Design of a computer based examination system

This research work is about computer based examination system. CHAPTER ONEINTRODUCTION1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY An Examination is one of the best methods of evaluating the knowledge andability of an individual. Its purpose is to assess how much each student haslearned compared to fellow students in the same course or learning situation.Various examination methods are being used in higher education institutions toassess   academic   progress,   such   as   paper-pencil-based   examinations,assignments,  presentations,  etc.  These  methods  are   referred  to   as  traditionalmethods. Traditional Examination refers to a formal examination administeredthrough   question   papers   to   which   students   respond   in   the   form   of   writtenanswers to a limited choice of previously unseen examination questions, set inadvance and answered in examination centers where invigilators (examinationsupervisors) prevent communication between students and prohibit the use ofnotes or other revision aids. The   inclusion  of   ICT   in  education   has  promoted  institutional   use   of  CBESwhich is also referred to as Electronic Examination, Computer Assisted Testing,Computerized   Assessment,   Computer   Aided   Assessment   (CAA),   ComputerBased Assessment (CBA),It is widely believed that all tests will one day be delivered on a computer ofsome sort (Bennett, 1998, 2002). However, it is difficult to accurately predict1

when this day will come. It has seemingly been just around the corner since theearly 1990s, when a handful of early adopters, including the ASVAB (Sands,Waters, & McBride, 1997) and the GRE® (Mills, 1999), signed on to computer-based testing (CBT). Today, dozens of admissions, placement, certification, andlicensure   testing   programs   are   administered   on   computer,   with   the   numbergrowing  each   year.   On the   K–12  front,   several   states  already   conduct   theirannual accountability testing on computer, and many others are poised to joinin.   Hundreds   of   schools   or   districts   also   employ   CBEs   in   a   formative   ordiagnostic role in service of instruction. Computer-based Examination (CBE) is an efficient way for test sponsors toprovide a secure, consistent environment for certification and licensure whilesignificantly   enhancing   the   candidate   experience.   It   is   common   for   testingvolumes   to   increase   after   a   full   conversion   from   paper-based   Examination(PBE) to CBE, often as a result of the availability of a greater number of testinglocations   and   more   flexible   scheduling   and   testing   opportunities.   Migrationfrom PBE to CBE does affect candidate behavior, however, and it is possiblefor some testing programs to experience brief reductions in demand triggered bycandidate apprehension regarding CBE. This sometimes results in either a last-minute   increase   in   testing   during   final   PBE   administrations   or   candidateprocrastination to the last available computerized testing date. Therefore, thequestion facing licensing organizations is how to keep test volumes up and2

candidate uncertainty down when migrating from a paper-based to a computer-based Examination.The key to mitigating test volume risk and ultimately driving an increase indemand is ongoing marketing, candidate education and outreach. In terms ofpromoting   the   new   computerized   testing   program,   marketing   and   effectivecommunication   can   have   an   important   impact   on   stakeholder   acceptance   ofCBE and comfort with its use.In order to allay candidate fears and minimize questions, it is prudent to launcha   communications   campaign   early   in   the   conversion   process   that   directlyaddresses constituent concerns and promotes sustainable program interest. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMThe   challenges   faced   with   Pencil-Paper   Examination   (PPE)   or   Paper   basedExamination is overwhelming, they include but not limited to exam malpractice,inaccuracy in marking, delay in marking results. These challenges do not help inthe growth of the education sector of Nigeria.1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDYThe main aim of the research is to design and implement a computer basedExamination system, with the following objectives:1. Automatic generation of exam numbers for students.2. Enhanced security features to avoid exam malpractice.3

3. Real time processing of results for candidates.4. Specify a privilege to administrators to be able to change their question atwill before the examination date.1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY