I am planning to schedule my ECBA exam for next month and I want to take it from my home office. I am a bit worried about the technical requirements for the PSI proctoring system. Has anyone experienced issues with MacBooks or specific firewall settings? Also, what are the rules regarding the workspace? I have two monitors; do I need to disconnect one of them completely before starting?
3 answers
I took my ECBA exam from home last November and the setup is quite strict! You definitely need to disconnect that second monitor; in fact, the proctor will ask you to show your entire desk and room using your webcam. I used a MacBook and it worked fine, but you must ensure you have the latest version of the secure browser installed. One tip is to clear everything off your desk except your ID and a clear glass of water. If you have a corporate laptop with a heavy firewall or VPN, I strongly suggest using a personal computer instead to avoid any connection drops during the 60-minute session.
Jennifer, that's really helpful advice. Did you have any issues with the proctor asking you to move the camera mid-exam, or do they just check the room at the very beginning?
Make sure your internet speed is stable. I'd recommend a wired connection if possible, as a Wi-Fi drop can sometimes lead to an automatic disqualification or a very stressful restart.
Christopher is right on the money. I actually moved my router into the room for my exam day just to be safe. It’s better to be over-prepared than to lose your exam fee due to a bad signal!
Thomas, they usually do a 360-degree scan at the start. However, if you lean out of the camera view or cover your mouth with your hand, they will interrupt you via the chat box and ask you to adjust. It can be a bit distracting, so try to stay centered and keep your hands visible on the desk. They also make you show the floor under your desk to ensure no notes are hidden there!