The right starting point is the workflow your organisation already owns. Decide which system manages enrolment, exam content and results, then identify where exam-integrity controls fit. Integration should make responsibility clearer, not create two conflicting records of the same attempt.
When an LMS-led flow makes sense
An LMS-led flow is worth evaluating when participants already receive assignments and results in that system. Scope the handoff into the monitored session and back. Confirm the LMS product, version, authentication method and the information available to administrators and reviewers. A logo on an integration page does not prove that every version or workflow is supported.
When a separate examination workflow is useful
A separate workflow may suit an organisation that needs an exam-specific process beyond ordinary course delivery. First define who manages candidate access, exam scheduling, permitted tools and final results. Check these capabilities in the proposed product configuration rather than assuming they are included.
Map five handoffs
The discovery checklist should cover participant identity, exam assignment, session launch, access to evidence and result handoff. For each step, name the source system, destination, responsible team and success condition. Keep personal information limited to what the agreed workflow needs.
Test exceptions, not only the first successful attempt
Include a duplicate launch, a cancelled exam, a retake, a lost connection and a result awaiting human review. Confirm that each attempt keeps its own identifier and evidence. The receiving system must distinguish a technical status, an exam score and an integrity finding.
Choose on operating cost as well as feature fit
Evaluate administrator effort, participant instructions, support ownership and the work needed after platform updates. Agree who tests compatibility changes and when they can be introduced around the examination calendar. The cheapest initial connection can be expensive if no team owns the ongoing workflow.
Define a technical pilot
Demonstrate one complete route from assignment to reviewed result using your actual platform. Record unresolved requirements and acceptance evidence. Use that result to choose the architecture and scope the next stage.
What the separate-platform path includes
TrustExam provides tools for creating and reusing questions, setting exam timing and attempts, importing participants, organising groups and configuring invitations. Teachers manually assess open written answers. Coding tasks require an external execution service. During a demo, verify your sample questions, participant access and the result export separately from the integrity-review workflow.