How to Conduct an Online Exam on Zoom in 2025?

How to Conduct an Online Exam on Zoom in 2025?

With the rise of online education, many instructors and institutions are turning to Zoom to administer exams remotely. But how effective is Zoom for proctoring? And more importantly, is it easy to cheat on an online exam?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through:

• Step-by-step instructions for setting up a Zoom-proctored exam
• Best practices to discourage cheating
• The reality of cheating in online exams and how to mitigate risks
• A strong disclaimer on why cheating harms both students and academic integrity

Let’s dive in.

Why Use Zoom for Online Exams?

Zoom’s versatility makes it a popular choice for online exams. Its video conferencing features allow instructors to monitor students in real-time, share exam instructions, and create a classroom-like environment remotely. With over 300 million daily meeting participants (as reported by Zoom in 2024), it’s clear that the platform is trusted globally. But conducting an exam on Zoom requires careful planning to ensure fairness and security. Below, we’ll outline how to set it up and address the elephant in the room—cheating.

How to Set Up an Online Exam on Zoom

1. Schedule the Exam Meeting

Before the exam, schedule a Zoom meeting with the following settings for security:

• Generate a unique Meeting ID (avoid using your Personal Meeting ID) .
• Enable a passcode (leave it randomized for better security) .
• Turn on video for both host and participants (students must keep cameras on) .
• Mute participants upon entry (to prevent disruptions) .

Pro Tip: Conduct a practice session before the actual exam to troubleshoot tech issues .

2. Configure Zoom Settings for Proctoring

On exam day, follow these steps:

• Disable private chat (set chat to “Host Only”) .
• Enable “Gallery View“ to monitor all students at once .
• Start recording (optional, but useful for review) .
• Lock the meeting once all students have joined .

3. Communicate Exam Rules Clearly

At the start of the exam, remind students:

• Cameras must stay on (positioned to show their face and workspace) .
• No external materials allowed unless specified (e.g., open-book exams) .
• Use the “Raise Hand” feature for questions (to avoid unmuting) .

Best Practice: Share a slide with exam rules at the beginning .

4. Monitor During the Exam

• Watch for suspicious behavior (e.g., looking off-screen frequently) .
• Use breakout rooms for large classes (assign TAs to monitor smaller groups) .
• Announce time reminders (e.g., “10 minutes left”) .

5. Post-Exam Steps

• Verify submissions (ensure all students submit before leaving Zoom) .
• Review recordings (if enabled) for any red flags .

Is It Easy to Cheat on Online Exams?

The short answer? Yes, but not without risks.

Common Cheating Methods (and How to Prevent Them)

Cheating Method	How It’s Done	How to Prevent It
Using a Second Device	Students Google answers on a phone or tablet.	Require a room scan before the exam .
Screen Sharing/Remote Control	Someone else takes the test remotely.	Use locked-down browsers (e.g., Respondus) .
Hidden Notes	Notes taped to monitors or written on arms.	Mandate camera positioning showing the desk .
Collaboration via Chat Apps	Students message answers via WhatsApp/Discord.	Disable private chats in Zoom .
AI Tools (ChatGPT, etc.)	Students paste questions into AI for answers.	Use question randomization and timed tests .

Why Zoom Alone Isn’t Foolproof

• No desktop monitoring: Zoom can’t see students’ screens unless they share them .
• Limited AI detection: Unlike proctoring tools (e.g., Proctorio), it doesn’t flag suspicious movements .
• Human error: Watching 50+ students at once is nearly impossible .

Solution? Combine Zoom with other anti-cheating measures:

• Randomized question pools .
• Timed exams (short windows reduce cheating opportunities) .
• Honor codes (studies show they reduce cheating) .

A Strong Disclaimer: Why Cheating Is Wrong

Before we wrap up, let’s be clear: Cheating harms everyone.

For Students:

• Short-term gain, long-term loss – If you cheat, you miss out on real learning.
• Academic consequences – Getting caught can mean failing grades or expulsion .
• Career risks – Employers value integrity; a cheating record can hurt job prospects.

For Educators:

• Undermines fairness – Honest students are disadvantaged.
• Forces stricter measures – More invasive proctoring = less trust.

Instead of cheating:

• Ask for help (professors/TAs want you to succeed).
• Use study groups (collaborate ethically).
• Practice time management (cramming leads to desperation).

You may also like // Does Respondus LockDown Browser Record My Screen in 2025?

Final Thoughts

Zoom is a convenient tool for online exams, but it’s not cheat-proof. The best approach?