Live proctoring means a person supervises an exam while it is taking place. Recorded, or asynchronous, proctoring means a person reviews available session evidence afterwards. Automated proctoring uses software to analyse configured signals. These are different dimensions: automated flags can support either live or recorded review.
For an organiser, the useful question is when intervention is needed and who will assess the evidence. A mode name alone does not establish the service staffing, response time or final decision process.
Live proctoring: review during the attempt
Live supervision lets an authorised person observe the session and respond through the programme’s agreed procedure. It suits assessments where immediate clarification or intervention is important. It also requires scheduling, sufficient reviewers and a process for simultaneous incidents.
Before adopting live review, define what a proctor may do: ask for clarification, report an event, pause a session or escalate to another decision-maker. Do not assume every provider includes a staffed proctoring service simply because its software supports live monitoring.
Recorded proctoring: review after submission
Recorded review separates the candidate’s exam time from the reviewer’s work. It can help with distributed participants, but an event may not be resolved until after the attempt. The programme therefore needs a review deadline and a clear definition of when results become final.
Specify which evidence is recorded, who can access it, how long it is retained and how gaps in a recording are handled. An asynchronous process still requires people, review capacity and a route for appeals.
Automated proctoring: signals that support review
Software can analyse enabled inputs and mark moments for attention. In TrustExam, the available signals depend on the selected delivery mode and settings. TrustScore and events help reviewers navigate session evidence; they do not establish intent or replace the programme’s decision.
Evaluate useful signals alongside false alarms and missed events. An ordinary movement or technical interruption should not be treated as misconduct without context. Ask a provider to demonstrate how a reviewer reaches the original evidence from a flag.
A practical comparison for buyers
Need a response during the attempt? Evaluate live supervision and its staffing, escalation and support coverage.
Need flexible review scheduling? Evaluate recorded review, evidence completeness and the time from submission to a final result.
Need help locating relevant moments? Evaluate automated signals within the review workflow, including both useful and unhelpful flags.
Need more than one approach? Define the combination explicitly, including who takes over when software raises an event.
Compare total workload rather than a single per-session price. Include candidate preparation, technical support, active supervision, later review and appeals. A configuration with more collected signals can also create more work if the review rules are unclear.
Pilot the chosen model
Use a representative exam and devices. Include permitted applications, approved individual adjustments and technical interruptions. Assign the same sample sessions to authorised reviewers where appropriate and discuss inconsistent conclusions. Agree acceptance criteria before the pilot, then use the results to adjust the configuration and staffing.
TrustExam can be evaluated as an exam platform or for online proctoring. Agree the live-monitoring and recording configuration, service responsibilities and review turnaround for your programme.
Frequently asked questions
Is asynchronous proctoring fully automatic?
No. Asynchronous describes when review happens. A person can review recordings and events after the exam, with or without automated assistance.
Does AI remove the need for reviewers?
An automated event is not a final misconduct finding. Define the authorised person who evaluates context and applies the programme’s rules.
Which mode is best?
There is no universal winner. Choose around exam stakes, participant schedules, intervention needs, review capacity and data requirements.
Is a live proctor included in a software licence?
Do not assume this. Confirm who supplies reviewers, which hours are covered and what happens when several participants need attention.
Use the pilot evaluation guide and review and appeals workflow to prepare an evaluation, or discuss your setup.