Proctoring guidelines

Follow these guidelines when proctoring exams:

Candidates must be monitored continuously while taking their exams.

At PVTCs, monitoring can be handled using the following methods. Regardless of which method is used, you must have a clear view of all workstations, and the hands of all candidates should be visible.

In room: You monitor candidates from within the testing room. It is important that this type of viewing does not cause a disturbance.
Viewing window: You monitor candidates through a window looking into the testing room. You must be able to view the entire testing room through the window.
Viewing equipment: You monitor candidates through a video and audio feed from a camera located in the testing room. The feed is displayed on the administration workstation.

PVTC Selects are required to have a video surveillance system for proctoring.
If your test center has video or audio monitoring, you must inform candidates that they will be monitored by video or audio routinely throughout their testing session. Candidates cannot refuse to be video or audio monitored.

When you switch duties, take a break, go to lunch, end your work day, or leave the test center for any period of time, be sure to log out of all applications. The test administrator who is currently registering, proctoring, or administering exams must log into the applications with his or her personal username and password.
Using cell phones, checking email, reading books, eating, and drinking are all prohibited activities while proctoring because these activities can distract you from proctoring.
If you realize you have started an exam for a candidate under the wrong name, or if a candidate starts the exam, and then tells you that it is not the right exam, stop the exam as described in Stopping an exam. Tell the candidate you need to call Pearson VUE to resolve the problem. Ask the candidate to stay in the waiting area while you call VSS for assistance. Even if the candidate is taking the correct exam, it is important that the candidate takes the exam under the correct name so that the admissions data and score are assigned to the right person. Correct the error before the candidate proceeds any further with the exam. Do not let the candidate continue and assume that the results can be corrected later. Make sure to create a case about the occurrence.
If something goes wrong with the exam while the candidate is taking it, stop the exam and contact VSS immediately. Do not have the candidate try to complete the exam. For more information, see Stopping an exam.
If you observe notes or other materials being removed from the testing room by a candidate at any time, attempt to confiscate the materials and create a case immediately. For more information, see Reporting candidate misconduct.
A candidate must raise his or her hand to obtain a clean noteboard, noteboard booklet, or replacement pen during the exam. Collect the current noteboard, noteboard booklet, or pen before you give the candidate a new one. Usually, candidates may only have one noteboard or noteboard booklet at a time.
Do not give candidates food, medical assistance, or medication. This includes aspirin, cough drops, and so on.
Address all disturbances in the testing room. This may include disturbances caused by candidates in the testing room or noises outside the testing room that can be heard in the testing room.
If a candidate does not return from a break, first check the exam sponsor's client reference for specific instructions. If there is no information in the client reference, leave the exam in break mode and allow time to expire, and create a case.