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# Pear Assessment Passwords Explained

> The four password types in Pear Assessment — valid, bypass, student access, and kiosk — what each one does, and where you set it in the assessment.

Pear Assessment uses four distinct password types. Each one controls a different access point, and they are set in different places. This article explains what each password does and where to find it.

## Valid Password (Required to Publish)

A valid password is required before an assessment can be published and assigned. Pear Assessment uses the valid password as a quality gate to confirm the assessment is ready to assign.

**What it does:** Prevents accidental assignment of incomplete or unreviewed assessments.

**Where to set it:** When creating or editing an assessment, open **Settings**. Enter any password in the valid password field. The password itself is not used by students or teachers during the assessment — it is only required to confirm the assessment is ready to publish.

If you see a message that your assessment cannot be published because it requires a valid password, go to **Settings** and enter a password to proceed.

## Bypass Password

A bypass password allows a teacher or proctor to manually start a student's assessment when the student cannot start on their own. It is not required for standard assignment use.

**What it does:** Gives a trusted adult the ability to start the assessment on behalf of a student, bypassing the standard student login flow.

**Where to set it:** In the assignment settings, under **Security Settings**, enable the bypass password option and enter a password.

**When to use it:** Use a bypass password for students who cannot sign in independently, for paper-based testing workflows, or for situations where a proctor manages a supervised test room.

## Student Access Password

A student access password prevents students from opening the assessment until the password is provided. Teachers distribute the password at the start of the test period.

**What it does:** Controls when students can begin the assessment. Students must enter the password to open the assignment.

**Where to set it:** In the assignment settings, under **Security Settings**, enable student password and enter a password. Share the password with students verbally or through your classroom management system at the start of the testing window.

**How it differs from kiosk mode:** A student access password restricts when students can open the test but does not restrict what they can do in their browser once the test is open. Kiosk mode (see below) restricts both.

## Kiosk Mode Password

Kiosk mode locks the student's device to the Pear Assessment testing screen and prevents navigation to other sites or apps. The kiosk password releases the lock when the test is complete.

**What it does:** Enables secure browser mode during high-stakes assessments. The student's device is locked to the Pear Assessment screen until a teacher or proctor enters the kiosk exit password.

**Where to set it:** In the assignment settings, under **Security Settings**, enable kiosk mode. A district URL is required for kiosk mode — this URL is provided by Pear Assessment when kiosk mode is activated for your district. Contact Pear Assessment support if your district does not have a kiosk URL.

**Device requirement:** Kiosk mode requires specific setup on student devices. See [Test Security: Kiosk Mode and Safe Exam Browser](/products/pear-assessment/test-security-kiosk-mode-and-safe-exam-browser) for device-by-device setup instructions.

## Summary

| Password type           | Set by           | Purpose                              | Required?                    |
| ----------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------- |
| Valid password          | Teacher or admin | Gates publishing                     | Required to publish          |
| Bypass password         | Teacher or admin | Allows proctor-assisted start        | Optional                     |
| Student access password | Teacher          | Controls when students open the test | Optional                     |
| Kiosk mode password     | Teacher          | Releases browser lock after the test | Required if kiosk mode is on |

## Related Articles

* [Set Up Anti-Cheating Settings](/products/pear-assessment/set-up-anti-cheating-settings)
* [Test Security: Kiosk Mode and Safe Exam Browser](/products/pear-assessment/test-security-kiosk-mode-and-safe-exam-browser)
* [Accommodations for Students](/products/pear-assessment/accommodations-for-students)