Online Invigilation

An Online Invigilated Examination is an examination completed online while being supervised.

At UniSQ, your Online Invigilated Examinations will be supervised by ProctorU. Some students will be required to complete Online Invigilated Examinations due to the professional accreditation requirements of their Program.

ProctorU is a digital exam supervision service. Your exam will be supervised in real-time by a real person through your webcam and microphone. 

UniSQ has chosen to pilot the use of the ProctorU Live+ platform for the Trimester 3 Final Assessment Period after carefully considering the feedback provided by students who had previously used ProctorU for their Online Invigilated Examinations. 

The ProctorU Live+ platform will provide UniSQ students with a higher-level of service, as there is a real person available to assist them in real-time if they require support at any time during their Online Invigilated Examination.

The Guardian Browser is a browser developed by ProctorU that enables secure digital supervision of assessment. All ProctorU Online Invigilated Examinations must be completed through the ProctorU Guardian Secure Browser. 

Click here to download the Guardian Browser. There are options available for both PC and Mac devices. 

Instructions on how to create your ProctorU account are available here.

If you have already created an account and need to login, click this Single Sign-On link, select the University of Southern Queensland from the Institution drop-down list and then click Sign In.

You will need to search for your exam in ProctorU and schedule an available session according to the course code, date, and time listed in your personal Formal Exam Schedule. View the ProctorU guide on how to schedule your exam session.

You will need the following equipment to complete your ProctorU Online Invigilated Examination:

• A compatible desktop with one (1) monitor, or a compatible laptop (multiple screens/monitors are not permitted) 
• A functioning web camera – if possible, we suggest using an external plug-in web camera as you may find this easier when completing the room scan as part of the pre-checks process.
• Your mobile phone – this will also be used in the pre-checks process. In the event of a technical issue, having your phone nearby throughout your exam may also be beneficial if your Proctor needs to contact you.

Log into your ProctorU account and click on the Test Your Equipment button available on your ProctorU dashboard. 

Before you complete your ProctorU Invigilated Examination, it is important to check that your computer/laptop meets the minimum equipment requirements recommended by ProctorU. Please refer to the ProctorU website for more information. 

You must use a computer/laptop for your ProctorU Invigilated Examination. Please be aware that the following devices are not supported by ProctorU:

• Mobile phones
• Tablets
• Chromebooks

Your computer/laptop must only use a single monitor, all other monitors must be disconnected prior to your exam. 

Please also be aware that some antivirus software or lack of administrative rights may prevent you from connecting to ProctorU. If you are using a work device or run sophisticated protection software/programs, you will need to work with UniSQ, ProctorU and your workplace ICT to resolve any issues prior to your exam. We highly recommend using a personal device to avoid these barriers.

You will be able to test your equipment well before the Formal Assessment Period to ensure that your laptop/computer will be able to support your ProctorU Live+ Invigilated Examination. 

If you are concerned that your device will not be able to support your ProctorU Live+ Invigilated Examination, or it has failed the ProctorU equipment test, you will need to source an alternative computer/laptop. Borrowing a device from a trusted relative or friend may be a convenient alternative if your device is not compatible. 

If you are unable to source a suitable computer/laptop/web camera to complete your ProctorU Invigilated Examination, please reach out to Assessment.Support@unisq.edu.au as soon as possible.

You must have a stable and reliable internet connection to complete your exam. ProctorU requires a minimum upload and download speed of 1 Mbps (1024 Kbps). Mobile hotspots and tethering are discouraged.

Before you start your exam session, you can test your internet connection using the Test Your Equipment button available on your ProctorU dashboard. If your internet connection is not sufficient for your exam, you will need to complete your exam from another location with a stronger internet connection.

Permitted resources

• Hard-copy or online textbooks
• Hand-written or typed study notes – these can be printed or saved onto your device.
• Any course materials available on your course StudyDesk
• Any relevant websites
• Google/other search engines
• Some Microsoft Office programs (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote) 
• SPSS
• Online calculator

Permitted items

• Calculator (all types are accepted)
• Pen, paper, and any other stationery
• Water in a clear, unlabelled water bottle
• Your mobile phone (only to be used during the pre-checks process or if you need to phone for technical support)

During the ProctorU pre-checks process, you will be asked to select from a list of permitted resources and items that you plan on using during your exam. You will then be required to show these to your Proctor. Have these ready on your desk, or saved/booked marked on your computer before you start your exam session.

You should also familiarise yourself with list of resources and items which you are not permitted to use during your Online Invigilated Examination.

Unpermitted resources

• Online communication tools (including Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
• Email
• Social media
• ChatGPT, Co-pilot and other similar artificial intelligence (AI) tools

Unless you have received explicit written instructions from your Course Coordinator, you may not submit any work that has not been written or created by yourself, because this constitutes Academic Misconduct.

Unpermitted items

• Headphones
• Additional electronic devices (e.g. secondary monitors, computers/laptops, tablets)
• Smart watches
• Sunglasses
• Hats and non-religious headwear
• Food and drink other than water in a clear, unlabelled water bottle (unless this is listed as an Exam Adjustment on your Learning Support Plan)

Your Proctor will create an Incident Report if they see you using any unpermitted resources or items during your Online Invigilated Examination. This Incident Report will then be sent to the University for review and may result in an Academic Misconduct investigation.

You can complete your ProctorU Online Invigilated Examination from anywhere, if it is in a location that:

• Has a stable and reliable internet connection.
• Is quiet with minimal ambient noise.
• Is private, where you won’t be disturbed, and no other persons are present in your room/space.

When the pre-checks process, you may be asked to hide, turn-off or remove certain items from your exam space before completing another room scan. This could include:

• Turning around or covering (i.e. with a sheet/towel) any computer screens or monitors that are not being used for your exam.
• Removing any unnecessary equipment from your exam space.
• Turning off the television or radio that may be playing in the background.

The ProctorU pre-checks process is a series of onboarding steps and checks you will need to complete before you can launch your exam. You can expect to be asked to complete the following during the pre-checks process:

1. Agree to the Terms of Service and agree to being recorded throughout your exam session.
2. Share your webcam, microphone, and screen. After completing this step, your session will begin recording.
3. Take a photo of your Photographic Identification
4. Review and agree to your exam rules set by UniSQ.
5. Select from the list of permitted exam resources and items you plan on using throughout your exam. You will then be asked to show the webcam the exam resources and items you plan on using throughout your exam.
6. Complete the self-guided room scan and monitor scan. This means you will be asked to use your webcam to take an image of your workspace, left wall, back wall, right wall, underneath your desk and your computer screen (using your smart phone or mirror). You will then be asked to use your webcam to take a video of your exam space by panning around the room.

Once you have completed these pre-check steps, you will be connected to a Proctor who will review and confirm your identity documentation, as well as the images/recordings you took of your exam resources and exam workspace. If your Proctor has any questions or concerns in relation to your ID documentation, exam resources or workspace, they may ask to see them again in real-time. 

Your Proctor will also take remote control of your device to ensure there are no unpermitted programs running. You will be able to see everything your Proctor is viewing when they have remote control of your device. You Proctor will not be able to open any of your files without your knowledge or consent.

The ProctorU Live+ platform does not support multiple monitors/screens during your Online Invigilated Examination. Before starting your exam session, you will need to disconnect any additional monitor(s) you have connected to your computer/laptop. 

The following tips may be useful when completing your Online Invigilated Examination on a single screen:

• Split your screen so that half of your screen has your exam open in the Guardian Browser, while the other half of screen has your other exam resources open (e.g. online textbook, study notes or another browser like Google Chrome).

• Consider printing your study notes and have these available on your desk throughout your exam.

• Consolidate all your study notes and the URLs of your exam resources into one file (e.g. a Word document) and have this saved onto your device to refer to throughout your exam. This will reduce the number of files you need to have open. You could also use the search function (Crtl + F) to search for key terms in your study notes.

You can verify your identity using any form of physical, government-issued photo ID that has your photograph and name on it in English.

For example, you can use your Driver’s Licence or Passport. Do not use your Staff ID card that is issued by your employer, even if you work for a government organisation.

The StudyDesk will automatically save and submit your exam answers once the timer reaches zero.

You will then automatically be taken to a survey page where you will be able to provide feedback on your experience using the ProctorU Live+ platform. You can then exit the Guardian Browser and you will be disconnected from your Proctor and the recording of your exam session will end.