Comparison of On-site Invigilated vs Remote Proctored Exam Delivery in Centre

Modified on Fri, 20 Mar at 11:20 AM

ISE Digital can be delivered in centres under two candidate monitoring models:


  • On-site invigilation: A physical invigilator is present in the room supervising candidates directly during the exam
  • Remote proctoring: Candidates sit the test in a centre, but in-exam monitoring is conducted remotely


Both models aim to ensure a secure, controlled and fair test environment. Where, with the on-site invigilation, a person in the room would be responsible for monitoring candidate behaviour and preventing malpractice, remote proctoring replicates this function through technology-enabled monitoring.


AspectOn-site invigilationRemotely proctored
Candidate volume per sessionMultiple candidates may be accommodated in the same room under a single invigilator, subject to centre capacity and ratios
Single candidate per session to ensure full visibility, recording quality and individual monitoring
Provision of secure exam environmentEstablished and actively enforced by centre staff and on-site invigilator throughout the exam sessionEstablished and maintained by centre staff; compliance monitored through recorded evidence and post-exam review; centre staff required to remain nearby in the event of emergency
Identity verification
Conducted in person by centre staff and/or invigilator prior to exam start
Conducted in person by centre staff and/or invigilator prior to exam start
Primary monitoring methodContinuous, real-time observation by invigilatorContinuous recording of video, audio and system data for post-exam review
Test-taking deviceCentre-provided or BYOD, configured and checked by centre staffCentre-provided or BYOD, configured and checked by centre staff
Secondary cameraNot requiredRequired; provided and positioned by the centre to ensure full visibility of candidate and environment for review
Candidate visibility and controlDirect physical oversight, including control of seating, movement and test conditionsVisibility ensured through camera setup and verified through recordings
Notice to candidateNotice displayed in the exam room and/or at entry to the room, informing candidates of exam conditions and rules Notice displayed in the exam room and/or at entry to the room; candidates must also explicitly agree to remote proctoring rules when logging into the proctoring platform 
Invigilation scriptRead and enforced by on-site invigilatorRead by centre staff
Exam startInitiated by invigilatorInitiated by centre staff before they leave the room
During examCandidate monitoring by invigilator in the roomCandidate monitoring through remote proctoring
Candidate monitoring responsibilityOn-site invigilator responsible for live monitoring and enforcementPost-test reviewers responsible for monitoring through review of recorded evidence
Handling irregularitiesManaged immediately during the exam by the invigilator; Supervisor Report needs to be completed to support post-exam security review and auditIdentified through structured post-test review of recordings and system data; all flagged events are investigated and outcomes applied following review (e.g. escalation, result decisions); Supervisor Report needs to be completed to support review (e.g. technical issues during session that required assistance from centre staff)
Control of exam conditionsDirect and continuous physical control exercised by invigilator and centre staffPreventative control maintained by centre staff; compliance assessed through recorded evidence and post-exam review
Audit and evidenceBased on invigilator observations Supervisor Reports and centre recordsComprehensive audit trail including video recordings, audio, system logs and analytics data
Results turnaround3-5 UK working days5-7 UK working days


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