Taking a Monitored Online Quiz (Student Guide)

Published on: 2026-01-04 by Edufide

Some Online Quizzes require Exam Monitoring to ensure academic integrity. This means your webcam and/or screen activity will be recorded during the exam. Don’t worry—the setup is quick and straightforward. This guide walks you through everything you need to know.

🌟 What You Need to Know
  • Simple Setup: Just grant camera/screen permissions when prompted—takes less than a minute.
  • No Extra Software: Everything works in your browser—no downloads or extensions required.
  • Privacy: Only your instructor can view recordings, and they’re deleted after the retention period.
  • Unobtrusive: Once started, monitoring runs quietly in the background while you focus on the exam.
  • Auto-Upload: Recordings are uploaded automatically after you submit—just close your browser.
Contents:

System Requirements

Before starting a monitored quiz, ensure your setup meets these requirements:

Hardware

  • Computer: Desktop or laptop (tablets and phones are not recommended)
  • Webcam: Built-in or external webcam that produces clear video
  • Internet: Stable connection with at least 1 Mbps upload speed
  • Power: Plug in your laptop or ensure full battery charge

Software

  • Browser: Google Chrome (recommended, latest version), Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari are all supported.
  • Updates: Make sure your browser is up to date

Quick Test

To test your setup before exam day:

  1. Open your browser and go to a video calling site (like meet.google.com)
  2. Check if your camera works and shows clear video
  3. Verify your internet is stable

💡 Tip: Ask your instructor if there’s a practice quiz available. This lets you test the full monitoring setup without stakes.

Preparing Your Environment

Set yourself up for success with a proper testing environment:

Location

  • Quiet space: Find a room where you won’t be interrupted
  • Good lighting: Your face should be clearly visible (avoid backlighting from windows)
  • Plain background: If possible, sit in front of a plain wall
  • Private: Avoid public spaces like cafes or libraries

Camera Positioning

  • Position camera at eye level or slightly above
  • Your full face should be visible in the frame
  • Ensure there’s enough light on your face (front lighting is best)
  • Avoid hats, sunglasses, or anything obscuring your face

Desktop Setup

  • Close unnecessary applications: Email, social media, messaging apps
  • Close extra browser tabs: Only have the exam tab open
  • Disable notifications: Turn off desktop notifications that might appear during recording
  • Clean desktop: Screen recording will capture everything visible

During-Exam Materials

Check with your instructor about what’s allowed:

  • If closed-book: Remove all notes, books, and reference materials
  • If open-book: Have permitted materials ready
  • Calculator: Only use if explicitly permitted
  • Phone: Put it on silent and out of reach (unless permitted)

Monitoring Setup

When you click Attempt quiz now, you’ll be guided through the monitoring setup. It typically takes less than 1 minute.

Step 1: Camera Permission

Your browser will ask permission to access your camera:

  • Click Allow when the browser prompts for camera access
  • You’ll see a preview of your camera feed
  • Verify your face is clearly visible and well-lit

Step 2: Screen Sharing Permission

Your browser will ask you to share your screen:

  • Click Share when prompted
  • Important: Select “Entire Screen” (not just a window or tab)
  • If you have multiple monitors, select your primary monitor
  • Click Share to confirm

⚠️ Important: You must share your Entire Screen, not just a browser window or tab. Sharing only a tab will not meet monitoring requirements and may flag your attempt.

Step 3: Confirmation

Once both permissions are granted:

  • You’ll see a confirmation that monitoring is active
  • The quiz will load and you can begin
  • Recording starts automatically

During the Exam

Once monitoring is active, focus on your exam. Here’s what to keep in mind:

What You’ll See

  • Camera preview: A small thumbnail may show your camera feed
  • Recording indicator: Your browser shows a red dot or “sharing” indicator
  • Normal quiz interface: Everything else works exactly like a regular quiz

Best Practices

  • Stay in frame: Keep your face visible in the camera throughout the exam
  • Look at the screen: It’s natural to look at your monitor while reading and answering
  • Don’t leave: Stay at your computer for the entire duration
  • Don’t switch tabs/apps: The screen recording will capture any navigation away from the exam
  • Don’t close the browser: This will stop the recording and may flag your attempt

What’s Normal

Don’t worry about:

  • Scratching your face or adjusting your hair
  • Brief looks away from the screen while thinking
  • Drinking water or stretching at your desk
  • Background noises like traffic or household sounds

What to Avoid

  • ❌ Having another person in the room or visible on camera
  • ❌ Using a phone or second device
  • ❌ Looking at notes or materials (unless open-book)
  • ❌ Reading questions aloud or talking to yourself excessively
  • ❌ Switching to other applications or browser tabs
  • ❌ Leaving your seat during the exam

When You Finish

  1. Click Finish attempt and review your answers
  2. Click Submit all and finish to complete the exam
  3. Recording stops automatically upon submission
  4. Your recording uploads in the background
  5. You can close your browser once you see the confirmation

Troubleshooting

Camera Permission Denied

If you accidentally clicked “Block” or can’t see the permission prompt:

  1. Click the lock/camera icon in your browser’s address bar
  2. Find Camera permissions and change to “Allow”
  3. Refresh the page and try again

Screen Share Not Working

  • Make sure you selected “Entire Screen” not a specific window or tab
  • On Mac: Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Screen Recording → Enable your browser
  • Try using Chrome if you’re on a different browser

Recording Stopped Mid-Exam

  • You may see a prompt to restart the recording
  • Grant permissions again if prompted
  • If issues persist, continue with the exam and contact your instructor afterward

Browser Crashed

  • Reopen your browser and return to the exam
  • You’ll be prompted to set up monitoring again
  • Your quiz progress and answers are saved

Poor Video Quality

  • Add more lighting to your face (desk lamp facing you)
  • Close bandwidth-heavy applications
  • Move closer to your WiFi router

Still Having Issues?

Contact your instructor immediately if you experience technical difficulties. Provide:

  • A description of the problem
  • Screenshots of any error messages
  • Your browser and operating system
  • The time the issue occurred

💡 Remember: Technical issues happen. Document everything and communicate promptly with your instructor. Most issues can be resolved or accommodated.