Customizing Proctored Exam Settings to Meet Student Accommodations

Customizing Proctored Exam Settings to Meet Student Accommodations

Online exams can be stressful for students, especially those who need accommodations. And instructors often face difficulty with technological limitations and system requirements that prevent the ability to make accommodations for students with accessibility needs. 

Accommodations support students with visual, learning, physical, hearing, and cognitive disabilities by helping them access and use learning materials, as well as participate in learning activities. These accommodations can range from using assistive technologies/devices, such as screen readers or adaptive keyboards, to adjusting exam time limits and providing short breaks.

Using the right proctoring approach can help improve accessibility for all test takers. Honorlock makes it easy for instructors to customize proctoring settings to allow for accommodations and to create a fair online testing environment.

Accommodating all test takers with customizable exam settings 

Faculty or test administrators can provide specific accommodations simply by providing notes and instructions for the live proctor, such as: 

  • John is allowed to use a screen reader during the exam.
  • Susan will have an interpreter in the room.
  • Joe Schmoe does not have a Photo ID, please bypass ID verification.
  • Tom does not have a working microphone, please bypass this requirement to take the exam.

Honorlock’s human proctors review flags from our AI before entering the exam to address it. For example, if a student with an accommodation allowing them to wear headphones is flagged during the exam, the live proctor would check the accommodations, confirm headphones are allowed for the student, and won’t enter the exam and cause unnecessary interruptions. This not only spares the student from disruptions but also prevents instructors from having to review irrelevant flags.

Honorlock’s accessibility highlights

Accessibility compliance

Honorlock meets the most up to date accessibility compliance standards and guidelines. Honorlock’s proctoring platform is fully ADA accessible, compliant with Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and developed and tested to conform to WCAG 2.0 level AA guidelines for accessible use. 

Minimal system requirements

Honorlock is accessible for all students, regardless of internet speed and connection. Our remote proctoring software supports low-bandwidth internet connection and allows students to take their exams using a hotspot, unlike other proctoring providers.

Works with screenreaders 

Honorlock is accessible with screen readers and accommodates those who need text to be read aloud with a screen reading capability. Click here to see how this works.

Keyboard accessible

Students and faculty can use a keyboard to navigate Honorlock’s proctoring platform. An outline appears while tabbing provides clear guidance on where users are navigating.


Remember, online proctored testing is designed to create a fair testing environment. That means making sure proctoring software is accessible to ALL.

Visit our blog for more helpful student resources.

Instructors, faculty, e-learning people: want to learn more about how Honorlock’s accessibility-first proctoring solution works? Schedule a demo.

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