E-Proctoring and CoMaS Frequently Asked Questions

First, make sure your webcam is connected and working.

Check that your computer and Google Chrome have permission to access the camera. You can also open your computer’s Camera application to make sure the webcam itself is working.

If CoMaS still cannot access your webcam, contact the Online Exams team before starting your exam.

On Windows, check the location of your Desktop and CoMaS folders. If the folder path contains OneDrive, the folder may be syncing with OneDrive.

You may also see OneDrive status icons, such as a cloud or check mark, beside your files or folders.

If you are unsure, contact the Online Exams team before your exam and we can help you check your setup.

No. Make sure your CoMaS folder is not being synced with OneDrive or another cloud storage service.

OneDrive may automatically sync folders such as your Desktop or Documents. If your CoMaS folder is stored in a location being synced, this may interfere with files CoMaS needs during your exam.

This is especially important when using Hybrid CoMaS, where CoMaS may manage Word, Excel, or other exam files.

Your CoMaS files should remain stored locally on your computer during your exam.

Before your exam, make sure:

• CoMaS is downloaded, installed, and tested;
• Google Chrome is installed and working;
• You have at least 2 GB of free storage space;
• Your screen and camera permissions are enabled, when required;
• Your CoMaS folder is not being synced with OneDrive or another cloud storage service;
• Any applications required for your exam, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, are installed and working; and
• You have reviewed the instructions and permitted resources for your assessment.

Complete these checks at least 3 days before your exam so there is enough time to get help if something is not working.

CoMaS currently uses Google Chrome.

Even if you normally use Safari, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or another browser, make sure Chrome is installed and working before your exam.

During your assessment, use the browser tabs opened by CoMaS and follow the instructions provided for your exam.

With the recent CoMaS upgrade in august 2026, CoMaS currently uses Google Chrome for its browser functions.

Make sure Google Chrome is installed and working on your computer before your exam. When you start CoMaS, it will open browser tabs in Chrome that are required for your exam session.

For many Brightspace exams, the exam password will also be displayed in one of the CoMaS browser tabs.

Do not close the CoMaS browser tabs during your exam.

Yes. If you are using macOS, check your screen recording permissions before each assessment.

Operating system updates may change or reset permissions. Testing CoMaS before every exam helps make sure the required permissions are still enabled.

Free up at least 2 GB of storage space before starting your exam.

After clearing space, restart CoMaS and confirm that it is working properly.

You should have at least 2 GB of free storage space available before starting CoMaS.

Regular CoMaS saves local copies of screenshots and other session information during your assessment, so enough free space is needed for CoMaS to work correctly.

A webcam is required for remote/digital online exams using CoMaS.

For in-person digital exams, a webcam may not be required because you are writing in a supervised location.

Your exam instructions will tell you what is required for your assessment.

Download, install, and test CoMaS at least 3 days before your exam.

Testing early gives you time to make sure CoMaS starts correctly, your screen and camera permissions are working, and your computer is ready for the assessment.

Do not wait until exam day to install or test CoMaS.

No.

If your assessment requires CoMaS, the application must remain running for the entire exam.

Do not continue writing your exam without CoMaS running.

No.

Keep CoMaS and its required Google Chrome browser tabs open for the entire assessment.

Do not close them until your exam is complete.

For many Brightspace exams, the exam password is displayed in one of the CoMaS browser tabs after you have successfully logged in to CoMaS.

If you cannot find the password, make sure CoMaS is running correctly and check the browser tabs opened by CoMaS.

If you still cannot find it, contact the Online Exams for help.

You should start and log in to CoMaS first.

Once CoMaS is running correctly, you can log in to Brightspace and access your assessment.

Following this order helps make sure your CoMaS session is running properly before you begin writing.

Always open and log in to CoMaS before accessing your exam.

Follow these steps:

1. Open CoMaS and log in using the information provided in your invitation email.
2. Allow the required screen and camera permissions, if prompted.
3. Make sure CoMaS is running correctly.
4. Log in to Brightspace and open your course.
5. Go to your assessment.
6. If a Brightspace password is required, check the CoMaS browser tabs for the password.
7. Enter the password in Brightspace when prompted.
8. Wait until the scheduled start time and begin your exam.

Keep CoMaS running for your entire assessment.

The same policies for in-person assessments apply to online exams, so no headphones should be worn. Please maintain the same environment as if you were writing in an exam hall.

Only scan or print documents if this is permitted for your assessment.

If you are writing remotely using CoMaS, use the appropriate break/event option before leaving your computer and indicate when you return.

Choose a location with:

• A reliable Internet connection;
• Good lighting;
• As little noise and distraction as possible; and
• No other people nearby, where possible.

If another student in your household is writing the same assessment, you should write in separate locations.

If someone enters your room unexpectedly, ask them to leave and let them know that you are writing an exam.

Do not discuss your assessment with them.

Someone briefly entering the room does not automatically mean an academic integrity issue has occurred.

If you are writing remotely/Online digital and need to take a break, use the appropriate break option available through CoMaS.

Depending on your situation, options may include:

• Washroom Break;
• Scanning Documents;
• Technical Break;
• Personal Emergency; or
• Accommodation Break.

When you return, make sure you indicate in CoMaS that your break has ended by unchecking the option you selected.

For an in-person exam, follow the instructions provided by your proctor or course instructor at exam site.

During your CoMaS test, you can check the Screens folder within your CoMaS exam folder to confirm that screenshots are being saved.

A typical location is:

Desktop/CoMaS/course_name/Exam/screens

If screenshots are not being saved during your test, contact Online Exams before your assessment.

Yes. CoMaS saves local session information in the CoMaS folder on your computer.

Your exam folder includes a Screens folder where screenshots are saved and a Logs folder containing session logs.

Do not delete, move, rename, or modify these files while your exam is in progress.

If a technical issue prevents you from continuing your assessment, contact us immediately.

We will review the issue and help you get back into your exam. Where applicable, additional time may be provided to account for time lost because of the technical problem.

Do not close CoMaS.

CoMaS can continue collecting information while your Internet connection is unavailable. Once your connection returns, CoMaS can upload the information it collected while you were offline.

If the connection problem prevents you from continuing your exam, contact us as soon as possible.

Contact the us via email immediately or our emergency support line.

Even if Brightspace is still working, do not continue writing an assessment that requires CoMaS if CoMaS is not running.

Try to restart CoMaS immediately.

If you are unable to get CoMaS running again, contact us immediately or our emergency support line.

Do not continue writing your exam without CoMaS running.

Online Exams team will review the issue and help you get back into your exam. Where applicable, additional time may be provided to account for time lost because of the technical problem.

Please make sure your browser has given permission to the camera. Please copy the webcam page link and paste it in alternate browser like Chrome, Opera, Safari, or Edge. Another option is to launch the webcam page manually via the webcam button on the CoMas home page and ensure it is always active during your exam and not obscured by any other windows or files.  

Hybrid CoMaS does not save session screenshots locally in the same way as Regular/Standard CoMaS.

If you need help confirming that your Hybrid setup is working correctly, contact Online Exams before your assessment.

No.

If your assessment requires Microsoft Word, Excel, or another Microsoft Office application, you need the desktop version installed on your computer before the exam.

Make sure the required application is installed and tested before exam day.

No.

Do not save or move a Hybrid CoMaS exam file to:

• OneDrive;
• iCloud Drive;
• Google Drive;
• Dropbox; or
• Another cloud-synced folder.

Keep the file in the location provided by CoMaS and save your work there throughout the exam.

For a remote online Hybrid CoMaS exam, a webcam is required.

For an in-person Hybrid CoMaS exam, a webcam may not be required.

Follow the instructions provided for your specific assessment.

Yes. CoMaS currently uses Google Chrome for its browser functions.

Make sure Chrome is installed and working before your Hybrid CoMaS assessment.

Hybrid CoMaS uses additional controls to restrict applications, websites, or other resources that are not permitted during your assessment.

Administrator access allows these controls to work correctly.

Hybrid CoMaS must be run with administrator access.

On Windows, right-click the CoMaS application and select Run as administrator.

On macOS, after logging in to CoMaS, follow the administrator permission prompts that appear.

Once CoMaS is running correctly, you can access your assessment as instructed.

No.

Do not move, rename, copy, or save the exam file to another location.

Moving the file may interfere with how CoMaS saves or uploads your answers and could result in loss of work.

Save your work in the file and location provided by CoMaS.

When you are finished, follow the instructions provided for your assessment and properly close CoMaS. The closing process is important because CoMaS may need to upload your completed exam files.

Do not move or copy your exam file before completing this process.

No, you can’t utilize Office 365 online for the exam. You’ll need to have MS Word, MS Excel, and other relevant applications installed beforehand.

Unfortunately, the hybrid mode doesn’t save any screenshots on the student’s device. For setup verification, please contact Onlineexams

This depends on how your exam has been set up.

If your exam is delivered through CoMaS, a Word, Excel, or other exam file may open in File Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS after your Hybrid CoMaS session starts.

Enter your answers in the file provided.

If your exam is delivered through Brightspace, wait until Hybrid CoMaS is running correctly before logging in to Brightspace and starting your assessment.

Kindly reach out to onlineexams, and they will assist in checking and confirming your setup.

Hybrid CoMaS provides additional controls during an assessment.

Regular/standard CoMaS mainly monitors activity during the exam, while Hybrid CoMaS can also restrict access to websites, applications, or other computer resources that are not permitted.

For some exams, Hybrid CoMaS may also provide a Word or Excel file for you to complete.

In the Hybrid mode, access is restricted to only approved websites during the examination. All non-approved sites are temporarily inaccessible. For certain exam settings where CoMaS is the required submission method, a Word or Excel file will automatically pop up in a File Explorer/Finder window when you initiate CoMaS. You should provide your answers in this file.

To log in to Comas and set up the session properly, you’ll need to run Comas as an administrator. On a Windows system, you can right-click on the app and choose “Run as administrator.” If you’re using a Mac, once you log into Comas, you will be prompted to enter your Apple ID to obtain administrator permissions.

CoMaS has undergone security and privacy reviews by Carleton University’s Information Security and Privacy Offices.

If you have concerns about privacy, the information being collected, or using CoMaS for your assessment, speak with your course instructor well before your exam.

Your instructor can discuss your concerns with you and, where appropriate, determine whether another assessment arrangement may be available.

For technical questions about CoMaS, contact the Online Exams team at onlineexams@cunet.carleton.ca

CoMaS collects information to support the administration and review of e-Proctored assessments.

The information can help SES identify and understand:

• Activity that may require further review;
• Applications, websites, or documents used during an assessment;
• Technical or system problems;
• Internet connection issues;
• Breaks and other events during an exam; and
• Whether CoMaS was operating correctly during the assessment.

The information is reviewed in the context of the rules and permitted resources for your specific exam.

For Regular (standard) CoMaS, some information collected during your exam, including screenshots and logs, is saved locally in your CoMaS exam folder while the assessment is taking place.

For Hybrid CoMaS, screenshots are not normally stored locally on your computer in the same way.

Do not delete, move, rename, or modify CoMaS files or folders during an active assessment.

CoMaS exam information is kept according to Carleton University’s records retention requirements for examinations.

Exam information is not kept indefinitely and is managed according to the University’s applicable records retention schedule.

Access is limited to authorized Carleton University staff who require the information for e-Proctoring and exam administration.

This includes Scheduling and Examination Services (SES) Online Exams team responsible for reviewing CoMaS exam sessions.

If an exam session contains information that may relate to an academic integrity concern, relevant information may also be shared with the course instructor and Associate Dean as part of Carleton’s academic integrity process.

Information collected through CoMaS is securely transferred to Carleton University’s internal servers.

CoMaS data is not stored with an external commercial e-Proctoring provider. Access to the information is restricted to authorized University personnel who require it for e-Proctoring, exam administration, technical support, or related University processes.

No. CoMaS is not an AI-based proctoring system and does not automatically decide whether a student has committed academic misconduct.

CoMaS collects information from the exam session. The Online Exams team reviews this information along with the requirements and permitted resources for the assessment. If activity raises an academic integrity concern, the relevant information may be provided to your department/AD/ course instructor and handled through Carleton University’s academic integrity process.

CoMaS does not monitor the Internet activity of other devices connected to your home or network.

It may record information related to your computer’s connection during the exam, such as a loss of Internet connection or reconnection. This helps SES understand technical issues that may have occurred during your assessment.

CoMaS may identify certain files or documents that are open or used during an exam. This can include information such as the file name, file location, and the application being used.

CoMaS does not read the contents of your personal documents simply because they are open on your computer.

You should close any files and applications that are not needed for your assessment before starting CoMaS.

The information collected depends on how CoMaS has been set up for your assessment.

Depending on the exam setup, CoMaS may collect:

• Screenshots of your screen;
• Webcam images, when required;
• Browser and web activity during the exam;
• Applications and processes running on your computer;
• Information about certain files or documents used during the exam;
• Network and connection events;
• System information and technical issues; and
• Events recorded during your exam session, such as breaks.

Not every assessment uses all of these features. The information collected depends on whether your exam uses Regular(Standard) or Hybrid CoMaS and the requirements of your assessment.

CoMaS begins monitoring after you open the application and successfully log in for your assessment.

CoMaS does not monitor your computer simply because the application is installed. Monitoring is connected to your active CoMaS exam session.

Contact us before your exam if CoMaS will not install or start, Chrome is not working correctly with CoMaS, your webcam or screen permissions are not working, you cannot complete the CoMaS test, your folder is being synced with OneDrive, Hybrid CoMaS is not working correctly, or you receive an error you cannot resolve.

During an exam, contact us immediately using any of our emergency support resource if a technical problem prevents CoMaS from running or prevents you from continuing your assessment.

For installation, setup, testing, or technical problems, contact the Online Exams team:

onlineexams@cunet.carleton.ca

When contacting us, please include:

• Your full name;
• Student number;
• Course code;
• Exam date and time;
• Whether you are using Windows or macOS, including the version if known;
• A short description of the problem; and
• Screenshots of any error messages, if available.