ProctorU Record+, Information for Students

Record+ is an automated proctoring service that allows undergraduate students to take exams online through Canvas or Moodle without an instructor present by using Guardian browser. The service authenticates your identity, as well as monitors and records your computer screen, microphone input and the video from your webcam. There is no fee for students to use Record+, and you do not need to make an appointment to take an exam in Canvas that uses Record+. Please note that some programs, placement tests or courses (particularly for graduate students) may use other services, such as Live+ or Review+, which work differently. For those services you should contact your instructor for directions.

Prepare in Advance for an Exam

• If you don’t already have a ProctorU account, create one (but only do this once):
  • For a Canvas course: press the ProctorU Platform link in the course navigation menu to create a new ProctorU account.
  • For a Moodle LTI course: visit go.proctoru.com to create a new student account.
  • If you will take Record+ exams in both types, follow the Canvas method.
  • If you don’t know which type your course is, ask your instructor.
• After that, if you will require a DRES accommodation, including for extended test-taking time or special equipment, notify your instructor immediately so they can grant it well in advance.
• Please review the equipment requirements. Only select macOS, Windows and Chromebook computers are compatible. Depending on your computer type, choose one of the following:
  • For macOS or Windows computers, download and install ProctorU’s Guardian browser onto your computer. View instructions for installing and uninstalling Guardian.
    • On macOS computers, you must also adjust your privacy and security settings.
  • For Chromebooks, add the Guardian extension to your Chrome browser. You only need to enable and sign into it when taking exams with Record+.
• Please test your equipment in advance of your exam to ensure compatibility.
• You must be an administrator on the computer you will use or have an administrator install Guardian browser on it and grant access to record audio, video and the computer desktop. A computer provided by an employer may have security settings that interfere.

• Recommended Resources:
  • Getting Started - Learning Management System Workflow (website)
  • What to Expect on Exam Day - Canvas (website with video)

Take an Exam

• Take the exam alone and in a quiet place.
• You are only permitted to use 1 computer monitor. You must disconnect any others.
• You may not have a phone or other device with you, unless permitted by your instructor.
• Download or update to the latest version of Guardian on macOS and Windows computers, or for Chromebooks use Chrome with the Guardian extension (and disable other extensions).
• Restart your computer and close all other applications and web browsers.
• Launch only Guardian browser (macOS and Windows), or for Chromebooks open only Chrome and then enable and sign into the browser extension with your ProctorU credentials.
• Manually type in or copy and paste the URL for Canvas: canvas.illinois.edu. You cannot use Guardian to search for it, nor can you use another browser.
• Navigate to the exam in Canvas You cannot schedule or access an exam at go.proctorU.com.
• You will be prompted to follow a series of steps before beginning the exam. You will need to share your microphone and camera, show a photo ID and take a snapshot of yourself.

• Required: Your webcam and microphone must be enabled, turned on and not be muted or covered. You must show a valid photo ID and keep your camera and audio enabled for the entire exam session. Your instructor must be able to see and hear you clearly in the recording. If they cannot, you may automatically fail the exam.
• The access code / password should be injected automatically. If you are prompted for one, be sure you are using the Guardian browser. If you are, then seek help as directed below.
• Your instructor will inform you in advance of any permitted resources, and at the start of the test you will see a list of those resources. Unless explicitly informed, you are not permitted to use any resources, such as calculators, scratch paper, written notes, open books, your course site, websites, computer applications, mobile devices and so on.

Common Issues

• You will be prompted for an access code or password if you are not using Guardian browser or Chrome with the Guardian extension.
• Record+ requires a strong internet connection and a lot of resources on your computer. If taking the test approaches or exceeds certain thresholds of your computer’s internet speed, CPU usage or available RAM, you may be prompted for an access code / password before starting the test, or you may lose connection during the test.

Troubleshooting Tips

• You may always contact ProctorU Support or view their Troubleshooting Solutions.
• Check that your computer’s hardware and operating system meet the requirements.

• Uninstall and reinstall Guardian browser.
• Sign into ProctorU and use the Test-it-Out feature to check your computer performance. Ideally the memory usage should be below 90% to avoid encountering trouble.
• macOS Users: Adjust your Privacy & Security settings according to this article to grant access to your desktop / screen recording, microphone and webcam. Also, if you performed the Test-it-Out check, macOS computers are automatically confirmed to have passed the memory test in the Computer Settings portion of the test even if they failed, so after checking your equipment, expand the Computer Settings section to compare your the usage to the 95% threshold. If the memory performance was around 90% or higher, this can prevent accessing or taking an exam.
• Try again: Restart your computer and launch only Guardian browser. Close all other applications. Check the Task Manager (Windows) or the Activity Monitor (macOS) to ensure that all other applications are closed.
• If you are still prompted for an access code (macOS and Windows), uninstall Guardian. Use Chrome with the Guardian extension. Update Chrome and disable other browser extensions. Restart your computer. Close all other applications. Open only Chrome. Enable and sign into the Guardian browser extension for Chrome.
• If you still can't access it, contact ProctorU Support (unless you already tried). Tell them that that your course uses Record+ so you cannot schedule an exam or know the access code.
• If they are unable to help, notify your instructor.

Get Help

• Contact ProctorU Support or use the Live Chat feature in your ProctorU account. Be sure to tell Support that that your course uses Record+ so that they know you cannot schedule an exam or know the access code / password.
• Consult the ProctorU Help Center for students, and please check that your computer meets equipment requirements.

ProctorU Record+ Resources

• Five Steps to Success (PDF)
• Privacy Policy
• 4 Myth-busters
• Student Bill of Rights
• Compliance Statement on Security and Accessibility concerns
• What to Expect on Exam Day