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With A-level results out and GCSE results day fast approaching, online examination platform Synap has released Synoptic—an exam proctoring solution that’s designed for transparent security, fair monitoring and equitable exam access. The launch comes at a critical time, reinforcing recent calls from Ofqual Chief Regulator Ian Bauckham for exam boards to clamp down on cheating.
As AI tools become more sophisticated and online exam providers face growing scrutiny over the integrity of online assessments, organisations and institutions alike need better evidence, not heavier surveillance.
Speaking at the 2026 Apprentice & Training Conference, Bauckham revealed that detection rates for AI in assessed work remain low despite widespread concern among teachers. But this is not just an education issue; major professional bodies, such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, have faced similar challenges and, as a result, have withdrawn remote invigilated exams amid cheating concerns.
Synoptic has been built on years of Synap’s experience working with educational institutions, training providers and enterprise users, where they have successfully delivered proctored exams across extremely diverse environments, ranging from stable, high-bandwidth settings to regions with limited power and network availability. Synoptic aims to replace blanket surveillance with configurable proctoring features and clear audit trails to maintain academic integrity in digital settings.
Dr James Gupta, CEO of Synap, explains why this transparent proctoring is essential for scaling secure online exams: “While online exams have expanded rapidly in recent years, third-party proctoring tools have faced growing criticism for intrusive candidate monitoring, inconsistent flagging and data compliance concerns. At the same time, as online exams became more pervasive across sectors, tools like generative AI and wearable tech have also made cheating much harder to detect and prove. The conversation shouldn’t be whether online exams can be trusted. It should be whether institutions are using technology that deserves to be trusted.
“We wanted to offer a more seamless exam experience, so we created Synoptic to embed proctoring directly into the exam lifecycle.”
Unlike conventional proctoring solutions that rely on continuous live surveillance, Synoptic uses configurable monitoring, AI-assisted evidence gathering and comprehensive audit trails to drive fairness and regulatory compliance in online exams.
Gupta concludes: “Online exams have the potential to make education more accessible, but without clear processes and audit trails, those trying to scale these benefits will find themselves suspecting malpractice they cannot prove. That puts academic integrity at risk, and places rule-following candidates at the greatest disadvantage, which is inherently unfair.
“We didn’t develop Synoptic just to make it easier to identify cheating; we designed it to protect both sides of the exam experience, giving institutions and professional users the evidence they need, while ensuring candidates are monitored fairly and tested securely, regardless of their location or internet connection.”
