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Random photos are captured at unpredictable moments during a test to provide unbiased evidence of the candidate’s environment and behavior. If you do not see random photos in a proctoring report, the candidate likely submitted the test before the system had a chance to capture them.

Why Random Photos Matter

Random photos serve as an independent verification tool. Unlike violation-triggered photos (which are taken when an anomaly is detected), random photos capture the candidate at arbitrary moments. This helps you verify that the candidate was present, alone, and following test rules throughout the entire session — not just when a violation occurred.

Why Random Photos Are Missing

AutoProctor schedules random photo captures at unpredictable times throughout the test duration. If a candidate submits the test before any of the scheduled capture times, no random photos will be recorded. Example: For a test with a 5-minute duration, the system might schedule photo captures at 2:00, 4:15, and 4:45. If the candidate submits the test at 1:30, the system has not yet reached any of the scheduled capture times, so no random photos appear in the report.
Random photos only appear if the candidate was actively taking the test at the time the system scheduled the capture. If the test was submitted before any scheduled captures, no random photos will be available.

How to Reduce the Chance of Missing Random Photos

If random photos are important for your proctoring workflow, consider the following approaches:
ApproachHow It Helps
Set a minimum test durationLonger tests give the system more opportunities to capture random photos
Add more questions to your testMore questions typically mean longer test-taking times
Require candidates to use the full timeDiscourages early submission before photos can be captured