Proctored Exam Requirements FAQ

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In this article, we've compiled essential instructions and information to help you prepare for your exam and ensure a smooth testing experience. From technical requirements to exam day procedures, you'll find everything you need to know to feel confident and ready for your proctored exam.

What are the technical requirements to participate in a proctored exam?

Minimum required hardware for your host OS:

  • CPU: 64-bit Dual Core (2.2 GHz per core)
  • RAM: 8 GB (Recommended)
  • Display resolution: 1024×768
  • HDD: Minimum 20GB available space
  • Peripherals: External Webcam or Integrated Webcam (Your webcam should be able to display the text and photo on your English language ID legibly for identity verification. Please test your webcam in advance with the ID you plan to present). Note: We do not allow cellphones/tablets as webcams.

Minimum required software for your host OS:

  • Operating system: Windows 8.1 x64 / OSX Yosemite / MacOS/Kali 2017.x/ Debian 9.3/Ubuntu 17.10*
    • Some operating systems will require Java SE Runtime Environment 9 and appropriate display drivers.
    • Note: For learners using Windows OS, kindly ensure that your taskbar is visible all throughout the exam
  • Nvidia/Intel/Radeon. Nouveau graphics driver is not supported for Nvidia)
  • Virtualization Software: VMware Player (Latest version), VMware Workstation 8.0, VMware Fusion 7.0 (The Virtual machine you choose to use should be run locally on your host machine while connected to the proctoring application.)
  • Browser: Google Chrome, Firefox, Chromium, Brave, Microsoft Edge
  • Internet:
    • Minimum 20mbps Download/ 10mbps Upload speeds
    • Stable connection that does not drop

*Operating systems not supported due to graphic drivers: Fedora and Debian Linux Distributions (We only allow Debian version 9.3). Recommended Graphical User Interface for Kali, Ubuntu, and Debian OS: Xorg/X11 (Please note that the screen sharing mostly does not work with Wayland).

Any learner attempting the exam from any variant of Linux must try the Test session before attempting the actual exam.

Please note that the proctor will ask to run a script during pre-exam onboarding in order to verify connectivity and maintain the authenticity of our examination and certification procedures.

You may reach out to our proctoring team by submitting a ticket to request a test session.

What is expected of me as a learner to participate in a proctored exam?

The integrity of our certifications is extremely important to us, as such, before you are allowed to start the exam you will need to pass the exam identification phase.

Be prepared to show a physical valid government-issued ID (in English, bilingual, or, at the very least, written in the modern Latin Alphabet) showing your full name, photo, year of birth, country, issue date, and expiration date to the camera. You must show the front and back of your ID or a full unfolded passport.

Important: The name on your ID must match your student profile. If you need to update your name in our system, you can do so by following the instructions described here.

We highly recommend that you prepare a scanned copy of your valid government ID prior taking the exam, this will be used in case there are details not visible in the camera feed during identity verification.

If your ID has recently expired, you may reach out to our proctoring team by submitting a ticket to inform them ahead.

Also, please be reminded that using phones or other electronic devices is not allowed while seated in your exam workstation. Kindly make sure they are placed farther and are out of reach before the exam start time. If you have a situation requiring your attention, you must take a break and inform your proctor through the Proctoring tool chat window before you step away from your workstation. For more information, you can visit our Academic Policy.

Your cooperation and compliance are required during the pre-exam steps and to your proctor's other request/s.

What if I do not want to complete one of the pre-exam requirements?

Unfortunately, we will not be able to proceed with your exam. All OSEE, OSCP, OSWE, OSEP, OSED, OSWA, OSDA, OSMR, OSCC, OSWP, OSIR, OSTH, OSJD, and KLCP exams are proctored and all pre-exam requirements should be completed before proceeding.


Note: We will not be able to move you to a different room once your rescheduling window has closed (48 hours prior to the start of the exam)

How to communicate with the proctor during the exam

All communication will be conducted using the proctoring software built-in chat client. The proctor cannot hear you or any audible noise through your webcam.

In order to maintain a positive and respectful testing environment, we ask that you follow the below guidelines when interacting with our proctors:

Be professional and respectful: The proctors are there to help ensure a fair and secure exam. Address them politely and use proper language. This means avoiding the use of profanity or any other behavior that could be considered offensive or disruptive.

Communicate clearly: If you have any questions or concerns, communicate them clearly and calmly. The proctors will be happy to help you.

Follow instructions: The proctors will provide instructions on how to proceed during the exam. Follow them carefully to avoid any confusion or issues.

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure a positive and successful experience for both yourself and the OffSec proctors.

Please keep in mind that any behavior that falls short of being polite and professional, may result in the cancellation of your exam. Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated.

How many monitors or screens are allowed during the exam?

You are allowed to use up to four (4) screens or monitors.

Please note that we highly recommend using the Chrome browser for learners who use 3-4 screens. This is to prevent getting an extended display (all feeds are compressed and appear on a single (1) proctoring session feed).

How do I connect to the proctor to start my exam?

To access your exam, please use the link provided in your exam reminder email. For most learners, your connection link will be https://proctoring.offsec.com/student/login. When prompted, enter only the numeric portion of your OSID and your full md5 value.

For detailed instructions, please refer to the Proctoring Tool Manual.

What are the pre-exam requirements the proctor must verify before I start my exam?

Before you begin your exam, the proctor will need to verify several requirements. These include:

  • Checking your technical machine set-up against the technical requirements of your exam.
  • Verifying your identity by having you show a non-expired government-issued ID to the webcam.
  • Ask you to run a Windows script if you are a Windows user, or run a MacOS script if you are a MacOS user.
  • Asking you to scan your room and surroundings with your webcam; share all your screens and display all running programs; and connect to the exam VPN.
  • Once connected to the exam VPN, the proctor will confirm that you are only connected to the exam VPN. If you are not using a Windows or macOS device, the proctor will also ask you to run the troubleshooting.sh script included in the VPN connectivity package.

When does my proctored exam start?

To ensure that you are ready to begin your proctored exam on time, we recommend logging in to your proctoring session 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time.

Your proctored exam starts at the scheduled start time indicated in the exam reminder email. Please note that you will need to complete pre-exam steps with your proctor before you can proceed with the actual exam. To ensure that your exam is conducted smoothly, please make sure that your exam environment is clearly visible on your webcam throughout the exam.

For more information on how to log in to your proctoring session and begin your exam, please refer to our resources on "How do I connect to the proctor to start my exam?" and the Proctoring Tool Manual.

How long does the pre-exam process take and will it reduce the time available for the actual exam?

The time allocated for the exam remains constant regardless of the duration of the pre-exam process. It's important to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to allow the proctor to complete all necessary pre-exam steps. Failure to do so may impact your exam time.

The duration of the exam varies based on the specific certification and these are as follows:

  • OSEE - 71 hours and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time
  • OSWE, OSEP, OSED, and OSMR - 47 hours and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time
  • OSCP, OSWA, and OSDA - 23 hours and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time
  • OSTH, OSIR - 8 hours from the scheduled start time
  • OSCC-SEC, OSCC-SJD - 6 hours from the scheduled start time
  • OSWP - 3 hours and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time
  • KLCP - 1 hour and 30 minutes from the moment you login to the Classmarker link.

I didn't receive my connectivity pack & exam login details at my exam start time. Now what?

Your exam connectivity pack and login credentials will be sent to you once you have completed the necessary steps during onboarding. If there is still a delay, you should expect to receive the information no later than five minutes after the completion of your pre-exam steps.

If I do not meet the pre-exam requirements, can I reschedule my exam?

The answer may vary depending on the specific requirement that you do not meet. For some requirements, the proctor will make a note and may allow you to continue. For other requirements, they will inform you that you will need to reschedule. For example, if you do not have a webcam, you will not be able to proceed with the exam.

It is recommended that you visit the What are the technical requirements to participate in a proctored exam? page to ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements before the exam.

What will happen if I do not show up at my scheduled exam time?

For OSCP, OSWE, OSEP, OSED, OSWA, OSDA, OSMR, OSWP, OSEE, OSTH, OSIR, OSCC, OSJD, and KLCP exams, you will have a grace period of one hour from your scheduled exam start time to log in to your proctoring session.

If you fail to log in within the allotted time, your exam will be automatically canceled. The proctor will be waiting for you 15 minutes prior to the exam start time. We recommend joining the proctoring session on time to ensure a smooth pre-exam process so you can start your exam on time.

Am I allowed to use other devices for other purposes during the exam?

No, the use of any electronic devices other than what’s shared with the proctoring tool during the exam session is strictly prohibited. Extra computer monitors or mounted smart TVs that can be used as an extended screen or monitor must be removed or placed away from your exam workstation.

If you need to attend to other work or job-related tasks, you must request a break and use a separate machine that is far from the exam workstation.

Additionally, conducting calls or meetings on the exam machine is not permitted to ensure there is no disclosure of exam details or files.

You are allowed to use headphones, earphones, or earpods during the exam for the sole purpose of listening to music, as long as they are connected to your exam machine. Phone usage is prohibited while you are seated on your exam workstation and your phone should be placed away from your desk. If you have a situation requiring your attention, we would ask that you step away from your exam station and take a break.

Please note that failure to comply with these rules will result in the cancellation of the exam. For more information, please refer to our Academic Policy.

What are the items that are permitted and prohibited in my exam environment?

You are only allowed to have the host machine and external screens that are shared with the Proctoring tool session, as well as printed books, notes, paper, and pen.

The webcam and screen-sharing must be done from the same machine as they are integrated into the same software. Each learner is limited to one concurrent session.

You are not allowed to use any other machine apart from your host, and there should be no other electronic devices within your exam area.

Can I record my screen when taking the exam?

No. We do not allow learners to video record their screen/s while interacting with any of our exam machines. Any screen recording will display our exam content, which is OffSec confidential information and intellectual property. This information could be used by a third party to help them understand our exam machines, which is an absolute violation of our Academic Policy.

Can I disable the display on my laptop, which is being used as my exam host machine, during the exam?

No, you cannot disable your laptop's display during the exam, regardless of whether you plan to use it or not. However, you can choose to mirror your laptop's display onto an external monitor. In such a case, the external monitor and laptop's display must be shared as separate screens within the Proctoring tool session.

Do I have to leave the webcam feed open at all times?

It is required that your webcam be unobstructed and positioned correctly to show your face and at least half of your body, as well as the actual environment while taking the exam. However, you are permitted to pause the webcam during your break. Please do not close the tab or browser window as doing so will terminate the proctoring session and may result in your exam VPN being paused on our end. If you do not want the webcam feed to appear on your screen, there is an option to hide it on the proctoring page window.

Running MAC Script (macOS User)

During Exam onboarding, your assigned proctor will send you the link of the Mac script. To run the Mac script:

  1. Kindly open the link sent via Proctoring Chat window.
  2. Copy the script/code and run it to your Mac terminal.
  3. Press Enter to execute. Please note that the output will be automatically copied to your clipboard.
  4. Please go to paste.offsec.com and click Ctrl + V or paste and share the PrivateBin link in the Proctoring Chat Window after clicking the "Send" button.gif.gif

Running Windows Script (Windows User)

Below, you will find instructions on how to run a Windows script in Windows Powershell.

NOTE: This will only be applicable to machines with Windows as their Operating System.

  1. During Exam onboarding, your assigned proctor will send you the link of the Windows script. To run the Windows script, kindly open the link sent.
  2. Copy the script/code.
    sfsa.gif
  3. Open Windows PowerShell in your machine and paste the script into PowerShell on the Windows host system.
    paste.gif
  4. Press Enter to execute. Please note that the output will be automatically copied to your clipboard.
  5. Please go to paste.offsec.com and click ctrl + V or paste and share the PrivateBin link in the Proctoring Chat Window after clicking the "Send" button.
    paste1.gif

Running troubleshooting.sh Script 

Below, we will show you how to run the troubleshooting.sh script properly.

1. To download troubleshooting.sh, please click this link here.

2. After downloading, extract the .sh file

extract.gif

3. To run the troubleshooting.sh script, make sure to use terminal and go to where you downloaded the file. In the example below, the file was downloaded in "Kali Downloads".

4. Run the command directly on the terminal with “sudo ./troubleshooting.sh” (make sure that you are using the correct path and that the file has executable permission).

kali.gif

4. Run the command directly on the terminal with “sudo ./troubleshooting.sh” (make sure that you are using the correct path and that the file has executable permission).

NOTE: Should you run into "Permission denied" error, you need to add permission by using chmod +x troubleshooting.sh to make the file executable.

script.gif

Still have questions?

Please contact your proctor directly through the proctoring chat box so they can escalate your concern to the support team in real time.

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