ProctorU’s camera requirements
ProctorU (part of Meazure Learning) publishes its Equipment Requirements, last updated in May 2026 at the time of writing. For the camera, the bar is 640×480. The other rules matter more on the day: Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 or later, or ChromeOS through the extension workflow only; 8 GB of RAM and a four-core processor; 3 Mbps up and down, with mobile hotspots discouraged. Tablets and phones aren’t supported as the testing device, virtual machines and Boot Camp aren’t allowed, and remote-control apps such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk must not run. Only one monitor may be connected. An external monitor on a closed laptop should be set to mirror the display and plugged straight in, not through a docking station.
When the camera is fine but the test isn’t
ProctorU’s Test It Out includes a Video Stream Stability check, and its troubleshooting guide says it can fail even when the speed tests pass. It looks at three things:
- Your computer: it has to encode the camera and the screen in real time. ProctorU lists a 1080p or 4K webcam, a cheap USB camera, a virtual camera or a bad driver as things that can stall capture, and tells you to turn off virtual-camera apps such as OBS, ManyCam and Snap Camera.
- Your network: late or lost video packets, from Wi-Fi, a VPN or a busy connection.
- Your light: the check reports “Video appears too dark” when the room is dim.
This page covers the first and last from the camera’s side, and its checklist warns when the open camera’s name looks like a virtual camera app. The frame rate readout shows whether your camera slows down, which in a dim room is often just a longer exposure, and the lighting and quality score tells you whether your face is lit well enough. If the frame rate drops at 1080p, try 720p in the Resolution list and watch whether it recovers.
Getting the room and monitor scans right
A proctor may ask for a room scan or, depending on the exam, you take photos of the room yourself. For the monitor scan you’ll need a mirror or your phone’s selfie camera to show your screen, so keep one within reach before you start.
When the checklist above is all green, close this tab and run Test It Out on the same computer and network. Also check your microphone. Taking a Pearson exam instead? Use the OnVUE check.