The Proctoring and Exam Security Policy ensures that all AIES Approved Centers conduct examinations in a secure, fair, and transparent manner. This policy outlines the procedures for exam administration, proctoring requirements, and measures to prevent cheating, ensuring the integrity of the assessment process.
Key Principles:
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Commitment to Exam Integrity
All centers must uphold the highest standards of integrity during the exam process to ensure fair and accurate assessments of student performance. This includes:
- Preventing cheating or any form of academic dishonesty.
- Maintaining confidentiality of exam materials and results.
- Ensuring that all students are treated fairly during the exam process.
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Proctoring Requirements
Centers are required to provide trained proctors for all examinations to monitor the exam environment and enforce exam rules. Proctors must:
- Be Impartial: Proctors must not have any conflict of interest with the students being examined and must act impartially at all times.
- Monitor the Exam: Proctors must actively monitor students throughout the exam to ensure compliance with exam rules and prevent misconduct.
- Enforce Exam Rules: Proctors are responsible for enforcing all exam regulations, including time limits, permitted materials, and student conduct.
- Report Incidents: Any suspicious behavior or incidents of academic misconduct must be documented and reported to the center administration and AIES immediately.
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Exam Security Procedures
Centers must implement strict security procedures before, during, and after exams to protect the integrity of the exam materials and the process. This includes:
- Securing Exam Materials: All exam papers and digital exam materials must be stored securely and only accessible to authorized personnel before the exam begins.
- Identity Verification: Centers must verify the identity of each student before allowing them to begin the exam, ensuring that only registered students take the exam.
- Exam Room Setup: Exam rooms must be arranged in a way that minimizes the risk of cheating, including adequate spacing between students, clear instructions, and removal of unauthorized materials.
- Monitoring Digital Exams: For online exams, centers must use secure exam software or platforms that prevent cheating, including lockdown browsers, timed assessments, and proctoring tools.
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Preventing Academic Misconduct
Centers must take proactive steps to prevent cheating and academic dishonesty during exams. This includes:
- Prohibited Items: Ensuring that students do not bring unauthorized materials, such as phones, notes, or calculators, into the exam room unless specifically allowed.
- Clear Exam Rules: Providing students with clear instructions on what is permitted during the exam and the consequences of cheating.
- Randomized Seating: Using randomized seating assignments or virtual proctoring tools to prevent collaboration or communication between students.
- Observation of Behavior: Proctors must carefully observe student behavior for signs of cheating, such as looking at other students’ papers, using hidden materials, or communicating with others.
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Online and Remote Exam Proctoring
For centers administering online or remote exams, additional measures must be implemented to ensure security. This includes:
- Virtual Proctoring: Centers may use virtual proctoring tools that monitor students via webcam and microphone during the exam to detect any suspicious behavior.
- Screen Monitoring: Remote proctoring systems should monitor students’ computer screens to ensure they are not accessing unauthorized websites or materials during the exam.
- Secure Logins: Students must use secure logins and verified accounts to access online exams, ensuring that only the registered student takes the exam.
- Exam Environment Checks: Students may be required to show their exam environment (room, desk, etc.) via webcam before the exam begins to ensure compliance with exam rules.
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Handling Exam Irregularities
Centers must have procedures in place to handle any exam irregularities or violations of exam rules. This includes:
- Documenting Incidents: Proctors must document any incidents of academic misconduct or exam irregularities, including the details of what occurred, who was involved, and any evidence collected.
- Reporting to AIES: Centers must report all exam irregularities or cases of academic misconduct to AIES for further investigation and action.
- Consequences for Misconduct: Students found to have violated exam rules may face consequences, including exam disqualification, suspension, or expulsion, depending on the severity of the violation.
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Post-Exam Security
After the exam, centers must ensure that exam materials are securely handled and that results are processed accurately. This includes:
- Collection of Exam Materials: Proctors must collect all exam papers, answer sheets, and any other exam-related materials at the end of the exam, ensuring that no materials are lost or tampered with.
- Secure Storage: All completed exams must be stored securely until they are prepared for transmission to AIES or the relevant administrative body.
- Answer Sheet Submission: Centers must securely send all answer sheets to AIES for grading, ensuring that they are protected from unauthorized access or tampering during transmission.
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Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Centers must provide appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure they can participate in exams fairly. This includes:
- Extended Time: Providing extended time for students with documented disabilities who need it.
- Assistive Technologies: Allowing the use of assistive technologies, such as screen readers or modified exam formats, to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities.
- Special Exam Environments: Providing a separate exam environment for students who require a quieter or modified setting.
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Exam Review and Appeals Process
Students who wish to challenge their exam results or report concerns about exam conditions must have access to a clear review and appeals process. This includes:
- Request for Review: Allowing students to request a review of their exam results if they believe there has been a grading error or if they experienced issues during the exam.
- Appeal Procedures: Centers must provide a formal appeals process for students who wish to challenge their exam results, with clear timelines for submitting and resolving appeals.
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Compliance with AIES Standards
All centers must comply with AIES’s exam security standards and proctoring requirements. Centers are subject to regular audits and reviews to ensure that exam security measures are being followed.
Consequences of Non-Compliance:
Centers that fail to comply with the Proctoring and Exam Security Policy may face penalties, including the suspension of exam administration privileges or loss of AIES-approved status. Maintaining exam integrity is essential for the credibility of AIES programs and certifications.