Information about the equipment you need and permissions you must provide, to ensure that your assessment runs smoothly
Were you invited to take one of our assessments by a company looking to hire? This article provides information about the equipment you need and the permissions you must provide, to ensure that your assessment will run smoothly. This article applies to candidates who have been invited to take an assessment on TestGorilla.
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In this article
Equipment
Desktop
We highly recommend using a laptop or desktop computer to ensure you can complete your assessment without any issues.
Mobile
While you can take your assessment on a mobile device, we do not recommend it. The small screen size can make answering questions very difficult and time-consuming. This is especially the case for open-ended questions and programming tests.
If you do not have another device and have to use your mobile phone, you'll still need to use a supported browser such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox.
| Caution: We do not recommend using a mobile device for assessments that include coding tests or coding questions. This is because of the difficulties in running a coding simulation on such a small screen. |
Camera and microphone
Both a camera and microphone are an important part of a TestGorilla assessment. This is why we highly recommend having both connected before you start.
While you will still be able to take an assessment without a camera or microphone, doing so will result in two major complications:
- Video questions: The hiring company might ask you to record a video response. If either your camera or microphone isn’t connected, you won't be able to record a video.
- Proctoring measures: Snapshots are taken of you every 30 seconds throughout the assessment. Only the company you applied to has access to these snapshots and they are stored in compliance with GDPR. If your camera is not connected, the company will not be able to use this proctoring method. This means they won’t be able to tell that you took the assessment alone. They also won’t be able to ensure that the person who took the assessment is the person they interview and hire. This can leave you at a disadvantage compared to other candidates.
| Note: Your privacy is incredibly important to us. We will explicitly ask for your consent to take these pictures before you start the assessment. |
Browsers
We recommend that you complete your assessment using a desktop computer. Our recommended browser is Google Chrome, though you can also use Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Below, you will find the browser versions supported by our system. Update your browser to the latest version to ensure that you complete your assessment without technical issues.
Google Chrome
Use version 80 or higher. Chrome typically updates itself automatically. As such, you should have the latest version, but it doesn't hurt to check.
Mozilla Firefox
Any version after 68.
Microsoft Edge
Any version after 18.
| Note: Microsoft retired Internet Explorer when they introduced Edge. For this reason, we do not support any version of Internet Explorer. |
Safari
Any version after 14.
Permissions
Camera and microphone
Your camera is used during assessments for video questions and as a proctoring measure. We always check if your camera and microphone are working before you start an assessment.
Make sure that your camera and microphone drivers are up-to-date. If you have multiple cameras or microphones, ensure you have given your browser and our website permission to use the correct device. You can change the default camera in the Privacy & security settings in your browser. If you are using Google Chrome, follow the steps below:
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Open Chrome. |
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Click More (the three dots icon) in the top right |
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Select Settings. |
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Under Privacy and security, click Site settings. |
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Under Permissions, click Camera. |
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Click the drop-down menu and select the camera you want to use. |
| Note: You can deny access to your camera and still take the assessment. Bear in mind that the company you’re applying to will have no way to ensure that it was you and only you taking this assessment. It also means you can not record answers to video questions. |
If your camera and microphone aren't working, you'll automatically get a pop-up in your browser prompting you to Allow access. If you accidentally block access and want to undo that, click the camera button on the right side of your address bar and allow access.
If you cannot get access this way, you will have to allow access through the settings of your operating system. Below are the steps for each of the leading operating systems.
| Tip: If you're using Chrome at work, your network administrator might set camera and microphone settings for you. In that case, you won’t be able to change them here. Learn about using a managed Chrome device. |
Windows 10
You can allow camera and microphone access in the settings of your Windows 10 device by following these steps:
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Go to Start > Settings > Privacy. |
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Select Camera or Microphone. |
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Allow your web browser access to your camera and microphone. |
macOS
You can allow camera and microphone access in the settings of your macOS device by following these steps:
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Go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy. |
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Select Camera or Microphone. |
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Select the checkbox next to your web browser and allow it to access your camera and microphone. |
Android
You can allow camera and microphone access by tapping Allow when prompted in the camera setup screen of the assessment. Some sites won't work if you block them. You may need to change a site's camera & microphone permissions:
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Open the Chrome app. |
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Tap More > Settings, to the right of the address bar. |
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Choose Site Settings. |
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Select Microphone or Camera. |
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Tap to turn the microphone or camera on or off. If you see the site you want to use under Blocked, tap the site > Access your microphone > Allow. |
| Tip: If you’ve turned off microphone access on your device, you can control your app permissions on Android. |
iOS
You can allow camera and microphone access by tapping Allow when prompted by your phone on the camera setup screen of the assessment. Some sites won't work if you block them. You may need to change a site's camera & microphone permissions:
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On your iOS device, open the Safari app. |
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Tap  to the right of the address bar, then Website Settings  . |
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Select Microphone or Camera. |
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Choose Ask, Deny, or Allow to choose if you'd like the browser to automatically ask, deny, or allow the camera or microphone on our website. |
Privacy policy
Your data is private, protected, and GDPR compliant with us. Only the company you applied to has access to the snapshots and videos you uploaded to our system.
Cookies
We ask you to allow cookies on the very first screen of your assessment. These cookies allow us to monitor the technical aspects of your test. This greatly assists us with providing technical support if something goes wrong, as we can identify exactly where any errors have occurred.
| Note: While you have the legal right to decline cookies, we will be unable to provide you with any technical support if you choose to do so. |
Common questions
I received an "Access to camera forbidden" error. How do I allow access to my camera?
You need to give your web browser permission to access the camera. You can easily solve this issue in Chrome by clicking the camera button on the right side of your address bar and allowing access.
Why do I have to enable my camera to start an assessment?
Your camera is used during assessments for video questions and as a proctoring measure. We always check if your camera and microphone are working before you start an assessment.
Can I take an assessment if I don't have a camera and microphone connected to my computer?
You'll still be able to take an assessment without a camera or microphone. However, we highly recommend having both connected before you start. For more information about this, please refer to the camera and microphone equipment section above.
How can I change the default camera that's being used for an assessment?
You can change the default camera in the Privacy & security settings in your browser. If you are using Google Chrome, follow the steps below:
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Open Chrome. |
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Click More (the three dots icon) in the top right |
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Select Settings. |
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Under Privacy and security, click Site settings. |
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Under Permissions, click Camera. |
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Click the drop-down menu and select the camera you want to use. |
How do I enable my camera and microphone for an assessment?
This depends on the system you're using. Please refer to the Permissions section for instructions relevant to your specific operating system.