A Respondus Monitor flag marks a moment in an exam recording that the software considered unusual, so an instructor can review it. It isn’t a finding that a student cheated. Guidance from Respondus, as quoted by universities that use it, states that flagged events and Review Priority scores don’t determine whether a student cheated, and that there is no score or number of flags above which misconduct can be assumed.
A note on tools and policies: proctoring software is updated regularly, and features and settings change. Schools also set their own rules for how proctoring results are used. This article describes Respondus’s tools as Respondus and universities using them have published. The current documentation and the school’s current policies are the controlling sources.
What Is the Difference Between LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor?
LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment, while Respondus Monitor is a companion tool that records students through their webcam during an exam.
Ohio State’s teaching resources note that LockDown Browser on its own does not monitor or flag student behavior. Flags come from Respondus Monitor, which records the exam session and then analyzes the recording.
How Does Respondus Monitor Flag a Student?
After the exam, Respondus Monitor uses an AI algorithm to analyze the webcam recording and flag segments with unusual behavior or anomalies for the instructor to review.
The recording isn’t watched live. Flags can be triggered by events such as a student being missing from the frame or exiting LockDown Browser early, and university guidance notes that facial detection can drop when a student’s face is turned away from the camera or only partly visible.
What Is Review Priority?
Review Priority is a rating, shown as Low, Medium, or High, that indicates how much a student’s exam session may warrant a closer look by the instructor.
According to university guidance based on Respondus’s materials, Review Priority is a measure of whether a session warrants closer review, not a measure of guilt. Instructors can also change Respondus Monitor’s sensitivity level (Strict, Standard, or Relaxed), which updates the flags and Review Priority scores.
Do Respondus Flags Mean a Student Cheated?
No. Guidance quoted by universities using Respondus states that flagged events and Review Priority values don’t determine whether a student has cheated.
The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay’s teaching center states that there is no Review Priority score or number of flagged events above which an instructor can assume a student engaged in academic misconduct. The University of Ottawa’s teaching support service notes that the tool can’t determine which flagged videos are worthy of concern the way an instructor can, and that instructors should anticipate a fair number of false flags.
Can Flags Be Affected by Things Other Than Behavior?
Yes. Some universities have noted that flags can result from the software’s limitations rather than a student’s actions.
Columbus State Community College’s guidance states that video flags sometimes occur because of limitations in the software’s capacity with certain testing environments, diverse student skin tones, and facial coverings, and it asks instructors not to rely on flags alone.
What Happens After a Flag?
An instructor may review the flagged portion of the recording and decide whether to take any further action, which can include referring the matter to the school’s academic integrity process.
If a case is opened, the school’s procedures decide the outcome, typically with the burden on the school. For more on how online exam cases work, see accused of cheating on Honorlock and can you cheat on a proctored exam.
Common Misconceptions About Respondus Flags
“A High Review Priority means I’ll be found guilty.” Review Priority indicates whether a session warrants closer review, not whether a student cheated.
“LockDown Browser flagged me.” LockDown Browser alone doesn’t monitor or flag behavior; flags come from Respondus Monitor.
“Flags only come from cheating.” Universities using Respondus note that false flags are common and can result from testing environments or software limitations.
“The flag is the evidence.” The flag is a marker for review; the recording and the school’s process are what matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Respondus Monitor flag mean I cheated?
No. Guidance quoted by universities using Respondus states that flagged events and Review Priority values don’t determine whether a student has cheated.
What is Review Priority in Respondus Monitor?
A Low, Medium, or High rating indicating whether an exam session may warrant closer review by the instructor.
Does LockDown Browser record or flag students?
LockDown Browser alone doesn’t monitor or flag behavior. Respondus Monitor is the webcam tool that records and flags.
Can Respondus Monitor flag innocent behavior?
Yes. Universities using the tool note that false flags are common and can result from testing environments or software limitations.
Representation for Students Flagged by Respondus
Every case turns on its specific facts and on the school’s policies as they stand at the time of the case, and both proctoring tools and school policies change. Attorney Richard Asselta is a student defense attorney who represents students facing online exam and academic misconduct allegations at colleges and universities nationwide. Call 855-338-5299.