StraighterLine’s monitoring setup changed significantly in 2025 and early 2026. ProctorU live proctoring was removed in August 2025. Honorlock automated proctoring was introduced in February 2026 for all final Benchmark exams in quantitative courses. Checkpoints and mid-course Benchmarks remain unmonitored. This page covers exactly what Honorlock does during the final exam, what it does not do, and how the monitoring picture differs across course types.
Quick Answer
StraighterLine uses Honorlock on final Benchmark exams in quantitative courses (math, statistics, science) as of February 2026. Honorlock is a browser extension — not a live human proctor — that locks the browser, blocks other tabs, verifies identity via webcam, and records the session. Checkpoints and all mid-course Benchmarks are not monitored. Final exams remain open-book within the StraighterLine platform. For AI detection on written assignments, see our Can StraighterLine Detect AI? page.
Table of Contents
1) How StraighterLine’s Monitoring Changed in 2025–2026
2) What Honorlock Does During the Final Benchmark
3) Preparing for the Honorlock Final Exam
1) How StraighterLine’s Monitoring Changed in 2025–2026
StraighterLine’s proctoring history matters because students searching this question may be finding outdated information. A lot of content about StraighterLine monitoring still references ProctorU, which is no longer in use.
| Period | What Was Used | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Before August 2025 | ProctorU — live human proctoring on final exams. Webcam, identity verification, and a real person watching in real time. | Discontinued |
| Aug 2025 – Jan 2026 | No proctoring. All assessments completed in the platform at the student’s own pace without monitoring. | No longer applies |
| February 2026 – present | Honorlock — automated browser-based proctoring on all final Benchmark exams in quantitative courses. Not a live human proctor. | Current system |
Why Outdated Information Is Everywhere
ProctorU was in place for most of StraighterLine’s history, so most guides, Reddit posts, and forum discussions still reference it. The no-proctoring period (August 2025 – January 2026) was brief enough that many sources did not update. If you are reading anything that says StraighterLine uses “live proctoring” or “ProctorU,” that information is outdated. The current system is Honorlock on final Benchmarks only, introduced February 2026.
2) What Honorlock Does During the Final Benchmark
Honorlock is a browser extension, not a standalone application or a live monitoring service. It activates specifically during the final Benchmark exam session and shuts down when the session ends.
| What Honorlock Does | What Honorlock Does Not Do |
|---|---|
| Locks the browser and prevents opening other tabs, windows, or applications during the exam | Does not monitor activity outside the exam session or on other devices |
| Verifies student identity via webcam and photo ID before the exam begins | Is not a live human proctor — no person is watching in real time |
| Records webcam, screen, and audio throughout the exam session for post-session review | Does not evaluate the content of answers or detect AI-generated text |
| Flags suspicious behavior patterns (extended eye movement away from screen, multiple voices, secondary screens) for post-session review | Does not prevent accessing course materials within the StraighterLine platform — the exam is open-book |
| Requires Chrome or Edge browser with the extension installed; cannot be bypassed by switching browsers mid-exam | Does not monitor other devices, phones, or secondary screens outside the webcam field of view |
The Open-Book Distinction
StraighterLine’s final Benchmark exams are open-book within the platform. You can navigate to your course materials, notes, and the eTextbook during the exam. What you cannot do is open other browser tabs, external websites, or other applications. This means a printed cheat sheet or physical notes next to your computer are not blocked by Honorlock — but a second browser tab with WolframAlpha is. The exam timer cannot be paused once started, so students who spend too long searching materials mid-exam risk running out of time.
Post-Session Review, Not Live Intervention
Honorlock does not interrupt the exam in real time based on automated flags. Flagged sessions are reviewed after the exam ends by a human reviewer who evaluates whether the flagged behavior constitutes an academic integrity violation. A flag does not automatically mean a failed exam — it means the session is reviewed. Environmental factors (noise in the background, looking away briefly, glasses reflection) can generate flags that are then cleared in review.
3) Preparing for the Honorlock Final Exam
Students who run into problems during the Honorlock final almost always encounter them because they did not prepare the environment or install the extension in advance. The exam timer starts immediately after authentication and cannot be paused — technical setup issues during the exam eat into your exam time.
Before Exam Day
Install the Honorlock browser extension in Chrome or Edge before the day of your exam. Run the system check Honorlock provides to verify your webcam, microphone, and internet connection meet requirements. Do not wait until you are starting the exam to install it.
Your Environment
Have government-issued photo ID at your desk. Be in a quiet, well-lit room. Close other applications before starting. Environmental factors like background noise or poor lighting can generate automated flags that require post-session review.
During the Exam
You can access course materials inside the StraighterLine platform. You cannot open other tabs or applications. The timer runs continuously once you start — it cannot be paused. Physical printed notes next to your computer are not blocked by Honorlock.
4) Monitoring by Assessment Type
The most important thing to understand about StraighterLine monitoring is that it applies only to one specific assessment type in quantitative courses. Everything else in the course is unmonitored.
| Assessment Type | Courses Affected | Honorlock? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checkpoints | All courses | No | Open-book, self-paced, no monitoring |
| Mid-course Benchmarks | All courses | No | 3 attempts, highest score counts, no monitoring |
| Final Benchmark | Quantitative courses (math, statistics, science) | Yes — Honorlock | Browser locked, webcam verified, session recorded |
| Written Assignments | English, humanities, business writing | No | Turnitin used for plagiarism and AI detection — see our AI detection page |
Which Courses Use Honorlock on the Final
Honorlock applies to all quantitative final Benchmarks: College Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus I, Statistics, General Chemistry I & II, Biology I & II, and Anatomy & Physiology. English Composition, humanities, social sciences, and business courses do not use Honorlock on their final assessments — those courses use Turnitin on written submissions instead.
5) How FMMC Can Help
FMMC completes StraighterLine courses across math, science, and business. All Checkpoints and mid-course Benchmarks are handled by subject-matter experts. All work is backed by our A/B grade guarantee.
Math Courses
Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus I, and Statistics all handled by subject-matter experts. See individual course pages for unit-by-unit breakdowns.
Science and Business
Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Accounting, and Economics all covered. Contact us with your course and deadline for a quote.
A/B Guarantee
All StraighterLine work is backed by our A/B grade guarantee. If we take on your course and you do not receive an A or B, we make it right.
Need help with a StraighterLine course?
Tell us your course, where you are currently, and your deadline. See also: Pay Someone to Do My StraighterLine Course — or Contact us →
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6) Frequently Asked Questions
Does StraighterLine still use ProctorU?
No. StraighterLine discontinued ProctorU in August 2025. The platform operated without any proctoring from August 2025 through January 2026. Starting February 2026, Honorlock automated proctoring was introduced for all final Benchmark exams in quantitative courses. ProctorU (live human proctoring) is no longer in use.
What is Honorlock and how does it work?
Honorlock is a browser extension installed in Chrome or Edge before starting the final Benchmark exam. It locks the browser to prevent opening other tabs or applications, verifies your identity via webcam and photo ID, and records your webcam, screen, and audio throughout the session. It is not a live human proctor — no one is watching in real time. Flagged sessions are reviewed after the exam by a human reviewer.
Are all StraighterLine courses proctored?
No. Honorlock applies only to final Benchmark exams in quantitative courses — math, statistics, and science. Checkpoints and mid-course Benchmarks across all courses are not proctored. English, humanities, and social science final assessments do not use Honorlock. Written assignments in those courses are subject to Turnitin for plagiarism and AI detection instead.
Is the StraighterLine final exam open-book?
Yes. Final Benchmark exams remain open-book within the StraighterLine platform. You can navigate to course materials, the eTextbook, and your notes inside the platform during the exam. What Honorlock blocks is opening other browser tabs, external websites, and other applications. Physical notes or a printed reference sheet next to your computer are not blocked by Honorlock.
Does Honorlock watch you live during the exam?
No. Honorlock is automated, not live. It records the session and applies automated flagging algorithms. The recording is reviewed after the exam ends if behavior is flagged. There is no human watching in real time the way ProctorU operated. Environmental factors like background noise, brief glances away from the screen, or glasses reflections can generate automated flags that are then evaluated in post-session review.
What happens if Honorlock flags my session?
A flag means the session is reviewed — it does not automatically mean a failed exam or an academic integrity violation. A human reviewer evaluates the flagged behavior and determines whether it constitutes a violation. Environmental flags (noise, brief eye movement, technical issues) are regularly cleared in review. Flags that indicate clear attempts to use unauthorized external resources are treated differently.
Can I use AI tools during StraighterLine assessments?
During Honorlock-proctored final Benchmarks, Honorlock blocks external websites and applications, so AI tools accessed through a browser tab are not available. For Checkpoints and mid-course Benchmarks, there is no technical block, but AI tools perform poorly on math, statistics, and science problems — calculation errors, wrong formula application, and incorrect symbolic notation are common. For written assignments, StraighterLine’s academic integrity policy prohibits submitting AI-generated content, and Turnitin is active on those submissions.
Where can I find more information about StraighterLine monitoring?
For AI detection on written assignments, see our Can StraighterLine Detect AI? page. For course-specific help, see our StraighterLine answers hub or individual pages for Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus, and Statistics.