert the proctor of the cheating behavior being noticed in any test taker.

• Background voice detection

This AI technology enables the online proctoring software to pick up background sounds and match it in contrast with the overall noise coming in the background. This helps in eliminating any chance of cheating initiated by noise/sound prompts.

• Can convert speech to text

Any verbal command can be interpreted to text form which can be then easily referred by the software to follow.

• Facial Recognition

This functionality helps in two ways. First, is when the candidate logs into online exam software and registers for the test, at that time this feature helps in candidate recognition. And the second is when the candidate is attempting the test, the software can recognize additional faces in the test-takers environment.

• Recognition of unauthorized objects

This technology can recognize the objects that are permitted in the test taker’s environment, whereas any unauthorized object such as mobile phones or books can be highlighted as an attempt to cheating.

• Detecting eye and body movements

This AI feature can easily recognize misconduct during the test and can raise red flags (cheating alert) over the same.

How AI is enhancing the robust features and scalability of online examination system?

• Has Increased its precision

As we all know, online exam software also comes with certain cheat-proof features such as randomization of questions/answer options and unique question paper for all test takers. But the AI functionalities of online proctoring increase the precision of these inbuilt features making the overall online test more reliable and secure.

• Best security by far!

The AI-enabled proctoring system has got the efficiency to detect any and every unauthorized object or unpermitted resource during the test, further leading to immediate actions to stop a test-taker from cheating. This makes the online examination system all the more credible and secure.

Conclusion

With AI there is a simple rule “More the data, smarter the AI system”!

Any technology that is integrated with AI grows over the years by consuming and analyzing bulk of relevant data. In the case of online proctoring software, it keeps on becoming more reliable and efficient with its repetitive usage during the online tests. There is no doubt that the online examination system has got a bright future in the educational world and it is only to become more advanced with time and advent of the latest technology.