Intro Text
Exams uncover the strengths, weaknesses, and academic progress of your students. Given the importance of testing, consider whether to require proctored exams. The key difference is that students are monitored in a proctored exam, and are not monitored for a non-proctored exam.
Proctored exams versus non-proctored exams
Proctored exams
A proctored exam is a secure, monitored assessment that supports academic integrity and discourages cheating. Exams may be taken on paper, via ICON Quizzes, or other online platforms. Students can be monitored in person by an instructor, by proctors at a physical test center, or online by a virtual proctor who observes the student using a webcam.
Proctored exams offer greater security than non-proctored ones, though not all assessments are suitable for this format.
Non-proctored exams
A non-proctored exam is taken without supervision and is favored for its convenience and ease of administration, especially when evaluating skills beyond content recall.
We recommend you allow open materials/resources for non-proctored exams to ensure fairness because it's not possible to limit what students access while testing.
Need help building non-proctored ICON quizzes?
- For help with non-proctored ICON quizzes in an online course, contact Distance and Online Education's Course Administration team.
- If you teach an in-person course, contact the SITA team for assistance with non-proctored ICON quizzes.
Ready to request exam support?
Use the Proctored Exams Portal (PEP) to submit a proctored exam request. If you're not sure how to use the portal, click below for detailed instructions.
Building secure exams
Exam building recommendations and considerations for both proctored and non-proctored exams.