PBA uses Honorlock to proctor quizzes and exams through Canvas, both in and out of the classroom. Honorlock is available for students 24/7/365 without an appointment.

Honorlock Requirements

For a guided tour of setting up and using Honorlock, complete the 7-minute HonorPrep Guided Tour.

Before using Honorlock for a quiz or exam, please make sure you do the following:

Use a desktop computer, laptop, or Chromebook with a webcam and microphone.
- Note: iPhones, iPads, other mobile devices, and some external webcams will not work with Honorlock. Check the support links in the Support section below for more information.
Download and install the Google Chrome web browser if it is not already installed on the computer you are using.
If Chrome is already installed, be sure to perform routine browser maintenance by clearing cache & cookies.
Install the Honorlock extension in the Chrome browser.
- Note: For best results, create a separate Chrome profile for taking Honorlock proctored exams. Otherwise, you should disable or uninstall all other Google Chrome extensions.
Have a stable internet connection.
Have your PBA ID card or a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state identification card) handy.

Using Honorlock

When taking an Honorlock proctored exam, you should follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare Your Testing Environment

Fully charge your computer (if you are using a laptop).
Choose a brightly lit and quiet place to take your exam. No one else should be in the room with you.
- Note: Honorlock requires you to scan your room with your webcam, and it will record you and your computer throughout the exam. If you are not comfortable having your personal space recorded, consider taking your test in another quiet place such as a library study room.
Turn off or silence all other electronic devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, smart speakers, TVs, tablets, and music players.
Clear your desk or table of all materials other than those allowed by your instructor or already mentioned above.
Position yourself so that your face and background are well-lit and clearly visible on the webcam at all times.
Check your internet speed and reliability. You can test your internet connection for free on fiber.google.com, speed.cloudflare.com, and fast.com.
Check the Operation Status of Applications Page to make sure Honorlock is not experiencing technical difficulties.

Step 2: Complete the Honorlock Authentication Process

Navigate to your course in Canvas, read any instructions from your professor, and start the exam.
- Note: Some exams may be started by selecting Start Quiz from the page in Canvas, while others must be started from the Honorlock portal. Access the Honorlock portal by selecting Honorlock from the white course navigation menu on the left. Be sure to follow the instructions from your professor.
- Note: You do not need an access code to start an Honorlock exam. If you are asked for an access code, please review the FAQ below for more information.
Select Launch Proctoring to begin the authentication process.
- Note: If the Honorlock extension is not installed on your computer, you will be asked to install it first.
Select Take Photo to take a picture of your face with your computer's webcam. Make sure your face is well-lit and fully visible.
Select Take ID Photo to take a picture of your PBA ID card or a valid government-issued photo ID.
Select Begin Room Scan to take a full 360-degree video recording of your testing area. Your scan should include:
- A full 360-degree view of your room and testing area
- The desk area where your computer is placed
- A view of your computer screen. (Use the selfie mode of your phone camera or a mirror for this.)
- A view of yourself turning off your smartphone and placing it out of reach
- Both sides of any scrap paper (if allowed by your instructor)
Watch a Room Scan Tutorial
Select I'm Done when you are finished with the room scan. Then select No, Redo to try again, or select Yes, Submit to move on to the next step.
Select Launch Screen Recording to share your screen. Then, select your screen from the window that opens and select Share so Honorlock can start recording your screen.
Select Click to Begin and Focus Test Window to begin your exam. If you have any technical issues during the exam, select the blue chat bubble on the bottom right side of the screen to message Honorlock support. Honorlock will automatically close when you submit the exam in Canvas. While taking you exam, make sure you are following the required testing behavior.

Important: If you fail to provide a full room scan, view unauthorized materials during the exam, or engage in suspicious behavior such as frequently looking away from the screen, you may be charged with academic dishonesty and receive no credit for the exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

I see "Access code required." What do I do?

You do not need an access code to take an Honorlock proctored exam. The Honorlock software provides an access code to Canvas to enable it to operate on that exam. This sometimes takes up to a minute. If you see “Access code required” during that time, this means you have accessed the test incorrectly. Please make sure the you are using the Google Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop computer. Honorlock will not work with Safari, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or any other browser other than Google Chrome. Also, tablets and mobile devices do not work with the Honorlock extension.

Accessing the exam /quiz through the Honorlock tab in the course navigation is also another way to bypass the "access code required" error message. If you still receive the “Access code required” message when approaching the quiz through Honorlock, uninstall the Honorlock extension from your Chrome browser and reinstall it. Then try again.

If you have tried all these solutions and still need help to take the quiz or exam, contact Honorlock support.

How does Honorlock proctor my exam?

Honorlock records your test session through your webcam and microphone, using face detection software to ensure you are looking at your computer screen throughout the session. Honorlock also records activity on your screen, using an integrity algorithm that can detect search-engine use, even if that's on a secondary device. It monitors your web browser and keyboard shortcuts as well. Your instructor will be able to review your test session if there is any suspicious behavior.

What is the required testing behavior?

Your instructor will set the specific requirements for your behavior while taking the test. Unless you are told otherwise, you must adhere to the following rules:

No one other than the test-taker may be in the room during testing. If someone walks into the room, be sure to tell them clearly, “I am taking a test.” Then, resume the test. Otherwise, do not communicate with other people.
You must remain visible on the web camera during the entire duration of the exam. Do not block the camera. Do not leave the room during the testing period at any time unless the test instructions explicitly allow you a break.
If the test is timed, make sure you begin the test with sufficient time to finish in the time allotted.
Refrain from talking during the exam and reading the questions aloud.
You must complete the exam in the same room in which you completed the “Exam Environment View.” You may not take the computer into another room to finish testing.
Some instructors do not permit the use of scratch paper. Any indication that you are writing something down may be treated as suspicious activity, so if you are not sure, ask your instructor ahead of time.

Honorlock says I am experiencing network connectivity issues. What do I do?

Always use the PBAU Sailfish Wi-Fi network for testing through Honorlock while you are on campus. Do not use the Guest network, because it is designed for visitors and is too slow to work well with Honorlock. Before beginning an exam through Honorlock, seek a location on campus where the PBAU Sailfish signal is strongest, such as the Warren Library. If you are testing using the university's Wi-Fi during peak use hours, keep in mind that you may experience issues with connectivity.

If you are on a private network, attempt to ensure that no other people are using your network to stream videos or play online video games while you are taking your exam. Activities such as these will negatively impact the speed and connectivity of your network. In addition, if you encounter connectivity issues, it may help to unplug your router and wait 15 seconds before reconnecting it and beginning your exam.

If you cannot resolve your internet connectivity issues with the tips above, you may need to connect to a different network to take your exam.

My exam session was paused. What do I do?

If you see the "Assessment Paused" message while taking your exam, click the Open Proctoring Window button to see why Honorlock paused the exam. This is usually caused by a poor internet connection. Select the Relaunch button to restart the proctoring session. If the issue persists, contact Honorlock support and notify your instructor immediately.

If the exam restarts but you do not see the Honorlock proctor overlay in Canvas (indicated by a blue border and the Honorlock logo), you should immediately stop taking the exam, close the browser tab, contact Honorlock support, and notify your instructor.

Support

Honorlock support is available 24/7/365. If you encounter any issues, contact an Honorlock representative through live chat by clicking the Honorlock iconon any page in the exam or by visiting Honorlock support. For additional information, you may want to review the following links: