How to Cheat on an Online Proctored Exam
Online proctoring can be a very effective approach to prevent students from cheating on exams, but it still leaves room for student cheating.
Candidates and students are skilled at devising original strategies to cheat on remotely proctored tests. We’ll look at some of these academic dishonesty techniques in this article.
1. Take a Screenshot of the Questions
Taking screenshots of questions is one of the simplest and most trustworthy ways to cheat on an online exam that is being proctored. One way to achieve this is by utilizing software like Manycam, which enables users to film themselves using a webcam to browse the internet and engage in other activities. Once this video has been captured, you can use it in tests so that the proctoring software only sees its content rather than your face.
Since an external projector would only focus on one operating system, parallel OSs are the best choice for browsing Google for solutions to exam questions. An external projector can also assist students in taking screenshots of questions for online proctored tests. Unfortunately, proctoring software might still be able to identify this technique.
Students can use tablets or cellphones with installed apps that enable communication with peers during an exam, enabling them to discuss answers they’ve uncovered and transmit images of textbook pages or formulas they find as another method of cheating during online proctored tests.
2. Send the Screenshot to a third party
Another common method used by students trying to cheat on online tests with proctors is distributing photos of the questions to uninvited recipients using WhatsApp or other comparable mobile services like SnapChat or Gchat. While taking a test, other students utilize cameras or projectors to display the answers on surrounding walls, and other electronic devices, such as smartwatches, microphones, and remote software, make it possible to cheat.
Additionally, some students impersonate experts to help them with their online tests. This practice might take place before to or during an exam. Although such cheating can be difficult to detect due to online proctoring systems only checking and authenticating identities during verification processes, students may share their exam login details with these experts and give them instructions to access question databases or search for solutions.
Using virtual machines on computers to look up answers is a typical technique for cheating on online examinations that are being proctored. This strategy may still be used by students attempting to pass tests even though it is more difficult to spot due to the technical expertise necessary. However, educational institutions are not helpless in the face of this type of cheating and can use deterrence tactics including establishing disciplinary guidelines to reduce its frequency.
3. Send the Screenshot to a friend
As technology has advanced, online learning has become a more and more common method of education. Unfortunately, due to its rapid development, new methods of cheating during online exams have emerged. Students now use devices like smartwatches, microphones, projectors, cameras, and remote software.
Sending questions and answers to an unauthorized third party is one of the simplest and most straightforward ways for students to cheat on an online proctored exam and get help from friends or relatives. Students may also hire hackers to hack into exam databases and give them the right answers.
Students may also use virtual machines (VM) to cheat on an online test. A virtual machine (VM) is like having a separate computer inside of your own; for example, if you’re taking an exam on a MacBook running Mac OS, setting up a Windows 11 virtual machine inside of it and using it to search for everything you need to know is a smart move that can be made across time zones and dates!
4. Make multiple monitors
Students are developing new methods to cheat on exams as online learning becomes popularity. While some strategies entail employing complex technology or software, others include creating obstacles or making excuses. Even though these ploys are against the law and may invalidate exam results, it is impossible to put a stop to them.
In order to take an online proctored exam, students must often verify both their identification and their equipment. An automated system or human invigilator will keep an eye on computer and webcam activity, and any suspect activity will alert a live remote proctor for closer scrutiny.
Having a nearby helper who can do your internet research for you or give you potential answers is one method of cheating on an online exam that is being proctored. Both strategies can help; another is to employ an exam instructor.
Virtual machines offer yet another option of cheating in online tests that are proctored. You can run two operating systems on your computer concurrently by using a virtual machine; for example, you could utilize a Windows 11 OS VM to conceal actions in your primary OS from Proctortrack software or live remote proctors.
5. Change the screen resolution
The digital revolution in education has made online proctoring a crucial element, but students still discover ways to cheat on examinations that are taken online.
Students can see more questions on the screen and identify the right answers more quickly by changing the screen resolution or font, which is one method of cheating. A similar strategy would be to use applications that answer exam questions. These apps are frequently discovered online and may give students solutions to almost all exam problems.
Academic dishonesty has long been a problem in schools, but as technology has advanced, its prevalence has only gotten worse. Academic fraud must be stopped right away because it can have detrimental effects.
Using a laptop or desktop with a webcam and a steady internet connection, as well as Chrome browser with its built-in security safeguards intended to prevent any cheating attempts, is an efficient way to cheat on an online exam. No additional devices should be used during proctored exams, and students should make sure their desks are clear of any forbidden things like pencil cases, notes, or liquids that could contribute to potential cheating.
6. Change the font
Technology-savvy students may find a means to cheat on an online exam that is being proctored. It’s crucial that your students arrive prepared, so let them use a computer with a webcam, microphone, and internet access, as well as access to their notes and texts on it.
Altering the font on the screen to make it easier for students to read the questions during an online proctored test is another efficient method of cheating, and it is becoming more and more common in both online and offline tests. In order to avoid detection, cheaters can quickly alter this font using a variety of techniques, such as downloading new software or plugins.
Opening eBooks, PDFs, and notepads in separate windows or tabs from the proctored browser is a common method of cheating on an online exam. This allows for simple access to textbooks during exams while allowing students to evade proctor limitations and search engines. These methods are frequently used by students to contact with friends or family during exams, which is against the rules of academic honesty.
7. Change the background
Students can take a test anywhere thanks to online proctoring, which saves them time and money on trip expenses without sacrificing the exam’s quality. For an online exam to be administered honestly, proctoring software monitors students’ displays and looks for any suspicious activity. This guarantees that no cheating occurs when exams are taken online, resulting in fair testing settings.
Students are required to register before taking an online test. Typically, registration is entering personal information—such as name, class, and academic year—into a database that verifies if the user’s computer satisfies the prerequisites for proctoring online tests. Once this step has been completed, an email with a link to this database that determines if your computer satisfies the requirements for online proctoring will be delivered to you.
After registering for an online exam, students must log in using their ID and password and upload a photo of their ID to have their identity verified by software. Students must use a computer with a webcam and microphone and participate in an unlit room during this exam period in order to complete online proctored exams.