How to Stop Cheating in Online Exams Without Sacrificing Academic Integrity

Here’s the truth: if you’re running online assessments, you’ve probably worried about cheating. Whether you’re managing an academic institution or delivering professional training, ensuring academic integrity during online examinations isn’t just about catching dishonest students—it’s about building trust in the process and the results.

Cheating in online exams has evolved as fast as the tech meant to prevent it. From dual-device schemes to impersonation tactics, students may find new ways to take the test unfairly. But the good news? There are reliable, Moodle™-compatible strategies to reduce cheating and protect the value of your online assessments.

Let’s explore practical, tested techniques aimed at deterring cheating on online exams—without creating a nightmare for students or educators.

Start with Smart Quiz Design to Minimise Opportunities to Cheat

You might not expect this, but the biggest deterrent isn’t high-tech surveillance—it’s smart question strategy. Most online cheating happens because the test makes it too easy. Here’s what you can do differently:

• Use question banks: Randomise questions so no two students get the same version of the exam.
• Shuffle answer choices: Stops screenshots and shared answer keys from being effective.
• Apply time limits: Prevents extra time to search for answers or communicate with others.
• Limit backtracking: Forces students to answer questions in order, reducing chances to collaborate.

By mixing question versions and limiting navigation, you make it more effort to cheat than to just study. It’s about reducing the payoff.

Use Online Proctoring Tools That Work With Moodle™ Software

Here’s where Moodle Proctoring comes in—a helpful option for those using Moodle™ software and looking to uphold academic integrity during high-stakes assessments. This plugin doesn’t just silently watch. It documents and protects exam integrity using:

• Webcam activation with automatic image capture every 30 seconds
• Face recognition support with Amazon Rekognition or Brainstation
• Blocking quiz access unless the camera is allowed
• Log reporting with search features for easy review
• Stored images in small, manageable PNG files

And yes, students might not love being on camera, but from an administrator’s perspective—it’s real documentation showing who took the exam, and when.

Set It Up

Installing Moodle Proctoring is straightforward. It behaves like most other Moodle™ software plugins:

1. Head to the Moodle plugins directory and download the Quiz Access Proctoring plugin.
2. Install on your site and enable permissions as needed.
3. Configure quiz settings under “Extra restrictions on attempts.”
4. Select the option: “Webcam identity validation must be acknowledged before starting.”

Once this is done, the plugin is ready to go. You can configure the image resolution and the time interval as suits your system’s capacity and exam duration.

Stop Cheating in Online Quizzes with Identity Validation

One of the riskiest gaps during any online assessment? Not knowing who’s really taking the exam. While password security helps, identity fraud is trickier.

This is where face recognition tools connected to the proctoring plugin give you a safety net. By comparing the student’s live image with their Moodle profile photo, systems like Amazon Rekognition can validate authentication—even in high-volume exams.

In short: it’s not perfect, but it’s a strong deterrent. If someone sends a friend to sit the test, there’s a much higher chance you’ll catch it.

Design Exams With Integrity—Even Without Surveillance

Let me be honest: not everyone wants—or can afford—webcam-based online proctoring. But there are still plenty of ways to encourage transparency and prevent cheating in more subtle ways:

• Use open-book question formats: Design test questions that don’t just require memorisation. Ask students to interpret or apply knowledge to hypothetical scenarios.
• Add reflective or personal response questions: It’s a lot harder to cheat when you’re being asked for your opinion or course-specific experience.
• Mix in oral assessments or video submissions: Especially useful in language or professional development tests where nuance matters.

Why does this matter? Because well-structured tests that expect higher-order thinking reduce incentives to find cheatsheet workarounds.

Create a Culture of Academic Integrity

Even the best software won’t stop cheating if students don’t value honest effort in online assessments. Your proctoring strategy should include communication, not just configuration.

Some tips:

• Explain the “why” behind proctoring tools: Students are more cooperative when they understand it’s protecting them too—keeping the class on a level playing field.
• Outline clear exam rules: Be explicit about what’s allowed during the test. Even better, include these instructions right inside the quiz ahead of time.
• Have students acknowledge a statement of honesty: This simple act has been proven to reduce misbehaviour. It serves as a moral contract.

Think prevention, not punishment. Set the tone early on—and be consistent.

Reduce Cheating in Online Tests with Back-End Visibility

It’s easy to focus just on cameras and face match software, but don’t ignore your logs. Moodle Proctoring creates proctoring reports that help administrators and instructors identify patterns that suggest cheating during online exams.

What this actually means is you can:

• Review each participant’s image timeline (human validation still matters)
• Export or delete images individually or in bulk to manage server space
• See time stamps of suspicious data (like skipped webcam validation)

Combined with Moodle’s native activity logs, you’ll have better visibility over who accessed what—and when.

Don’t Let Technology Alone Do the Heavy Lifting

Let’s be honest: some users get really good at beating browser restrictions and webcam monitoring. That’s why passive control isn’t enough—combine tech with instructional strategies.

Use these complementary practices:

• Shorter assessments delivered more frequently: Spreads the load, reduces pressure, and makes each test less “high stakes.”
• Assign fewer multiple-choice-only quizzes: These are more likely to be easily shared or Googled.
• Tailor questions dynamically using Moodle quiz configuration options.

Honestly, most people skip this step—and regret it. Exam design deserves just as much thought as delivery. Your anti-cheating plan should be baked in from the start.

Offer Practice Runs with Online Exam Technology

Before the real test starts, it’s critical to run a dry test session that includes all proctoring features. Let students:

• Test their webcam permission settings
• Understand when and why images are taken
• Practice acknowledging identity restrictions

This reduces tech-related excuses and helps identify systems issues proactively. Plus, it gives instructors a chance to adjust the setup ahead of time.

FAQs About Stopping Cheating Online Exams

How to stop online cheating?

Stopping online cheating starts with combining technology and smart test design. Use a proctoring solution like Moodle Proctoring with identity validation, webcam monitoring, and time restrictions. Also rewrite questions to promote problem-solving over memorisation, and shuffle quiz formats frequently.

How to prevent cheating on exams?

To prevent cheating on any kind of exam—online or in-person—create diverse, randomised test questions, enforce time limits, and include honour codes. Use proctoring software and make sure instructions are clear. Educating students on academic misconduct can go a long way too.

How to prevent cheating in online quiz?

When managing online quizzes, use Moodle™ software’s built-in quiz features along with third-party plugins like Moodle Proctoring. Set up webcam validation, shuffle questions, limit time, and restrict navigation. Consider open-book designs and short-answer questions that are harder to copy.

How to deny cheating on a test online?

If you’re falsely accused, provide any available screenshots, communication records, or logs showing your work process. Proctored image logs may help confirm your presence. Always communicate openly with your instructor or admin panel for clarification and stay calm.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Can you stop cheating in online exams entirely? No. But you can certainly raise the bar high enough that most students won’t bother trying. With Moodle Proctoring and smart academic strategies, you protect the fairness, credibility, and reliability of your online assessments.

At Pukunui Sdn Bhd, we help education providers create and manage secure, effective environments using Moodle™ software. If you’re interested in setting up proctoring tools like this—or just want to discuss smarter quiz design—get in touch.

If your online test setup could use a second opinion, we’re happy to take a look. Because catching students cheating may feel satisfying—but preventing it in the first place is a much better strategy.