How to Stop Cheating in Online Exams

In the era of remote learning and digital-first hiring, the question isn't whether students or candidates will try to find shortcuts-it's how you can proactively stay one step ahead. If you're searching for how to stop cheating in online exams, you're looking for an overall strategy that ensures the integrity of your results.

At ClassMarker.com, we've spent years perfecting a suite of anti-cheat tools that work right in your browser-no clunky software installs required. Here is how you can use our platform to create a secure, bulletproof testing environment.

1. Eliminate the "Search and Paste" Strategy

The most common way test-takers cheat is by opening a new tab to search for answers or copying the question text into a search engine.

• Tab-Switch Detection: ClassMarker's Monitor feature tracks every time a user leaves the exam window. If they switch tabs or minimize the browser, the system flags the activity instantly.

• Disable Copy/Paste and Printing: With a single click in your settings, you can prevent users from highlighting text to copy it or using the print function to save your questions for later distribution.

• Full-Screen Enforcement: You can require that the test be taken in full-screen mode. If the user exits this mode, an alert is triggered, and the event is logged for your review.

2. Leverage Automated Camera Proctoring

The gold standard for remote integrity is knowing exactly who is behind the screen and what they are doing.

• Identity Verification: Before the exam begins, ClassMarker can require the user to hold up a photo ID to their webcam. This ensures that the person taking the test is the authorized candidate.

• Continuous Snapshots: Our Camera Monitor acts as a virtual invigilator, taking periodic, time-stamped photos throughout the session. These are saved directly to the test-taker's results page for quick auditing.

3. Use Randomization to Prevent Collaboration

If two students are sitting next to each other, randomization ensures they aren't looking at the same thing.

• Question Shuffling: Every time a test is launched, the order of questions changes.

• Answer Shuffling: Even for the same question, the multiple-choice options can appear in a different order (e.g., Option A for one person is Option C for another).

• Random Question Banks: Instead of giving everyone the same 20 questions, you can create a bank of 100 questions and have ClassMarker pull 20 at random for each user. This makes it virtually impossible for two exams to be identical.

4. Control the Testing Environment

Sometimes, the best way to prevent cheating is to limit the opportunity for it to happen.

• Strict Time Limits: By setting a realistic but firm time limit, you force the user to rely on their knowledge. If they spend 2 minutes Googling every question, they simply won't finish the exam.

• No Backtracking: You can disable the ability for users to return to previous questions. This prevents them from finding an answer later in the test and going back to fix an earlier mistake.

• IP Address Restrictions: For high-stakes corporate testing, you can restrict access so the exam can only be taken from a specific office location or IP range.

Sign up and get started with ClassMarker Today.

Review Related Online Testing Blogs and Tutorials

How Do I Give online exams?
How do I create quizzes with Random Questions?
How to Create Online Tests with Timers?
Create online surveys and forms.
Exam Proctoring.