Encrypted digital exam will help to combat cheating

A Moroccan university has used an encrypted digital exam for the first time, as part of its efforts to tackle cheating and protect the integrity of the process.

This technology was introduced at the pharmacy department of the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University’s faculty of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry (FMPD), according to a recent statement posted on the faculty’s official Facebook page.

The FMPD has equipped a fully fledged digital examination centre, which is scheduled for expansion to accommodate 300 students by September 2025, according to the statement.

It is part of the Digital Morocco 2030 initiative, which aims to make Morocco an international digital hub by accelerating the digitalisation of services, encouraging the use of online services, and promoting digital education, among others.

Encrypted digital exam system

In the pioneering exam, which covered three courses, the faculty relied on advanced technology that ensures the confidentiality of questions and protects data from breaches and leaks through the accurate and secure documentation of all evaluation stages.

The digital system used internal servers to store data, thereby ensuring its security and the confidentiality of exams without the need for internet connectivity.

Its advantages include displaying results immediately after the exam has ended, reducing cheating through an intelligent and secure monitoring system, ease and flexibility in organisation, and full content encryption to protect exam confidentiality.

Encryption protects data with a secure code to prevent unauthorised access. Without the corresponding decryption key, the encrypted data remains locked when intercepted by an unauthorised user.

Part of global efforts

Professor Abdul Benahnia, an academic affairs and business development manager for the 3B Golden Gate E-learning platform in Morocco, told University World News that the launch of Morocco’s first encrypted digital exam marks a significant step toward digitising higher education.

“By prioritising security and confidentiality, this initiative aims to modernise assessment methods, expedite result dissemination, and reduce the logistical burden associated with traditional paper-based exams,” Benahnia said. Using encryption to secure question banks and protect data from breaches aligns with global efforts to enhance online exam security, Benahnia added. This would add to a positive learning environment and help build academic integrity.

“The system will also help in promoting fair grading practices without bias or discrimination by providing an equitable and objective evaluation of student performance,” he believes.

The project also furthers the goals of the 2023 SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, a global analysis of the connection between digital technologies and sustainable development, which demonstrated how digital solutions can directly help achieve 119 of the 169 SDG targets (about 70%), including in areas such as education.

Challenges and solutions

“Despite the advantages of an encrypted digital exam, the transition to digital examinations faces notable challenges, particularly concerning security threats such as hacking, fraud and unauthorised access,” Benahnia warned.

“While encryption strengthens confidentiality, it does not entirely eliminate risks, therefore making continuous monitoring and improvement essential.”

Ways to further develop more secure and reliable systems include biometric identification techniques to enhance the security and effectiveness of student verification, Benahnia suggested, although that would require more training for educators and exam administrators. Without proper guidance, instructors may struggle to adapt to new technologies, which could lead to technical failures.

Another critical concern is the availability of the necessary IT infrastructure, Benahnia said. “Not all Morocco’s higher education institutions are equipped with reliable digital examination centres like the one established by FMPD. Also, several of Morocco’s universities lack adequate security safeguards and procedural standards.”

Ensuring the effectiveness of encrypted exams on a national scale would, therefore, also require expanding access to sufficient hardware, secure networks, more user training, and power backup solutions.