Meaning & use
proctoring
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“proctoring” is a form of “proctor”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountableAmerican
the job or act of watching students while they take an exam to make sure they follow the rules
Grammar: Uncountable when it means the activity: proctoring is required. It can also be used before a noun: proctoring duties.
Patterns
- exam proctoring
- online proctoring
- proctoring software
The university hired extra staff for exam proctoring.
Online proctoring allows students to take tests from home.
She was assigned proctoring duties for the final exam.
verbtransitiveAmerican
the present participle of 'proctor': supervising students during an exam
Grammar: As a verb, 'proctor' takes an object: proctor an exam. The -ing form is used in progressive tenses or as a participle.
Patterns
- proctoring an exam
- be proctoring
He is proctoring the history exam this afternoon.
Teachers take turns proctoring final tests.
Word forms
| third person singular | proctors |
|---|---|
| past tense | proctored |
| past participle | proctored |
| -ing form | proctoring |
Common combinations
- exam proctoring
- Exam proctoring requires careful attention.
- online proctoring
- Online proctoring uses cameras to monitor students.
- proctoring software
- The school invested in proctoring software for remote tests.
- proctoring duties
- Proctoring duties are shared among the teaching staff.
Synonyms and how they differ
- invigilating
- Invigilating is the British term for the same activity; 'proctoring' is used mainly in American English.
- supervising
- Supervising is more general and can refer to watching any activity, while proctoring is specifically about exams.
Word family
Commonly confused: proctoring or proctology?
proctoring vs proctology
Proctology is a medical field dealing with the rectum and colon; it is completely different from exam proctoring.
Practice
In American English, the person who watches students during an exam is called a ___.
Choose one answer.
In American English, 'proctor' is the standard term for someone who supervises an exam. 'Invigilator' is the British term, and 'professor' and 'principal' are unrelated roles.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “proctoring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.