Computer-based exams are the new normal in today’s world. And for a good cause. With the world becoming more and more technologically oriented, it is not surprising that the education industry has been influenced as well. As of today, we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of centers that provide facilities for conducting computer-based assessments. Students carrying hall tickets and waiting outside test centers for the start of their exams are now frequent sights in practically every metropolis. But what exactly constitutes a computer-based exam? Is it credible enough to be utilized to administer big exams? Continue reading the article to learn more!
What Is a Computer-Based Exam?
As the name implies, computer-based exams make use of computers. Each student is assigned a computer at the designated center. The question paper will appear on the monitor screen. The learner will need to enter the correct answers using the mouse, keyboard, or both. The computer used by the student to complete the online exam is commonly referred to as a “client” computer. There is also a “server” computer that connects to the internet. The server computer is responsible for delivering the exam. As a result, it is accepted that computer-based tests are run in a client-server environment.
One of the most tempting aspects of computer-based assessments is their versatility. It enables the business to administer assessments and easily assess student scores, as well as other data. Computer-based exams are far more secure than offline exams.
The defining feature is that online exams require consistent and uninterrupted internet access to be completed properly. Computer-based exams can be held even without an internet connection. The exam can be administered on the computer without requiring network connectivity, and the results can then be uploaded online to a web server or kept locally on the system itself. Now that we have a basic understanding of what a computer-based test is, we can look at all of the benefits they offer and why they are so popular.
Reasons for Computer-Based Exams’ Credibility in Today’s World
CBT examinations are convenient.
A computer-based test like the coding test is handy for both the candidate and the company that administers the exam. All the candidate needs to do is be at the exam center on time with all of the needed documents for verification. The candidate would be transported to the designated system and expected to complete the examination without engaging in any malpractices. After the examination is done, all of the answers of each individual candidate are transferred to the company that is giving the examination in order to determine the student’s score.
It allows adaptive testing.
As the name implies, computer-based adaptive testing is a sort of testing in which the computer evaluates a test taker and adjusts the level of test questions accordingly. For example, you may instruct the computer to display questions of increasing difficulty for each right answer. To conduct adaptive testing, the organization conducting the exam may need to give a database of questions of varied difficulty levels for the computer to choose from. Adaptive testing is a relatively new feature to computer-based tests, and there is plenty of space for it to expand.
Computer-based exams decrease the opportunity to engage in misconduct.
Computer-based tests provide more opportunities to guarantee that the student maintains integrity during the exam and does not engage in any form of misconduct. This can be accomplished through online proctoring. In an online proctored examination, the student must turn on their video and audio. They are then closely watched by an internet proctor throughout the exam. This ensures more stringent invigilation of the candidate. If a candidate is found guilty of any type of malpractice, the proctor has the authority to stop their examination.
CBT caters to a bigger clientele.
Another advantage of computer-based examinations is its ability to reach a bigger audience than previous methods of conducting exams. Computer-based tests are flexible since they allow the user to choose where and when they wish to take the exam. This is especially important during pandemics like Covid, when many people were compelled to give tests from their homes. Students were able to administer tests from the comfort of their own homes because of this capability.
The computer is responsible for grading.
Humans are prone to making mistakes over and over again. But not computers. Computers are extremely exact in whatever computations they are required to perform and practically never make mistakes. They also do it in record time, which no human could ever duplicate. As a result, it makes sense to entrust the grading of the examination to a reputable software built specifically for the organization holding the exam. This feature is known as auto-grading. Auto grading of question papers ensures that a candidate receives the proper results as quickly as feasible.
It opens up new opportunities to improve candidates’ thinking capacity.
Computer-based tests can significantly improve students’ thinking abilities and problem-solving skills, especially when they include games or puzzles. There are several ways to administer computer-based tests, and experimenting with different methods challenges students to improve their reasoning skills. This way of conducting exams is especially beneficial for assessing the candidate’s analytical abilities. It emphasizes on their reasoning skills, and the decisions they make for specific issues provide valuable insight about the candidate. The IQ test is a well-known exam that employs this approach of evaluation.
CBT Platform makes things easy for persons with diverse abilities.
Computer-based tests are incredibly adaptive and can make things easier for those with disabilities. They allow patients to take examinations from any position that is comfortable for them, as long as a proctor can observe that there is no malpractice occurring. Since the introduction of computer-based exams, the number of differently abled people who are willing to take exams has increased significantly. Additional features such as braille keyboards, magnifying tools, screen readers, voice-to-text, and text-to-voice have all contributed significantly to ensuring that no impairment stands in the way of equitable opportunity.
It also saves plenty of time and energy.
Computer-based exams save a significant amount of time for both the test taker and the test producer. All the test creator has to do is prepare the question papers and the right solution key and submit them into the software used to administer the online exam.
The Mercer | Mettl software guarantees that the questions are correctly displayed to the candidate and that the answers are appropriately analyzed. The student is also relieved of the pressure of pen and paper tests, allowing them to perform more effectively on their exams.
