Mercer Mettl vs HackerEarth vs AMCAT: format and what the platform records
Mercer Mettl and HackerEarth are online assessment platforms that employers configure themselves, and both can record far more than your answers: webcam images, screen activity, window switches and code similarity. AMCAT is a different kind of test, a general employability exam. What gets recorded in your test depends on the settings the employer chose, so read your invitation. This guide explains what each platform says it does and how to prepare honestly.
Mercer Mettl: what it says it can record
Mettl's support documentation lists proctoring options that an organisation can switch on. Per that page (checked 13 November 2026):
- Identity: a snapshot of your ID card and your face, and in some setups a "360 check" that asks you to show the room through the webcam.
- Webcam and audio: options to store the full webcam video and to listen to the audio feed.
- Screen: screen and camera snapshots every 60 seconds when that option is enabled.
- Navigation: a "browsing tolerance" counter for every time you leave the assessment window.
- Secure browser: the Mettl Secure Browser locks the machine down and, per Mettl's FAQ, blocks screen-sharing tools and other apps.
- Access control: one-time password, private access for registered candidates, and optional IP range limits.
These are options. A given employer may use all of them, some, or only a plain test link.
HackerEarth: what it says it can record
HackerEarth's proctoring page describes these controls (checked 13 November 2026):
- Snapshots of your face and desk space at intervals.
- Smart Browser that, in its own words, records the screen and webcam, blocks virtual machines, other apps and screen sharing.
- Copy-paste disabled inside the test window, so code has to be typed.
- Browser restrictions such as blocking new tabs or windows.
- Plagiarism engine comparing your code with other candidates and public sources such as GitHub and StackOverflow.
HackerEarth also publishes blog posts on tab-switch limits, but numbers there differ across posts and the recruiter sets the threshold, so do not rely on a fixed figure.
AMCAT: a different thing
AMCAT (Aspiring Minds Computer Adaptive Test) is an employability test that many Indian colleges and employers use. We could not open an official AMCAT page that describes sections or proctoring, so we cannot state those as fact. Prep sites commonly describe aptitude sections (quantitative ability, English, logical reasoning), a personality inventory and optional modules such as a coding test called Automata, and say it is often taken at a test centre or partner college. Sources disagree, so confirm with the organiser. For what AMCAT is and where to register, use the official AMCAT website, linked from SHL's site.
Side by side
| Item | Mercer Mettl | HackerEarth | AMCAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Assessment and proctoring platform | Developer assessment platform | Employability exam |
| Webcam snapshots or video | Yes, optional | Snapshots, optional | Not confirmed |
| Secure or smart browser | Mettl Secure Browser | Smart Browser | Not confirmed |
| Copy-paste blocked | Not confirmed on page read | Yes, optional | Not confirmed |
| Code similarity check | Not confirmed on page read | Yes | Not confirmed |
How to prepare and behave
- Run the system check the platform gives you, on the laptop and network you will use, a day before.
- Read the rules page of your test. It lists what is allowed, such as paper, a calculator or a second monitor.
- Stay in the test window. Even accidental window switches can be counted.
- Practise typing code with no paste and no autocomplete. Our HackerRank guide and CodeSignal vs HackerRank show similar formats.
- Do your own work. Having someone else answer, or sharing questions, violates the rules and plagiarism checks exist for exactly that. Consequences are decided by the employer.
For the wider picture see what interview platforms log and can HackerRank detect AI.
Where an AI assistant fits
Use it to practise: timed problems, spoken explanations, mock questions. Interview Copilot has a free plan without a card. Whether any assistant is allowed in a real proctored test or interview is the employer's decision. Ask the recruiter in writing before the day; if the answer is no, follow it. Its coding assistant is meant for places where that help is permitted.
Sources
- Mercer Mettl support: anti-cheating and proctoring basics
- HackerEarth: online proctoring features
- SHL India (links to AMCAT)
Checked 13 November 2026. We found no official AMCAT page describing sections or proctoring.
FAQ
What does Mercer Mettl record during a test?
Depending on the employer's settings, Mettl's support page lists ID and face snapshots, full webcam video, audio, screen snapshots every 60 seconds, a counter for leaving the test window, and a secure browser. Not every test uses all options.
Is HackerEarth proctored?
It can be. HackerEarth describes face and desk snapshots, a Smart Browser that records screen and webcam, blocked copy-paste, and a plagiarism engine. Recruiters choose which features to enable for each assessment.
Does HackerEarth detect plagiarism?
HackerEarth says its plagiarism engine compares code with other candidates and with public sources such as GitHub and StackOverflow. Renaming variables is not a safe workaround; write your own solution.
What is the AMCAT test?
AMCAT is the Aspiring Minds Computer Adaptive Test, an employability exam used by many Indian employers and colleges. Prep sites list aptitude, English, logical reasoning, personality and optional coding modules, but sections vary by employer, so confirm officially.
Can I use a second monitor in a Mettl or HackerEarth test?
Check your rules page. Mettl's FAQ says its secure browser disables external ports to stop second screens, and HackerEarth says its Smart Browser blocks screen sharing. Rules vary by employer.
What happens if I switch tabs during the test?
Mettl counts navigation away from the assessment window, and HackerEarth restricts new tabs; the employer sets any limit and the action taken. Stay in the test window to be safe.
Can I use an AI tool in these assessments?
Only if the employer explicitly allows it. Ask the recruiter before the test. Use AI for practice and mock interviews beforehand, and follow the instructions during the test.