The laws reflect the society, and security too should do the same when it comes to securing examinations. The examination system has flaws that have been exploited a lot over the years. Through fraudulent activities candidates have been able to score marks they did not work for. This has encouraged more people to take advantage of the broken system. The result is that the wrong people get a job, while others who work for it may miss out. The problem is, the examination process is vast with the risk of malpractices being done at any point of the process. This is why a proper utilisation of stringent exam security that keeps a watch on all aspects of an exam is needed. It ensures that no fraud is committed at any point during the process. Keeping exams secure requires multiple aspects to look at.
In the current examination scenario, there are numerous problems faced by the system. Each aspect requires its solution. Only the correct solution can help fix any breach that may be taken advantage of. Some of the challenges faced by examination bodies are listed below with security solutions that can properly challenge them:
Impersonation
When it comes to competitive examinations, it is quite a common tactic used for malpractice. Nothing too complex yet it is quite effective in taking advantage of the system. The use of impersonation has been well documented in the past few decades. It continues to be a nuisance in today’s exam scenario as well. With access to makeup, anyone can fool a human eye, which is why guards aren’t necessarily the best when it comes to keeping impersonators away.
The solution – Technology nowadays is far too advanced to be able to make a fool out of. All that’s lacking is how it is utilised. What could replace human sight when it comes to checking for impersonators in an exam queue? It’s the use of advanced CCTVs rigged with artificial intelligence and the power to spot the differences after all. CCTVs have advanced quite a lot over the years. Nowadays they can be used to keep an eye on candidates at all times while transmitting that information to a control centre. What’s better is, they are enabled with facial recognition technology that can spot the differences through even the use of makeup. Even if CCTVs aren’t available at the ready for conducting exams, there are options to acquire them from surveillance camera rental these days. It is something that cannot be given a miss at any cost.
Impersonation can also be brought to the heel through the use of biometric checks. Making use of biometric security measures like iris scans or fingerprint scans, exam bodies can make sure that only the authorised and authenticated candidates can attend exams. Biometric security is a huge step up from manual checking. These devices are connected to a central system that checks for any inconsistencies in the identity of candidates and also reports the same.
Devices To Support Malpractices
It is not limited to just competitive examinations and one must have experienced students as young as grade-schoolers to bring in information that will help them cheat. Security may have caught up with that through stringent invigilation back then. However, the means to commit such malpractices have changed with time. Nowadays, students and exam candidates make use of complex devices that can be brought inside the exam centre even through security. Candidates have been observed to have utilised Bluetooth to communicate with others for cheating. Unfortunately, as small as these pieces of devices are, they can get through security if not properly frisked.
The Solution – Frisking has moved ahead with access to better methods and technology. This is why the frisking method for checking exam candidates should be upgraded too. Why does anyone need to physically check candidates, when a hand held metal detector machine can do much better? These metal detectors make sure that no foreign objects enter the examinations centre. A second device can be used to enhance that security by making use of metal detector door frames. The use of these devices does more than keep out devices that could enable malpractices. They also help discourage anyone in the queue from going through with it.
Data-Manipulation
The risk of exam fraud doesn’t end with frisking and keeping a check on impersonation. Sometimes the malpractice takes place during the examination as well. Many times the malpractices also take place after an exam has been conducted and during the tallying process. Due to breaches in system integrity and bias, the staff responsible for checking marks can give in to changing the marks in papers. It is that part of the whole process where keeping check of inconsistencies becomes a problem. However, even this has a solution of its own.
The Solution – Making use of Optical Mark Recognition sheets in the exam process ensures a more secure examination. Even so, candidates can use tricks to fool the scanning system. Using advanced OMR sheet scanning services exam bodies can eliminate any breach in security including anything that fools the process. The scanning processes nowadays involve storing information in the cloud which is rechecked numerous times to ensure no data fudging has been committed. This also ensures that no one can access the data while on storage.
Conclusion
When it comes to the competitive exam scene in India, secure examinations can boost more than the confidence of candidates. Competitive exams take up a significant share of some of the important exams in people’s lives. Defining what career a person is going to build on holds a lot of power. Secure exams reinforce the trust of candidates in the system and the process. There are of course a lot more benefits if one looks at it. Malpractices are discouraged and so are those who enable them. This on the other hand ensures a fair examination for all who are involved. Stringent and well-utilised exam security is a worthy investment for any examination body in today’s exam scenario.
