The online exam platform market has exploded since 2020. Every vendor promises "AI-powered", "secure", and "scalable". Here are the 8 questions that separate platforms that deliver from platforms that demo well.
1. What is your 99th-percentile load capacity?
Any platform handles 100 concurrent users. Ask for evidence of stress tests at your peak concurrent load. Insist on a contractual SLA with penalty clauses for downtime during an exam window.
2. Is AI proctoring processed on-device or cloud?
Cloud-based video proctoring requires robust internet connectivity from every candidate. On-device processing works even on 2G connections. In India, this is not a theoretical concern — it's a daily reality for candidates in tier-3 cities.
3. What is your data residency policy?
DPDPA 2023 requires that sensitive personal data (including biometric data) be stored in India. Ask vendors where exam video and candidate data is stored, and request the Data Processing Agreement (DPA) before signing.
4. Can I export all my data if I switch vendors?
Vendor lock-in is the hidden cost of cheap SaaS. Insist on a contractual right to export all question banks, student results, and exam data in a standard format (CSV, JSON) at any time.
5. How is the question bank versioned and backed up?
Your question bank represents years of intellectual work. Confirm daily backups, version history, and disaster recovery RTO (Recovery Time Objective). The answer should be under 4 hours.
6. What happens during a candidate technical failure?
Power cuts, browser crashes, and lost connectivity happen. Ask the vendor to walk you through exactly what happens: does the exam auto-resume? Is progress saved? Can the invigilator grant extra time?
7. Is the platform accessible (WCAG 2.1 AA)?
Legally and ethically, your exam platform must be accessible to candidates with visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities. Request a WCAG 2.1 AA conformance statement and test it with a screen reader before signing.
8. What does your pricing look like at 10× current volume?
Most platforms have attractive entry pricing that becomes expensive at scale. Ask for a pricing model at 2×, 5×, and 10× your current volume. Flat-fee or volume-tiered pricing is preferable to per-exam pricing that punishes growth.