Bring back the essay assignment

Whether your students are writing essays in class, in supervised writing labs, or at home, MATCHA secures writing by making the entire work-process transparent to instructors, from reading to editing. It also blocks auto-typers and other forms of automation, securing writing at the source so you don't have to use AI detection after the fact.

In‑class activities

Computers in the classroom pose a challenge to academic integrity. MATCHA secures computer-based writing activities against AI misuse by blocking copy-paste, app-switching, and automation—without requiring special privileges or invading students' privacy.

How it works: Using MATCHA for in-class activities

Key features for classroom work

Copy-Paste Control screenshot
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Copy‑Paste Control

Block or track paste from outside MATCHA while preserving normal editing and in-app browser copy/paste. Unlike browser-based edit-tracking editors, MATCHA also blocks auto-typing software and other forms of unauthorized assisted text entry.

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How MATCHA in the classroom compares to traditional proctoring or exam-taking software

  • Integrity without invading privacy: MATCHA does not require administrator privileges, screen recording privileges, camera access, or microphone access. It only needs access to its own files.
  • Unbeatable copy-paste protection: Despite its non-invasive design, MATCHA offers strong protections against unauthorized AI response injection (for example, using a virtual machine) because its protections are partly server-side. MATCHA's patent-pending Remote Typing Certification technology cannot be circumvented by virtual machines and NotchGPT (MATCHA also detects and blocks these techniques on the participant's computer).
  • A full-featured word processor: MATCHA is a full-featured word processor designed for long writing assignments, not only quizzes or short answers. It supports footnotes, tables, references, and equations, among other features.
  • Easy integration: MATCHA produces certified .docx files , which integrate with typical writing assignment workflows.

Unsupervised work at home

At home, we cannot stop students from consulting AI on a secondary device, but we can still strongly de-incentivize AI misuse by making it no easier than doing the work for real. MATCHA achieves this with its Complete Work History and Follow-Up Quiz features. These are not AI detection tools. Complete Work History is a tool for students to share their entire work process (including reading and note-taking). Follow-up quizzes are an opportunity for students to further reflect on their work. These are pedagogical tools that happen to make AI plagiarism prohibitively difficult.

How it works: Using MATCHA for unsupervised activities

The MATCHA formula for home

complete work history + follow-up quiz = real work

Key features for unsupervised essay assignments

Browsing analysis screenshot
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Complete Work History

Activities can be configured to record all work done within the built-in browser, note tool, and editor. MATCHA will provide graphical and numerical summaries while allowing you to replay the work process. You will know how much of each reference cited was read and exactly how much editing was done. This record greatly raises the bar for AI cheating.

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How MATCHA compares with other edit-tracking software when used at home

  • Complete Work History: Other edit-tracking software does not record all browsing and reading, which is key to collecting complete proof of work.
  • Follow-Up Quizzes: Other edit-tracking software does not generate authorship quizzes or provide a secure environment to take these quizzes.
  • Automation Blocking: Other edit-tracking editors run in the browser, which means they can easily be circumvented using browser plugins, auto-typers, and AI agents that can control the browser (now available from major AI vendors such as Claude and OpenAI). Only a standalone app with OS-native functionality can defend against these widespread, off-the-shelf cheating methods.
  • More powerful editing features: MATCHA comes with unique and powerful writing tools that facilitate proper academic writing, such as Direct Citing, Auto Citing, and Pedagogical AI.

Can MATCHA really stop AI transcription at home?

If you use Complete Work History and Follow-up Quizzes but there are no consequences for failing to provide adequate evidence of authorship through these mechanisms, many of your students will continue to cheat by transcribing AI-generated essays.

This is why we recommend applying grade penalties for failing to show adequate proof of work through the MATCHA recording (minimal reading of course material and cited work + editing) or failing the follow-up quiz. The idea of having to show your work is not new, and quizzes are naturally counted toward course grades. Instructors who have done this have seen drastic reductions in AI misuse without having to prosecute academic offense charges. For more information, see our Educator's Guide .

Of course, these grading practices should be clearly communicated to your students, and you should make sure that you adhere to all of your institution's policies.

Pencil sketch of a student transcribing text from a phone into a word processor

Supervised writing lab assignments

Supervised writing labs are classrooms or other spaces where students can work on their long assignments in their own time. As with classroom activities, MATCHA prevents AI misuse on the student's computer while the on-site proctor prevents other devices from being used. Proctors use MATCHA's Check-In feature to ensure that students don't continue working on their assignments outside the lab.

Key features for supervised writing labs

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Check‑In

Require students to check in with a proctor, helping prevent off-site or unsupervised work. Check-in can happen before writing starts or after the fact.

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How MATCHA compares

MATCHA enables supervised writing labs by allowing writing supervisors to control when a document can be accessed and/or edited. Unlike traditional exam-taking software, MATCHA allows an activity to be continued across multiple sessions. No other product has equivalent functionality.

Case study

Case Study: Supervised Writing Labs at Western University

MATCHA began as a software solution for supervised writing labs at Western University. After experimenting with edit-tracking software, we found that far too many students, over 30%, were transcribing or auto-typing AI-generated essays. In most cases, however, the evidence was still not strong enough to support a formal academic offense. That limitation made edit-tracking alone an inadequate response.

Are your students on social media instead of taking notes in class?

A computer screen overflowing with social media notification icons
Distracted: social media instead of notes
Students taking notes in MATCHA
Focused: note-taking in MATCHA

Make note-taking a MATCHA Single-App Mode activity

At the end of class, the MATCHA attendance sheet will tell you who was in the activity for what time period, and you will know they were focused on taking notes. Reward submitting notes with participation points and you will significantly increase in-class engagement.

Accessibility and privacy

Accessibility compliance

WCAG 2.1 AA compliant

MATCHA was designed for accessibility from the beginning. It is screen reader friendly and easy to navigate with a keyboard.

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Complete privacy and security

Local-first by design

MATCHA is an installed desktop app, so students' personal information never has to be processed by third-party servers. It offers strict privacy operating modes respecting the highest levels of privacy, from No Personal Identifiable Information shared to Zero Trust.

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