Many universities conduct online exams, giving students the opportunity to cheat. Due to COVID-19, the number of cases is on the rise and exam centres and other health centres are closing. This has led to an acceleration in this trend. The reputation of a university as a learning institution is directly affected by the number of applicants who compete for admission. When conducting online high-scoring exams, universities and organizations are often looking for ways to stop candidates cheating, especially if they are trying to take the exam from faraway locations.
It's easy to believe that the number one search in the education industry is for cheating invigilated online tests. It's well-known that online exam fraud is increasing and that students will constantly invent new ways for proctoring.
This blog will discuss 10 different ways that students cheat in online exams. It will also examine smart technologies that can prevent this.
1. Screen Sharing / Reflection
Candidates can use multiple monitors when taking exams from distant locations. They can simultaneously access a friend's question and answer them on one screen. Screen sharing has been used by candidates to cheat in tests.
2. High Tech Equipment
Online exams that involve cameras are often cheated by students. Recently, companies have been identified that offer high-tech online exams, such as the CAT, MAT, or other competitive exams. However, test-takers are using small, almost undetectable Bluetooth gadgets.
Candidates can use calculators that can store formulas, data and other information to get better marks in exams. The test takers agreed to use high-tech technology to address concerns about students cheating on an online exam. They also stated that some students resort to traditional fraud methods, such as writing on their bodies or palms, and hand-written notes.
3. Mobile Phones
Smartphone fraud is increasing in invigilated online tests. Connected devices enable candidates to save answers and allow test-takers to find them from external sources.
4. Auto Coding Software
Candidats are known to use auto-coding software to pass the exams during school/university exams, or during recruitment programming testing. These programs can be created by these software without the candidate needing to code.
5. Navigation offers
Online exams were a way for students to cheat the system by gaining easy access to the internet and other social media platforms. Students log in to unknown websites, copy questions and then steal the best solution.
6. Impersonation
The famous trick of taking the test for another person is an old one or an idea taken from TV shows. The chances of someone pretending to be another person to pass the exam are high when they are conducted online. It is not necessary to use fraud or other fraudulent means. Instead, ask a student who has achieved high academic standards to take the exam for you. Since years, impersonators have been used by many testers to derail so-called high-integrity tests.
7. Use of external devices
Online exams are often used by fraud masterminds. They use hard drives and USBs, microSDs, and other smart devices that are difficult to detect and hide. Students can insert them before or after an exam to make a backup of the online exam. They can then sell it to others, or even share it online.
8. Their family and friends are present in their room
Helping a friend or relative to cheat on multiple-choice online quizzes and tests is one of the easiest ways to cheat. These assistants are hidden behind the screen or away form the webcam.
They might whisper softly or write the answer on a blockchain. Students who engage in unorthodox ways often cover their faces, hide from the screen, glance around the room, and make suspicious gestures when trying to contact assistants for the requested response.
9. Copy-pasting & Other Keyboard Shortcuts
The most common cheating method in online exams is to copy and paste the answers. Students are often able to copy and paste the answers from notespads or other documents. This will allow them to prepare for the test in a separate window. These tricks are a simple way to trick remote proctoring programs that have no idea what is happening. IRIS Invigilation software can record screen activity and the student might be caught cheating.
10. Evacuating the test by deliberate means
Online cheaters often think of ways to cheat the exam by deliberately excluding oneself from it. They will use excuses such a poor internet connection or power interruption to make it possible to exit the exam. The camera recording is then shut down so they can quickly search for answers. After they log back in, they continue with their assessment. Some students will lie and claim they cannot access the software. However, they are actually making excuses to avoid being monitored.
Related article from CollegeBasics: https://www.collegebasics.com/blog/how-to-get-the-best-online-exam-help/
Related Resources:
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10 Unique Ways Students Cheat in Online Exams
