Synoptic ID checks

Identity verification for online exams

Confirm every candidate is who they say they are. Before a proctored exam opens, candidates photograph a government-issued ID and take a selfie, and the two are matched automatically.

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Built into Synoptic
IDs from 100+ countries

10 million+

exams delivered worldwide

Trusted by awarding bodies, universities & professional bodies

The check

Photo ID and selfie checks in one automated step

A quick check that confirms the person at the screen is the person on the ID, with your rules deciding what happens next.

Facial likeness
Matches the candidate’s selfie against the photo on their government-issued ID.
Government-issued ID
Accepts passports, driving licences and national ID cards from over 100 countries.
Your rules
Choose whether a mismatch is flagged for your team to review or blocks entry to the exam.

How it works

How ID verification works before an online exam

Confirm your identity

Step 1 of 2: your face

Look straight at the camera, with your face inside the oval.

Take photo

Add identity checks to your proctored exams

See how identity verification fits alongside room scans, a second camera and lockdown in Synoptic.

Book a tailored demo

Choose your provider

Synap’s built-in check or Stripe Identity

Pick the provider for each exam. Both run in Synoptic’s pre-flight checks, and with either you decide whether a mismatch is flagged or blocks entry.

Synap

Built in

Nothing extra to set up. Synap runs the check itself.

Matches the selfie and the name to the ID
Your proctoring team can view the photos
Photos deleted automatically within 30 days

Stripe Identity

A specialist provider, for when you want Stripe to run the check.

Stripe checks the ID and a live selfie
Documents from over 100 countries
Photos stay with Stripe; your team sees the result

Privacy by design

How candidates’ ID data is protected

Candidates’ ID photos and selfies are kept only for as long as your team needs to review them, then deleted automatically.

Consent first
Candidates see how their data is used and must agree before anything is captured.
Proctoring team only
Only staff with proctoring access to that exam can view the photos, through short-lived links. With Stripe, they see the result only.
Deleted within 30 days
ID photos and selfies are deleted automatically, with nothing for your team to do.

Security & data protection

FAQs

Online exam ID verification FAQs

Find quick answers or browse our academy.

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How do online exams verify a candidate’s identity?

Before the exam opens, the candidate photographs a government-issued photo ID and takes a selfie with their webcam. The selfie is matched to the photo on the ID, and with Synap’s built-in check the name on the ID is also compared with the name on the candidate’s account.

What ID documents are accepted?

Passports, driving licences and national ID cards. With Stripe Identity, documents from over 100 countries are supported.

How long does the ID check take?

About a minute. The candidate takes a photo of their ID, then a quick selfie, as part of the pre-flight checks.

What happens if the face or name doesn’t match?

Candidates get two attempts and are told what went wrong, such as glare or blur on the photo. If the check still doesn’t pass, your settings decide what happens: the mismatch is flagged for your team to review while the candidate carries on, or it blocks entry to the exam.

Can candidates practise the ID check before exam day?

Yes. The system check includes an ID photo practice, so candidates can check their camera captures their ID clearly. Nothing is uploaded or kept during practice.

Does it stop someone else sitting the exam after the check?

The ID check runs before the exam opens. During the exam, Synoptic watches the webcam and warns the candidate if their face leaves view or a second face appears. If it isn’t put right, the exam is interrupted and a breach is logged for review.

What happens to candidates’ ID photos and selfies?

They are used only for the check and your team’s review, and only staff with proctoring access to that exam can view them. They are deleted automatically within 30 days, and candidates must consent before anything is captured.

Who runs the verification?

You choose per exam. Synap’s built-in check needs nothing extra to set up, or you can run checks through Stripe Identity if you prefer a specialist identity provider.

When does the check happen?

During the pre-flight checks, before the exam opens. It pairs naturally with room scans, a second camera and lockdown to protect the whole assessment.

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