Invigilated exams - ensuring integrity and equity in assessment
Author: Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley
September 2025
Invigilated exams - also known as proctored assessments - are a cornerstone of academic and professional evaluation. These exams involve direct supervision by an invigilator to ensure that all candidates adhere to established rules and standards. In the context of education and certification, invigilated exams play a vital role in maintaining fairness, credibility, and the value of qualifications. Invigilation can be done in person OR online.
Academic Integrity
One of the main reasons for conducting invigilated exams is to uphold academic integrity. Supervision during exams minimises the risk of cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorised collaboration. Invigilators monitor the exam environment, ensuring that only permitted materials are used and that candidates work independently. This creates a level playing field and protects the reputation of educational institutions and qualifications.
See – Online invigilation – key considerations - Online invigilation – key considerations — invigilatorPlus Blog
Fairness and Equity
Invigilated exams provide a controlled environment where all students are subject to the very same conditions. This helps prevent unfair advantages and ensures that assessments measure individual knowledge and skills. Without invigilation, the temptation or opportunity to break rules increases, which can undermine the credibility of the results and disadvantage students who follow the rules.
See – All a matter of integrity despite the mode of delivery - All a matter of integrity despite the mode of delivery — invigilatorPlus Blog
Verifying Candidate Identity
In settings (academic or professional) where credentials are critical—such as university degrees, professional licences, or entrance exams—verifying the identity of candidates is essential. Invigilators confirm that each person taking the exam is who they claim to be, reducing the risk of impersonation or fraud.
See – Ensuring academic integrity and compliance in the online proctoring environment - Ensuring academic integrity and compliance in the online proctoring environment — invigilatorPlus Blog
Assessment Quality
Invigilated exams are designed to assess a candidate’s true understanding and capabilities under standardised conditions. This format helps educators and employers accurately gauge an individual's preparedness and knowledge. It also supports the continuous improvement of teaching and learning practices by providing reliable data on student performance.
Trust
The public, employers, and further education providers rely on the authenticity of exam results. Invigilated exams contribute to the trustworthiness of qualifications by ensuring that results are earned honestly and reflect genuine ability. This trust is essential for the value of certificates, degrees, and other qualifications in the job market and society at large.
Invigilated exams remain a crucial component of fair and reliable assessment systems. By maintaining academic integrity, ensuring equity, verifying identity, and upholding the value of qualifications, invigilated exams benefit students, institutions, employers, and the wider community. As education and assessment methods evolve, the principles of invigilation continue to provide a foundation for credible and respected outcomes.
Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley is currently Chief Executive and Executive Dean of the Australian Guild of Education (Melbourne). He is Chair of the Campus Q (invigilatorPlus) Advisory Board.
