Study guide

How Strict Is the ATI Proctored Exam?

Strict enough that you should plan for it. An ATI proctored exam is a secure assessment: you verify your identity, your workspace is checked, notes and phones are put away, and — if you are testing remotely — video, audio and your screen are recorded for the whole attempt. Rules on breaks, scratch paper and calculators are set by your program, so confirm them in advance rather than on test day.

What is checked before you start

Identity. A school or government-issued photo ID, plus your ATI login.
Your room. Remote proctoring includes a desk or room scan with your webcam before the first question loads.
Your machine. Google Chrome with the Proctorio extension on a laptop or desktop; iPads, tablets and phones are not permitted.
Your materials. Typically one sheet of blank paper, destroyed afterwards, and whatever calculator the assessment provides on screen.

What is monitored during the exam

Remote attempts can record webcam video, audio and your screen, and lock you into the exam tab. ATI describes Proctorio as a machine-learning platform with video, audio and screen-recording settings used to keep results uncompromised. On campus, a human proctor does the same job the old-fashioned way. In both cases the point is the same: one person, one screen, no outside help.

Common things that draw attention: leaving the frame, someone else talking in the room, a second monitor still plugged in, looking off-screen repeatedly, or opening another application. Being flagged is not the same as being accused — flags are reviewed by your institution, which makes the final call.

How to keep the strictness from costing you marks

Do the dry run. ATI provides a Remote Proctoring Dry-Run in the student portal; take it a day or two early so tech problems happen on a day that does not count.
Book a room you control for the full duration — no roommates walking through, no shared kitchen table.
Clear the desk completely and unplug extra monitors before the scan.
Charge the laptop and use wired internet if you can.
Ask about breaks first. Most content mastery exams are single-sitting; assume you cannot leave the chair.

Practise before test day

Every question on this site is written by us, with a rationale for each answer. Try a free practice quiz or browse the printable PDF study guides for the content area you are being tested on.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use scratch paper on an ATI proctored exam?

Usually one sheet of blank paper, shown to the camera and destroyed afterwards. Your program may allow a dry-erase board instead — ask before test day.

Can I use a calculator?

Most ATI assessments include an on-screen calculator for dosage items. Bringing your own is normally not allowed unless your program says otherwise.

What happens if my internet drops mid-exam?

Reconnect and log back in; the attempt usually resumes. Tell your instructor immediately and keep any error messages, because they can see the proctoring record.

Is the on-campus version less strict than remote?

Not really — the same security rules apply, they are just enforced by a person in the room rather than software.