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Examination Center vs Gradescope
Gradescope is built to help instructors grade and give feedback at scale, while Examination Center is built to run the live, AI-free coding exam itself and surface integrity evidence for human review.
Examination Center is in early access — we're onboarding institutions through our Early Access Program. The information here describes our current platform and direction and may evolve; it is not a contractual commitment.
Key differences
| Examination Center | Gradescope | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Run a secure, live coding exam in the browser | Designed for grading and feedback on submitted work |
| AI-free exam environment | Yes — plain editor, no built-in AI assistant or autocomplete, identical for every student | Not its focus; centered on grading rather than the live exam editor |
| Run code during the exam | Yes — Python in the browser plus C, C++, Fortran, and Java in a secure server sandbox | Typically runs code to score submissions, not as the student's live exam workspace |
| Live instructor monitoring | Yes — watch sessions in progress | Typically reviews work after submission |
| Integrity signals | Paste, large or sudden edits, and cross-student similarity shown as evidence for human review | Offers similarity and review tooling oriented to grading workflows |
| Grading and grade book | No — by design; academic judgment stays with the instructor | Yes — rubrics, scoring, and feedback are core strengths |
| Autosave and session recovery | Yes — a frozen or closed browser never loses exam work | Not applicable to its grading-focused workflow |
| Setup for students | Browser-based, no installs or lockdown takeover of the device | Browser-based for submitting and reviewing work |
When to choose Examination Center
Choose Examination Center when your priority is the exam itself — a fair, AI-free environment where students write and run code under live monitoring, with integrity evidence captured for your review. It complements a grading tool like Gradescope rather than replacing it: secure the exam here, then grade the exported work in your existing workflow.
Related
Examination Center vs autograders · Python lab exams · Apply for Early Access
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Early Access scope: up to 40 students and 1 exam. Indicative pricing only — see pricing or apply for Early Access.
FAQ
Is Examination Center a Gradescope alternative?
Not exactly — they solve different problems and often work well together. Gradescope is built to help instructors grade and give feedback at scale. Examination Center is built to run the live coding exam in a secure, AI-free environment and to surface integrity evidence. Many teams would use Examination Center for the exam and a grading tool afterward.
Does Examination Center grade or auto-grade?
No. Examination Center does not grade, score, or keep a grade book, and this is by design. It gives you a fair exam and clear integrity evidence; academic judgment stays with the instructor. You can export the work and grade it in your own workflow or grading tool.
Which languages are supported?
Python runs in the browser via Pyodide, including NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib. C, C++, Fortran, and Java compile and run in a secure server sandbox. More languages are planned.
What integrity evidence does it provide?
It surfaces signals such as paste events, large or sudden edits, and cross-student code similarity. These are shown as evidence for a human to review — never as automated accusations or verdicts. The instructor decides what they mean.
Does it lock down or record the student's device?
No. Examination Center is browser-based and does not take over the device, record the camera, or install software. Students write and run code in a plain editor that is the same for everyone, and live monitoring shows sessions in progress.
How do students avoid losing work if a browser crashes?
Examination Center autosaves continuously and supports session recovery, so a frozen or closed browser does not lose exam work. The student can return and pick up where they left off.