Is Mettl Proctored? How to Tell From the Setup Screen

Some Mercer Mettl tests are proctored and some are not. The employer configures each test, and Mettl publishes separate candidate guides for the two cases. As of September 9, 2026, a non-proctored Mettl test needs no webcam at all, while a proctored one asks for your camera, microphone, entire screen, a photo of your face, and a photo of your ID before the first question appears. You can tell which one you have from the invitation and the first two screens.

The signs of a non-proctored Mettl test

Mettl's non-proctored test guide states: "An integrated web-cam will not be required to launch this test on candidate's system." The flow is registration details, a terms checkbox, and the questions. There is no permission pop-up and no photo step.

Non-proctored does not mean unmonitored. The same guide warns, "Don't refresh the webpage during the assessment. This will lead to immediate submission of your responses." Mettl's test settings documentation adds that "By default, the Mettl platform does not allow copy/paste on or from the test window," and browsing tolerance, which counts every time you leave the test window, is a setting an employer can enable on any test. Details are in whether Mettl detects tab switching.

The signs of a proctored Mettl test

Mettl's proctored assessment guide lists the steps in order, and each one is a tell:

1. A browser pop-up asking you to "enable the webcam and microphone permissions."
2. A "Start Screen Capture" button that asks you to share your entire screen.
3. A "Capture Your Face" button.
4. A "Capture Your ID" button.

A fifth sign is an OTP. Mettl's Start Assessing Better guide says employers can require candidates to "enter the OTP sent to their email address to begin the test. The generated OTP is valid for 5 minutes."

A sixth is a download link. If the invitation tells you to install the Mettl Secure Browser, the test runs in a lockdown application that, per Mettl's MSB guide, "shuts down all active applications, such as other browsers." That is the strictest tier; the Mettl Secure Browser requirements cover what it needs.

A seventh, less common, is a QR code for your phone. Mettl documents dual camera proctoring where "The test taker would use mobile camera to scan QR code from desktop screen" and then place the phone "3 meter (10 feet) away" as a second camera.

Proctored does not say who is watching

Passing the permission screens tells you that you are being recorded. It does not tell you whether an AI model, a recorded-review team, or a live proctor is on the other end. Mettl's remote proctoring overview describes all three: automated flagging "using advanced video and audio analytics," record-and-review access to the "entire video recording," and live proctoring where the proctor can chat with you and, per the Proctoring Guide, "Pause and end the candidate test if needed."

A chat box on the test screen is the one visible indicator of a live proctor or authorizer. If it is there, someone can message you during the test.

Are Mettl practice tests proctored?

Mettl documents no public practice test with proctoring. The proctored flow is only reachable through a real invitation, and the permission steps happen before the timer starts, so they can be completed calmly. The full sequence is in what to expect in a Mettl test.

What this means for candidates

Open the invitation early. A camera prompt, a screen-share prompt, a face capture, an ID capture, an OTP, or an installer each confirms a proctored test; none of them means a non-proctored test. Use a laptop or desktop; Mettl's system requirements exclude mobile devices and Edge for proctored tests unless the employer enabled the mobile app. Then read the instructions page for what is allowed. The complete inventory of what each tier records is in what Mettl proctoring records and flags.