Test Proctoring Guidelines

Tompkins County Public Library serves its residents at each stage of their lives, and strives to contribute to the educational, cultural, and economic well-being of the County. As a service to the community, the Library is pleased to provide free written or online exam proctoring for adult learners.

A Reference Desk staff person in the Adult Services Department will proctor exams. The proctor’s function is to ensure procedural integrity and security of the exam in a secure environment. Professional and paraprofessional Reference Desk staff will carry out this responsibility. In general, staff working at the Reference Desk when the test is scheduled will serve. A signature agreeing to serve as a proctor does not guarantee availability of the named staff member.

• Secondary and college coursework
• Continuing education and career-building
• Job-related certification or license renewal

Student Responsibilities:

1. Request proctoring service by completing the “Exam Proctoring Form.” Complete the form online at tcpl.org/services/languages-education-proctor.php, fill it out in person at the TCPL Adult Services Reference Desk, or call us at 607-272-4556. We cannot accept examinations received without advance notice and contact information.
2. Read and agree to the conditions of these “Exam Proctoring Guidelines.”
3. Make arrangements with the Library allowing adequate time for the Library to receive the exam from the testing institution and then schedule a time to administer the exam. Please make these arrangements with the Library at least 4 business days in advance.
4. If the testing institution requires a signed proctor’s verification form before the exam is sent, email it to proctor@tcpl.org or present the form in person at the Library when making the initial arrangements. Library staff will not sign a proctor’s verification form attesting to more than the staff is able to do.
5. Verify that the proctoring conditions provided by the Library meet all requirements of the institution administering the exam.
6. Arrange to have the examination and instructions sent to the Library via email or mail.
   Mail: Proctor - Adult Services Department
   Tompkins County Public Library
   101 E. Green St.
   Ithaca, NY 14850
   
   If the exam is to be returned by mail please supply a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope.
   
   Email: proctor@tcpl.org
   If the exam is emailed to the Library, the student pays the cost of printing out the exam (10 cents a page).
7. Determine if the Library received the exam by contacting us at 607-272-4556 or proctor@tcpl.org. Once the Library has received the exam, we will arrange a date and time to proctor it. The exam date and time must be scheduled during regular Library hours. Exams should not exceed four hours in duration

The Library reserves the right to refuse proctoring if the requirements exceed staff or facility capabilities.

Testing Institution/Agency/School Responsibilities:

1. Review and approve these proctoring guidelines.
2. Clearly supply the name of the institution or agency sending the exam, full name of the exam taker, the complete exam, and detailed instructions for the proctor on administering the exam.

Testing Environment

1. The Library does not have a private room for exam-taking. Staff does not sit with or provide close monitoring during the examination period.
2. The Library will attempt to honor a request for an online exam. However, the Library and the Library staff are not responsible for difficulties arising from Library computers, connectivity or from the Internet. The student should have on-hand the testing institution’s web address and any other required login information such as passwords.

Please note: The Library’s Internet timing software limits a computer session to two hours. The student will need to make arrangements with the proctor prior to taking the exam to extend the time limit if the exam is expected to take longer than two hours.

Testing Procedure

1. On the day of the exam, the student will be asked to show photo identification for verification. The student should also arrive for the examination with pens, pencils, calculators or any other allowable supplies.
2. The proctor will monitor and abide by the time limits.
3. The student will honor all rules required by your examining institution.
4. The Library does not supply or retain copies of finished exams or grade examinations.
5. If exams are to be returned by mail to the testing institution, please supply a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope. Normally, the exam envelope will leave the building via the USPS the next business day. Library staff is unable to honor requests requiring special trips to the Post Office, FedEx or UPS.
6. If exams are to be faxed to the testing institution, the exam must be easily faxed (no two-sided exams or booklets) and the student pays the fax charge (10 cents per page).

We hope this free service will help our community achieve their continuing education goals.

Request a Test Proctor