Proctored Exam Help — Everything You Need Before, During and After (2026)

Updated July 10, 2026 · 8 min read · MonitorExam

Taking a proctored exam for the first time can feel overwhelming. This guide covers everything — what to expect, how to prepare your setup, what happens if something goes wrong during the exam, and what the proctoring system can and cannot see.

Jump to:

• → What is a proctored exam?
• → How to set up before a proctored exam
• → What happens during the exam
• → Common technical problems and fixes
• → What proctoring monitors (and what it doesn't)
• → After the exam — CredScore and results
• → FAQ

What Is a Proctored Exam?

A proctored exam is an online assessment monitored by a proctoring system to ensure the student completes it independently. Depending on the platform your institution uses, proctoring may include:

• Browser lockdown — restricts tab switching and copy-paste
• Camera monitoring — monitors face presence and environment
• Identity verification — confirms you are the registered student before the exam begins
• AI behavioural analysis — flags unusual patterns like sudden answer timing changes
• Session logging — records every flagged event with an exact timestamp

If your institution uses MonitorExam, your exam opens through a special link — not the original Google Forms or LMS link. The proctoring layer activates automatically when you open that link.

Before the Exam — Setup Checklist

1. Check your device and browser

✓ Use a laptop or desktop — not a phone 
  (some proctored exams work on mobile 
   but a laptop is safer)
✓ Use Chrome or Edge
  — MonitorExam works on all of them
✓ No browser extensions that block JavaScript 
  (disable ad blockers for the exam tab)
✓ Close all unnecessary applications 
  before starting

2. Check your internet connection

✓ Minimum recommended: 2 Mbps upload
✓ Preferred: wired connection or 
  strong WiFi signal
✓ Camera-optional mode: works on 
  mobile data — no video stream required
✓ If using camera mode: test your 
  webcam at webcammictest.com before 
  the exam day

3. Prepare your environment

✓ Find a quiet room with a closed door
✓ Plain background if camera is required
✓ Good lighting — face clearly visible 
  (camera toward a window, not against it)
✓ Remove any notes, books, or 
  unauthorised materials from the desk
✓ Inform family or housemates not to 
  enter during the exam
✓ Keep your government ID ready if 
  identity verification is required
✓ Charge your device — or keep it plugged in

4. Do a practice run if available

If your institution has provided a demo exam link, take it at least one day before the actual exam. This confirms:

• Your browser is compatible
• Camera and microphone work (if required)
• You understand the exam interface
• Browser lockdown activates correctly on your device

What Happens During the Exam

Step 1 — Open the MonitorExam link

Your institution will share a MonitorExam proctored link — not the original Google Forms or LMS link. Open this link, not the original exam URL.

Step 2 — Identity verification

Depending on your institution's configuration, you may be asked to:

• Face check — look into the camera for a quick match against your registration photo
• Government ID — hold your ID card up to the camera
• FIDO2 passkey — use fingerprint or Face ID on your device

This takes under 60 seconds. If the face check fails:

• Ensure your face is well-lit and centred in the frame
• Remove glasses if reflection is causing issues
• Try again — most systems allow 3 attempts

Step 3 — System check

The system checks your camera, microphone (if required), and browser compatibility. If anything fails:

• Camera not detected → check browser permissions (see troubleshooting below)
• Microphone not detected → same process
• Browser not compatible → switch to Chrome or Firefox

Step 4 — Exam begins

Once the system check passes, the exam opens inside the proctored environment. Browser lockdown is now active:

• Tab switching is detected and logged
• Copy-paste is blocked or logged
• Right-click is disabled
• The exam runs in fullscreen

Do not refresh the page during the exam unless instructed to. If your browser crashes, reopen the same proctored link — your session is usually recoverable.

Step 5 — Submission

Submit before the time limit. Most proctored exams auto-submit when time expires. After submission, your CredScore integrity report is generated automatically.

Common Technical Problems and Fixes

Camera not working

Problem: Browser says camera access is blocked

Fix:
Chrome: Click the camera icon in the address bar → 
        Allow → Refresh the page
Firefox: Click the lock icon → Permissions → 
         Camera → Allow
Safari: System Settings → Privacy → Camera → 
        Enable for your browser

If still blocked:
→ Check if another app (Zoom, Teams) 
  is using the camera
→ Restart the browser completely
→ On Mac: System Settings → Privacy → 
  Camera → enable for Chrome/Firefox

Browser lockdown not activating

Problem: Tab switching is still possible after 
         opening the exam link

Fix:
→ Ensure you opened the MonitorExam 
  proctored link, not the original 
  Google Forms link
→ Allow fullscreen when prompted
→ Disable browser extensions that 
  might interfere (especially ad blockers)
→ Try a different browser
→ Contact your exam coordinator with 
  a screenshot

Internet disconnected mid-exam

Problem: Connection dropped during the exam

What to do:
→ Reconnect immediately
→ Reopen the same proctored link
→ Your session is usually resumable — 
  answers saved so far are kept
→ The disconnection is logged in your 
  session record — inform your exam 
  coordinator so they can see the 
  technical cause in the session log

What NOT to do:
→ Do not close the browser tab
→ Do not start a new exam session 
  from a different link

Exam link says "expired" or "not found"

Problem: The proctored link no longer works

Fix:
→ Check the exam start time — the link 
  may not be active yet
→ Check the exam end time — the window 
  may have passed
→ Contact your exam coordinator for 
  a new link or time extension
→ Do NOT attempt to access the original 
  Google Forms link directly — 
  your submission will not be proctored
  and may not be accepted

Face detection keeps failing

Problem: System says face not detected

Fix:
→ Improve lighting — face a window 
  rather than having a window behind you
→ Remove hats or face coverings
→ Ensure face is centred in the camera frame
→ Move closer to the camera
→ Clean the camera lens
→ If wearing glasses, remove them if 
  glare is causing issues

What Proctoring Monitors — and What It Doesn't

What MonitorExam monitors during your exam

✓ Tab switches — every time you leave 
  the exam tab (logged with timestamp)
✓ Copy-paste attempts — blocked or logged
✓ Screen sharing — if you share your 
  screen, it is detected
✓ Browser focus — when the exam window 
  loses focus
✓ Face presence (camera mode) — 
  if you move out of frame
✓ Multiple faces (camera mode) — 
  if another person enters the frame
✓ Answer timing — how long you spent 
  on each question

What MonitorExam does NOT monitor

✗ What websites you visit on other 
  devices — only this device's 
  active browser tab
✗ Your messages or calls on your phone
✗ What you type or paste 
  (content is not read — only the 
   event is logged)
✗ Audio (unless your institution 
  has enabled microphone monitoring)
✗ What is outside the camera frame 
  in camera mode

After the Exam — CredScore

When you submit your proctored exam on MonitorExam, a CredScore report is generated automatically. This is a 7-dimension integrity report that goes to your institution:

1. Identity verification result
2. Session continuity
3. Tab activity
4. Copy-paste events
5. Behavioural consistency
6. Device integrity
7. Submission confidence

Your CredScore is not your exam grade — it is an integrity record. Your exam grade comes separately from your institution's marking.

If your CredScore shows flagged events — such as a tab switch — this does not automatically mean a violation. Your institution reviews flagged sessions and makes the final determination. An accidental tab switch or a momentary face absence due to poor lighting is not the same as deliberate cheating.

Tips for the Day of the Exam

1 hour before:

• Complete the environment setup
• Test camera and internet
• Close all other applications
• Read the exam rules one more time

15 minutes before:

• Open the proctored link to do the system check
• Ensure identity verification documents are ready
• Use the bathroom — you cannot leave during the exam

During the exam:

• Stay in the exam tab — do not switch to other tabs even briefly
• Do not use copy-paste even for legitimate purposes
• If something goes wrong, take a screenshot immediately
• Submit before the time limit — do not wait until the last second

After submitting:

• Do not close the browser immediately — wait for the confirmation screen
• Note your submission timestamp
• Contact your exam coordinator if you experienced any technical issues during the exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a proctored exam? A proctored exam is an online assessment monitored by AI software to ensure it is completed independently. Proctoring typically includes browser lockdown, identity verification, and a session integrity report delivered after submission.

What do I need for a proctored exam? A laptop or desktop computer, a stable internet connection (minimum 2 Mbps), a compatible browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge), and a quiet environment. Camera and government ID may be required depending on your institution's configuration.

Can I use my phone for a proctored exam? It depends on the platform. MonitorExam works on mobile browsers in camera-optional mode. For camera-required exams, a laptop or desktop with a webcam is recommended.

What happens if my internet disconnects during a proctored exam? Reconnect immediately and reopen the same proctored link. Most platforms save your progress. Inform your exam coordinator — the disconnection appears in the session log and its technical cause can be verified.

Can the proctor see my screen during the exam? In MonitorExam's standard mode, the proctoring system monitors tab activity and flagged events — it does not record your full screen. Screen sharing is detected only if you initiate it. Your exam coordinator can view the session log but not a continuous screen recording unless your institution has enabled full session recording.

What should I do if the exam link doesn't work? Check the exam start and end times first. If the timing is correct, contact your exam coordinator immediately with a screenshot. Do not attempt to open the original Google Forms or LMS link directly.

How is the CredScore different from my exam grade? CredScore is an integrity report — it covers session behaviour, not academic performance. Your exam grade comes from your institution's marking of your answers. A CredScore flag does not automatically constitute a violation.

Can I go to the bathroom during a proctored exam? This depends on your institution's rules. Most proctored exams do not allow leaving the exam environment mid-session. Plan accordingly and use the bathroom before the exam begins.

What if the face detection keeps failing? Improve lighting so your face is clearly visible, centre yourself in the camera frame, remove hats or accessories, and ensure no other applications are using the camera. Most systems allow multiple attempts.

Related reading:

• Can Google Forms Detect Cheating? What Teachers Can Actually See
• Online Proctoring Without a Camera — Yes, It Works
• How AI Detects Cheating During Online Exams
• MonitorExam Features — AI Exam Monitoring Software