Preventing Cheating in Exams: Top 10 Best Practices for Exam Invigilation

  1. Review the Rules.  Know what rules the student must abide by before you invigilate.  Rules can vary by Department, so it would be best to consult with the Instructor responsible for the exam to find out what the rules and expectations are.

  2. Plan Ahead.  Determine what items you should bring with you to the exam.  It is recommended that you bring a pencil, small notebook or anything else that you can use to jot down notes, and your own time keeping device.

  3. Communicate Rules to the Students.  Before the exam begins, make sure that the students have been made aware of the rules of the exam, and what is and is not allowed.  Where possible, a list of the specific rules of the exam should be included with each exam package, and each item should be read over by the lead invigilator. 

  4. Check Student ID.  It is a requirement that all students bring official University of Guelph Student ID with them to the exam.  Should a student not have official ID, they may still write the exam.  However, they should be informed that their exam will not be marked until they are able to prove their identity as a registered student for the exam.  Give the student a written time frame in which they must verify their ID. 

  5. Remove Unauthorized Material.  A clear list will be provided before the exam about what materials or items are allowed for the exam.  All unauthorized materials must be removed from the student’s desk at the beginning of the exam.  Some students who are registered with the Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) may be allowed to use specific aids during the exam.  CSD will provide documentation to the student confirming the use of the specific aid.  The student must provide this documentation to the invigilator before the beginning of the exam in order for the aid to be used.
  1. Cover the Room.  Invigilators should spread themselves around the room so that all areas are being watched.  Best practice would be for the invigilators to agree ahead of time about who will be responsible for which part of the room.  Ensure that you can make eye contact with at least one other invigilator in case of emergency. 

  2. Be Visible.  Students are less likely to try and cheat if they know that they are being watched.  Move around the room.  Do not sit in one spot and do something else.  Only active invigilation throughout the exam will deter cheating.

  3. Be Vigilant.  If you see something that appears to be suspect, continue watching.  This may be enough deterrence.  Should the suspect activity continue, make note of the time and any evidence that could be used to prove that cheating is occurring (student’s location, identifying features, actions etc.).  Best practice would be to keep notes of the incident that can be provided to the lead invigilator after the exam. 

  4. Minimize Disruption.  If you see cheating occurring, you can move the offending student so to prevent the cheating.  However, only move the offending student if it will not cause any disruption to the other students writing the exam.  

  5. Forward Information up the Chain.  If you witnessed cheating during the exam and had taken notes, forward all information to the lead invigilator after the exam.  Try to give as much relevant information that you can in case the matter is prosecuted under the Rules of Academic Misconduct.  The lead invigilator should in turn inform the Instructor of the course about any problems and make them aware of any relevant information.  The Instructor will decide whether further action is warranted.