Tests are often anxiety-inducing for many people. No matter how much one prepares for the test, it’s not very often that they feel 100% ready to take it. As the test sponsor, the best thing you can do is to provide the candidate with an intuitive and thoughtful in-person and remotely proctored exam experience.
The testing experience begins when the exam is scheduled and extends to the point where the candidate gets their grades. While proctoring often ensures that individuals provide original work without cheating, there’s more to a candidate’s experience than that.
You also need to consider if the exam cost and delivery mode are manageable for its target group, if the scheduling can be flexible, and if the candidates are even aware of where to submit the test and get their scores. Here are five ways you can deliver a better testing experience for your candidates:
1. Answer Questions Before Your Candidates Need to Ask Them
Anticipate the candidates’ needs. Once the assessment is scheduled, inform the test-taker where to access it, how to log in, and what they need to bring to the test beforehand. If they have to go searching for this information, it increases their chances of missing important details and makes them spend more time unnecessarily.
The proctoring service you use should send out all the information necessary and may even go the extra mile of preparing an FAQ to answer the most commonly asked questions directly. This saves both you and your test candidates time, lets them know what to expect, and instills confidence and trust in your exam process
2. Provide In-Person and Remote Testing Opportunities
If you had, among your candidates, a mother of four who can’t access a quiet environment in her home to sit for her virtual exam, how would you help her? Or another person who can’t travel to your in-person test because they’re too far away or engaged in the hours leading up to the test. What happens then?
Anticipate these different circumstances by providing different test delivery options without compromising on the quality of their test. Choose a proctoring partner that can help make this happen even where it looks impossible, such as long-duration exams that require focus for long periods of time, or properly administering breaks without hitches.
Consider physical testing centers, for people unable to take their assessment from their homes. Provide them a conducive environment with a stable internet connection and enough quiet for them to concentrate on their test.
3. Prioritize Accessibility
Make your test inclusive by catering to all members of your testing community by placing focus on accessibility. Where you offer computer-based testing, ensure that the platform supports assistive technologies such as screen readers, speech input software and screen magnification.
You can also provide pathways for learners who may need additional time or other support during the assessment. For instance, have a virtual proctor on standby to answer any platform-related questions during the test and provide a flexible test length to allow people needing additional support to complete the assessment..
You may also consider providing the test in multiple languages to reduce the language barrier. Multiple languages also enable you to access a global audience, increasing the pool of candidates who can take your test. As you look for proctor partners, consider this option and their ability to provide personalized support for different students.
4. Provide a Test Drive Opportunity
What will the exam look like? What form will it take? Pre-exam jitters are exacerbated by having no idea how the examination could look like. Don’t let this be a bother to your candidates.
Offer them a sample exam that they can practice with to familiarize themselves with the format of the test. They can learn to navigate the test portal and test their knowledge while at it. Your sample experience can even include the process for security, room entry, familiarization with the test center or online portal, personal item storage, and other details.
5. Make Your Exam an Engaging, Flexible Experience
Remote tests don’t have to be multiple choice or true/false tests! You can diversify the assessment format for greater engagement. Embrace performance-based assessments and simulations, depending on your field. For instance, a digital marketing course could simulate a design tool where candidates design some content for social media using a standard program.
An assessment in architecture could include a 3D modeling simulation to demonstrate the individual’s ability, increasing engagement with the evaluation. And where the candidates have different ability levels, performance-based testing could also gauge competency on a specific platform being assessed, making the experience more friendly.
Final Thoughts: Intuitive Remote Exam Proctoring for Improved Candidate Experience
Whether remote or in-person, your candidates’ testing experiences can be improved by simply anticipating their needs and giving them a seamless end-to-end experience. By working with a partner like Prometric you can be a step ahead of your competition, by providing your candidates with a smooth end-to-end exam proctoring experience.
