Exams are already a stressful experience, so it’s important that steps are taken to make scheduling, payment, booking, and the exam experience itself as stress free as possible.  That means using reliable, user-first processes and systems that candidates, awarding bodies, and invigilators can all navigate easily. 

There are different steps to go through for in-person and remote exams, but remote exams come with added pressures – from technical issues and WiFi problems, to the unfamiliarity of being invigilated online.  It’s important that these variables, as well as the overall user journey, are handled with just as much care as the assessment itself, to make sure candidates have as stress-free an experience as possible. 

In this article, we explore what makes a good user experience in both in-person and remote exams, the impact of poor design on candidate performance, and how platforms like VICTVS ONE can simplify and improve the journey for everyone involved — from candidates and invigilators to awarding organisations.

What do we mean by good user experience in exams? 

A good user experience in an exam is one which brings no extra stress to the candidate, allowing them to focus on simply showing their intelligence rather than battling with unclear booking, scheduling, or exam systems.   

Whether in-person or remote, every candidate must book and schedule their exam in advance.  This process often involves an automated system or exam staff assigning dates, times, and locations.  This can be confusing and stressful unless candidates are presented with a straightforward process and clear communication.  Awarding organisations and exam providers needs to be clear – especially when rescheduling exams or dealing with last-minute changes.   

When it comes to taking an exam, a number of different factors need to come together to make the experience a good one for candidates.  For in-person assessments, the exam centre can make a huge difference – rooms should be a comfortable temperature, with adequate lighting, comfortable seating and good candidate facilities.  Accessibility requirements must also be met for those candidates who need them, and invigilators should be good at communicating rules and creating a calm environment. 

With remote exams, there’s some different factors to consider.  Candidates will be in an environment they have chosen, but will be relying on technology for the assessment itself, as well as for invigilation and submitting the exam. This greater reliance on technology means that the software and systems required to be used by the candidate need to be clearly designed and easy to understand.  This includes the assessment system itself, the invigilation platform, and any other browser or phone applications that need to be used at the time. 

While any exam taken on a computer is reliant on a strong WiFi connection, this is especially the case for remote exams, as the candidate is responsible for their own connection.  This part of the user’s experience is outside of an awarding body or exam providers control and relies on the candidate testing their connection and ensuring it is stable before exam day.  

Another aspect of a remote exam which can disrupt a candidate’s experience is invigilation.  Depending on the methods used by an exam provider, remote invigilation can be disruptive and unsettling to the candidate, and often not hold the same level of oversight as an in-centre exam.  Some exam providers offer AI invigilation, or human invigilation with no candidate communication, which can leave candidates feeling uneasy and with no ability to see who is watching them.  Ideally, candidate’s should be able to speak to a friendly, human invigilator, who can ease their nerves and ensure that academic integrity is respected throughout the exam.  

These elements can make or break a candidate’s exam experience.  By streamlining every step from booking to assessment delivery, providers and awarding bodies give candidates the best possible chance to demonstrate their knowledge without distraction. 

The impact of poor user experience 

A good user experience often goes unnoticed because it’s so smooth, but a poor one can dominate the entire process, leading to confusion and frustration.  Not knowing when your exam is going to be, having problems with rescheduling, or being unable to use an assessment platform in the way that’s expected, are all possible outcomes of a badly designed process.  It can derail a candidate’s confidence and stop them from performing at their best. 

In comparison, a good user experience can reduce administrative errors, confusion, and boost candidate’s confidence in the exam process.  Importantly, making the exam booking and assessment itself as streamlined as possible reduces stress and allows candidates to focus on the exam itself. 

How VICTVS ONE supports a seamless candidate experience  

Our unified assessment platform, VICTVS ONE, brings together every stage of the exam process in one place, creating a smooth experience for candidates – as well as awarding organisations and invigilators.  By integrating booking, scheduling, invigilation, and assessment delivery into a single platform, we have removed unnecessary complexity so that the exam process runs efficiently from beginning to end. 

All exam bookings – including scheduling, candidate registration, and payments – are managed through the platform.  The system automatically synchronises with exam centre availability, allowing efficient coordination of both in-person and remote assessments.  Its straightforward interface also enables administrators to make manual adjustments where needed, offering flexibility to accommodate individual candidate requirements. 

For remote assessments, VICTVS ONE enables candidates to sit their exam and be monitored using our software within the same platform.  Our remote invigilation uses multiple screens – webcam, phone camera, and screen sharing – to connect candidates with members of our VICTVS Global Network for secure, real-time supervision.  Around-the-clock support is available for candidates, helping ensure that any issues can be resolved quickly, wherever and whenever exams take place. 

A good user experience is essential for a truly successful exam  

When candidates can move through each stage of the exam process smoothly, they’re more capable of performing at their best.  A well-designed user experience doesn’t just reduce stress; it also strengthens trust in the assessment itself and helps maintain academic integrity.  By prioritising usability and clarity in their procedures, awarding bodies and exam providers can ensure that candidates get the best chance to succeed. 

If you want to find out more about how VICTVS ONE can provide a good experience for both your team and your exam candidates, get in touch with us here.