Does Codility Detect AI Tools or Screen Sharing? What Candidates Should Know in 2026

When you open a Codility assessment, the platform shows a single‑page editor that runs in your browser. Behind the scenes, it records a few signals to protect the integrity of the test. Understanding those signals helps you avoid accidental rule violations and focus on what really matters: solving the problem.

What Codility Monitors by Default

Browser focus and tab activity

• The JavaScript client sends a heartbeat every few seconds.
• If the window loses focus for longer than a configurable threshold (usually a few seconds), the event is logged.
• Switching to another tab or window triggers the same heartbeat loss.

What this means: You can glance at a reference page for a moment, but extended tab switching will appear in the audit log. Reviewers typically look for patterns, not a single brief blur.

Copy‑paste events

• Each paste operation inside the editor fires an event that records the timestamp and the length of the inserted text.
• The content itself is not stored; only the fact that a paste occurred.

What this means: Using a clipboard to bring in a snippet you wrote earlier is fine, but large blocks of text pasted repeatedly may raise a flag.

Keyboard shortcuts and typing speed

• Codility captures keystroke timestamps to compute typing speed.
• Unusual spikes (e.g., a burst of 200 characters in a second) can be highlighted.

What this means: If you rely heavily on an external AI tool that dumps code into the editor, the speed pattern could look suspicious.

Optional Proctoring Features

Many companies enable a proctoring add‑on for higher‑stakes assessments. The add‑on adds three main data streams:

When these streams are active, any code you type, paste, or generate with an AI tool will be visible in the screen recording. The platform does not analyze the content of the video for AI‑generated text, but a reviewer can manually spot patterns (e.g., a separate IDE window open).

What Codility Does Not Detect

• AI tool usage: The platform does not inspect network traffic or the processes running on your machine. Running ChatGPT, Claude, or a local LLM is invisible unless you bring the output into the editor.
• Local IDEs: You can write code in an offline editor and copy it into Codility; only the paste event is logged.
• Browser extensions: Unless they interfere with the JavaScript heartbeat, extensions remain undetected.

Staying Within the Rules

1. Use the built‑in editor for the bulk of your work. If you need to test a helper function, run it in the console tab that Codility provides; this keeps the focus on the same page.
2. Limit copy‑paste. Write the core logic yourself in the editor, and only paste small utility snippets you authored earlier.
3. If proctoring is on, keep your screen tidy. Close any external IDEs, browsers, or chat windows before the session starts.
4. Read the employer’s policy. Some companies explicitly forbid any external AI assistance, while others allow it as long as you disclose the source.

Practicing with Call Assistant

Call Assistant can help you rehearse answers to behavioural questions that often follow a coding interview. By speaking your story aloud and receiving a concise, resume‑grounded draft, you can keep the interview flow natural without needing to write anything on the screen.

Common Misconceptions

• “Codility will automatically flag AI‑generated code.” No. The platform logs events, but the determination of AI usage is a human review step.
• “If I stay in the Codility tab, I’m safe.” Focus loss isn’t the only signal; rapid typing and large paste bursts can still be investigated.
• “Proctoring always records the whole screen.” Some implementations only capture the Codility window, but most vendors record the full screen to prevent hidden windows.

How to Practice This

1. Do a mock assessment without any extensions. Use only the Codility editor and note any focus loss or paste events.
2. Run a timed coding session with a friend watching. Simulate proctoring by recording your screen and reviewing the footage for accidental tab switches.
3. Use Call Assistant to rehearse a 60‑second story about a project, then deliver it while staying in the coding environment to build the habit of staying focused.

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FAQ

• Q: Can Codility detect if I’m using ChatGPT in another browser tab? A: Not directly. The platform only knows when you lose focus. If you spend a long time on another tab, the focus‑loss log may be examined, but the content of that tab isn’t captured.

• Q: Does screen recording capture my entire desktop or just the Codility window? A: Most proctoring add‑ons record the full screen, though some vendors offer a window‑only mode. Check the specific proctoring settings for your assessment.

• Q: Are copy‑paste events considered cheating? A: A single paste is normal. Repeated large pastes can look suspicious, especially if they coincide with unusually fast typing.

• Q: What should I do if I’m unsure whether an external resource is allowed? A: Ask the recruiter or refer to the assessment guidelines. When in doubt, disclose any assistance you used.