Exam Administration
Proctored vs. non-proctored administration- Which is best?
Several important factors need to be considered in the decision whether or not to
proctor your examination. Probably the most important consideration is the importance
of the decisions that are being made using the exam results. If employment decisions
are being made using the exam results such as hiring, promotion, selection into
training, or compensation, it is a good bet that the examination should be proctored.
Also, it is important to consider the expected rollout of the examination. For
example, if the examination will be delivered to thousands of people at one time,
it may not be feasible to have a proctor be present. Also, if the exam is to be
given in remote locations are many locations simultaneously, the providing proctors
may outweigh
the benefits.
Finally, if the security of the test content is a concern, proctoring the examination
will help reduce the likelihood of test compromise. Examinees can be quite creative
in finding ways to bypass security protocols, especially when their livelihood or
financial future is at stake.
New advances in remote proctoring are making significant progress to reduce the
need for a live proctor to be present at every location. Web cameras, fingerprint
scanners, and voice recognition software are all making it possible to verify identity
and ensure some level of security without a proctor being present.
Regardless the type administration type you select, Exam Design can help you shape
your administration procedures to maximize efficiency and standardization. Our
team of consultants is experienced in designing administration procedures to suit
all formats, locations and timeframes.
If you happen to use another vendor for exam administration, no need to worry about
data transfer issues among your vender and Exam Design. We have established relationships
with many of the companies providing proctored test centers to ensure a seamless
transfer of test content and examination results.
Next Step
Tips on maintaining exam security
1. Provide at least 5 feet in between each person taking the exam.
2. Record the time, date, location, exam version, and exam booklet ID for every
examinee.
3. Randomize presentation of the questions using computerized delivery.
4. Track the time (in seconds) for examinees to respond to questions, as short time
periods could indicate cheating.
5. Use multiple exam versions of the exam and randomize distribution to examinees.
6. Monitor the passing rate of each exam version over time for sharp increases.
7. Monitor the difficulty statistics of each question for sharp increases.
8. Replace exam versions with new ones after 12 months of use.