Synap Launches Synoptic: Built-In Proctoring for Secure, Fair Online Exams
15 October 2026
Leeds edtech company Synap has launched Synoptic, a proctoring system built into its online exam platform. It is designed for universities, training providers, professional bodies and businesses that need to run remote assessments with confidence. Rather than bolting a third-party monitoring tool onto the exam, Synoptic brings delivery, invigilation and review together in one place.
The launch comes as exam integrity faces growing scrutiny. Ofqual Chief Regulator Ian Bauckham has highlighted that AI use in assessed work is still rarely detected, despite widespread concern among teachers. The pressure extends beyond schools: the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has pulled its remote invigilated exams over cheating concerns. Generative AI and wearable technology have made misconduct harder both to spot and to 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,” said Dr James Gupta, CEO of Synap.
Instead of applying the same level of surveillance to every candidate, Synoptic lets organisations choose controls based on how high-risk an assessment is. Options include live supervision, post-exam review, periodic screenshots and HTML reconstruction of the exam session. The last two allow proctored exams to run reliably where bandwidth is limited, building on Synap’s experience delivering exams in everything from well-connected settings to regions with unreliable power and internet.
During review, invigilators can switch between a reconstruction of the candidate’s exam, webcam images, screenshots and a timeline of logged events. That includes actions such as exiting full-screen mode, opening a new tab or switching away from the exam window. AI-assisted review flags points on the timeline worth a closer look, so invigilators don’t have to watch hours of footage. Final judgements stay with people, not algorithms.
Because proctoring sits inside the same platform as exam delivery, every session keeps a complete audit trail. Records never need to move between separate systems, and evidence can be reviewed or escalated after the exam. The platform uses encryption throughout and adheres to ISO/IEC 27001 standards.
“We wanted to offer a more seamless exam experience, so we created Synoptic to embed proctoring directly into the exam lifecycle,” Gupta explained. “We designed it to protect both sides of the exam experience, giving institutions the evidence they need while ensuring candidates are monitored fairly and tested securely, regardless of their location or internet connection.”
Synoptic is available now through Synap’s online exam platform, with controls configurable for each assessment.