ExamSoft
ExamSoft is a secure digital assessment platform that provides data-driven insights to improve student learning outcomes and streamline the entire testing process for educational institutions and professional licensure bodies.
TAO Testing
TAO Testing is a flexible open-source assessment platform that allows you to create, deliver, and manage high-stakes digital exams and classroom tests using interoperable QTI standards.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ExamSoft | TAO Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Website | examsoft.com | taotesting.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1998 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, USA | Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
Overview
ExamSoft
ExamSoft provides you with a secure environment to create, deliver, and analyze high-stakes assessments. You can eliminate the need for paper exams and WiFi dependency during testing because the platform locks down student devices and works entirely offline once the exam starts. This ensures a level playing field where academic integrity is protected through advanced proctoring and device control features.
You can also gain deep insights into student performance with detailed longitudinal reporting. By tagging questions to specific learning outcomes or accreditation standards, you can track exactly where students excel or struggle over time. This data helps you adjust your teaching strategies and provides students with the specific feedback they need to succeed in their academic careers.
TAO Testing
TAO Testing provides you with a highly customizable environment for building and deploying digital assessments. Whether you are managing large-scale national exams or daily classroom quizzes, you can design complex items using the QTI standard to ensure your content remains portable and future-proof. You can manage the entire assessment lifecycle from a single hub, including authoring, test assembly, delivery, and results reporting.
The platform is designed for K-12 education, higher education, and professional certification bodies that need to move away from proprietary, locked-in systems. Because it is built on open-source architecture, you can scale your testing infrastructure to support thousands of simultaneous test-takers while maintaining full control over your data and hosting environment. It helps you eliminate manual grading and paper-based logistics through automated scoring and secure online delivery.
Overview
ExamSoft Features
- Complete Device Lockdown Block access to files, programs, and the internet during exams to ensure a secure and fair testing environment for every student.
- Offline Exam Delivery Deliver exams without relying on a constant internet connection, preventing technical disruptions and ensuring a smooth testing experience.
- Category Tagging Tag your exam questions to specific learning objectives or accreditation standards to track student mastery and institutional performance.
- Longitudinal Reporting Generate detailed reports that show student progress over multiple semesters so you can identify learning gaps early.
- Automated Grading Save hours of manual work with instant grading for objective questions and streamlined workflows for essay evaluations.
- Remote Proctoring Monitor remote students using AI-driven identity verification and video monitoring to maintain integrity outside the classroom.
TAO Testing Features
- QTI Item Authoring. Create interactive and accessible assessment items using industry-standard QTI 3.0 to ensure your content works across different platforms.
- Test Assembly. Organize your items into structured tests with custom scoring rules, time limits, and navigation controls to match your specific requirements.
- Secure Delivery. Deliver exams safely to any device with built-in security features and support for lockdown browsers to prevent cheating during high-stakes tests.
- Automated Scoring. Save hours of manual work by setting up automated scoring for multiple-choice, matching, and complex interactive response types.
- Results Analytics. Monitor student performance in real-time and generate detailed reports to identify learning gaps and improve your curriculum effectiveness.
- Open Source Core. Access the source code to customize the platform's functionality or host it on your own servers for total data sovereignty.
Pricing Comparison
ExamSoft Pricing
TAO Testing Pricing
- Open-source core access
- Standard QTI authoring
- Self-hosted deployment
- Community-based support
- Basic test delivery tools
- Everything in Community, plus:
- Fully managed hosting
- Technical support SLA
- Advanced security features
- Automatic software updates
- Scalable delivery infrastructure
Pros & Cons
ExamSoft
Pros
- Unmatched security features prevent cheating effectively
- Offline testing capability eliminates WiFi connectivity issues
- Detailed data analytics help with accreditation reporting
- Robust question banking simplifies exam creation
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new administrators
- Software updates can occasionally cause device compatibility issues
- Student interface feels dated compared to modern apps
TAO Testing
Pros
- Open-source nature prevents vendor lock-in
- Strict adherence to QTI interoperability standards
- Highly scalable for high-volume exam periods
- Extensive customization options for developers
- Supports a wide variety of interactive items
Cons
- Significant technical expertise required for self-hosting
- User interface has a steeper learning curve
- Documentation can be overly technical for teachers
- Initial setup and configuration is time-consuming