• Our new remote invigilation supplier, Integrity Advocate, is live from 1 May 

    Posted:

    From 1 May 2026, YMCA Awards is moving our remote invigilation for external assessments to Integrity Advocate, replacing the current ProctorExam system. 

    This change is intended to improve the learner experience, reduce technical friction on assessment day, and cut down on the support load for centres around external assessments. If you’re an exams officer, tutor or main centre contact, this post walks through what’s changing and why we’re making the change.

    Why we’re making the change 

    As part of our ongoing commitment to improving assessment delivery, Integrity Advocate brings a refreshed remote proctoring experience with: 

    Fewer moving parts in the learner journey 
    Broader device and browser support 
    A privacy-conscious approach to ID and biometric data 
    Support that’s actually there when a learner needs it, 24/7 

    After extensive setup and testing, we’re excited by the strong user experience Integrity Advocate is already demonstrating. 

    What’s changing for learners

    One simple browser journey 
    Our remote invigilation is designed to be seamless, privacy-conscious and non-invasive. There’s no plug-in to install, no separate app to download and no second camera or smartphone to set up. Everything runs in the learner’s browser on their laptop or desktop. 

    Broader device and browser support 
    Integrity Advocate is supported on Windows 10+, macOS 11+ and Chromebook. Supported browsers vary by device: 

    Windows: Chrome (Recommended), Edge or Opera 
    macOS: Chrome (Recommended), Safari or Opera 
    Chromebook: Chrome 

    Mobile phones and tablets are not supported for assessments.
    The full requirements list, including minimum internet connection, is on the learner guidance page. 

    A guided system check, recommended at least 48 hours ahead 
    As soon as a training provider has booked the assessment, the learner receives an email with a link to complete their system check. We strongly advise learners complete this at least 48 hours before the assessment, so any set-up problems can be resolved before the day itself. It’s a recommendation rather than a hard requirement, but the system check must be completed before the scheduled assessment time – it can’t be completed once the assessment has started. 

    Privacy-conscious by design 
    Integrity Advocate only collects what’s needed to verify a learner’s identity. Learners can cover sensitive details on their ID before submitting, as long as their face and name remain clearly visible. 

    24/7 learner support 
    Integrity Advocate provides live chat (built into the assessment browser), email and phone support, plus a self-serve knowledge base. Support is available throughout the system check and on assessment day itself, 24 hours a day, every day. 

    What’s changing for centres

    Booking in XAMS 
    Nothing changes in how you book assessments or check results in XAMS. The only difference is that from 1 May, when booking a remote-invigilated external assessment, you’ll select Integrity Advocate as the invigilation option rather than ProctorExam. The rest of your XAMS flow stays exactly as it is today. 

    A simpler support picture 
    The updated remote assessment process has been designed to reduce common assessment-day setup issues, helping to minimise avoidable support queries for centres and learners. We expect the volume of support learners require to drop noticeably, Integrity Advocate’s 24/7 learner support can handle the functionality queries that currently sit with centre staff. 
    For the first time, centres will be able to check for themselves whether a learner has completed their system check ahead of the assessment. No more guessing or chasing on the morning of, if a learner hasn’t done it yet, you can nudge them ahead of time rather than finding out when they can’t start. 

    Results and quality assurance 
    The timeframe for results showing in XAMS is changing slightly with the move to Integrity Advocate: 

    Refer results will be released to XAMS straight away. 
    Pass results will now be available when we’ve reviewed the assessment recording. We aim to review within 48 hours and, where there are no issues, release the result to XAMS at that point. 
    If we identify anything that requires follow‑up, we’ll contact the centre to confirm. Where an assessment is invalidated following review, the result will be released in XAMS and will appear as Void rather than Pass or Refer. 

    XAMS user guide video 
    A new video user guide has been created for centres, outlining how to book assessments, monitor learner system checks, and review results within XAMS. 
    https://www.loom.com/share/c264d6d977cf41a7b8f21d8f7d3ee59a

    What learners will see on the day 

    In short: a web page, a camera and microphone permission prompt, an ID check, and their assessment. No downloads, no second device, and no app to wrestle with. The updated learner guidance at www.ymcaawards.co.uk/external-assessment/ covers: 

    System requirements, supported browsers and minimum internet connection 
    How to prepare their environment 
    What to have ready to start the assessment 
    Behaviours that are allowed and not allowed during the assessment 
    Ending the assessment, results and FAQs 
    Where to get help, 24/7 

    Need Support?

    Learner support
    Integrity Advocate provides live chat (built into the assessment browser), email and phone, plus a self-serve knowledge base. If a learner can’t get what they need through Integrity Advocate, please make sure they know they can contact their tutor or your centre team.

    Centre support
    Contact your usual YMCA Awards team. We’re on hand throughout the transition and beyond.

    We’re confident learners will feel the difference from day one, and we’re here to help centres with anything that comes up as you start booking assessments on the new system.