Computer Based Test often known, as CBT is the dawn of online assessment in examination industry. A computer based test (CBT), a use of computer is a medium, or we can say technique to conduct online Examination without pen & paper.
There are two types of computer-based tests: linear and adaptive. A linear test is a full-length exam in which the computer selects different questions for you without consideration of your performance level. It consists of a full range of test questions – from easiest to most difficult – but not always in order. The linear test is scored in the same way as a paper-based test.
A computer adaptive test is one in which the computer selects the range of questions based on your performance level. These questions are taken from a very large pool of possible questions categorized by content and difficulty.
Computer Based Test (CBT) started several years ago when it became compulsory to use a standardized examination system in Nigerian education.
However, the system has not gained ground in secondary schools in Nigeria, as obtained in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Nigerian universities. Be that as it may, a complete introduction and implementation of the computer based test (CBT) in secondary schools have the same impact as it does in Tertiary institutions in the country.
In this write-up, we will focus on the particular impacts of computer based test (CBT) on secondary school students in Nigeria.
What are the benefits OF CBT tests?
Fast Scoring
When only paper-based exams were conducted, students would have to wait for several months after the examination for their results to be released. Things have changed a great deal these days, however, thanks to computer based test (CBT).
Computer based test (CBT) now enables a fast release of results. The student can get his result of the computer based test (CBT) after few days. Some students even claim to get their results immediately after the test.
Access to fast Scoring means that the student can plan his future quickly without waiting for months before the result is released. You will know instantly if your result is high enough to qualify you for the next class or not.
So, you can determine what the following line of action should be without your life hanging in the balance for many months, which will be the case if you are to sit for paper-based exams. You can now make plans instantly on how to prepare better for the subsequent examination.
More testing opportunities
Some examinations can be written several times in a year. Adoption of computer based test (CBT) in secondary schools means that such tests can be registered several times in a year.
This will give the student more opportunities to resit for an examination and brighten his chance of moving to the next class or next phase in his academic life. Students who resit any examination will not have to wait for many months before the resit can be planned.
In a situation where many students write a particular examination, adopting computer based test (CBT) means that multiple sets of students can sit for the examination on the same day without the need to postpone such an examination to another day.
Such examinations can be scheduled to hold at different times during the day, with a set of students sitting for it in the morning and doing theirs in the afternoon or evening.
Test content is the same
The student will not have to change his preparation method since the adoption of computer based test (CBT) doesn't change the test content.
The syllabus is the same, just like when the students sit for paper-based tests, and the preparation process will be the same. So, preparing for a computer based test (CBT) will not be different from preparing for a paper-based test.
This is to say that students will not be subjected to any particular stress when preparing for the computer based test (CBT). Additionally, the scoring system in a computer based test (CBT) is similar to what obtains in a paper-based test. All the student has to do is a study using the same method he would have used for a paper-based test.
The process is smoother
The process of computer based test (CBT) is a lot smoother than what obtains in a paper-based test. In computer based test (CBT), there is no paperwork, and this makes it less cumbersome than the paper-based test. During computer based test (CBT), the student can access so many tools that make for a smoother examination experience. Some of the tools include the following:
· Flagged questions
· Text highlighter
· Answer eliminator and masking
· Line reader
· Magnifying glass
· Enhanced navigation
Thanks to the series of tools, it will be easier for the student to tackle computer based test (CBT). For one, the student can quickly eliminate false answers. He can also navigate the pages speedily and recheck the questions already answered. The student can equally access chart and graph tools for better performance at examinations.
CBT can save time
Some paper-based tests can require you to write the answers, and this can take a lot of time from you. This is never the case with a computer based test (CBT), which does not require you to write any of the answers; the answers are already provided, and you are only required to mark the answers.
Even if you are to write the answers during a computer based test (CBT), you can still save a lot of time. This is because typing on a computer can be faster than writing on paper.
What are CBT disadvantages?
While computer based test (CBT) has so many benefits, it also has some disadvantages. We will mention some of them below.
Electricity problem
The power supply situation in Nigeria is relatively poor, and this can affect the smooth running of a computer based test (CBT).
The exam may be forcefully postponed if there is a power outage. Things even get worse if there is a sudden power outage while a computer based test (CBT) is ongoing.
This may lead to a loss of data that can negatively affect the exam process. The frustration associated with this is considerable. Some computer based test (CBT) centers have power backup, but such backups may not be reliable. While some may boast of a working backup, some other computer based test (CBT) centers do not have such.
Time is short
One other challenge faced by students writing computer based test (CBT) is the issue of time. The time allotted to such exams is usually shorter than what is allocated to paper-based tests.
Some students complain that they are unable to finish the computer-based tests within the allocated period. Computer based test (CBT) does not give extra time, which may be possible in paper-based tests. Once the time is up, the computer will automatically log the student out.
Conclusion
Computer based test (CBT) has so many benefits quite alright, but it also has a couple of disadvantages. Despite the drawbacks, it is still a more preferred way of writing examinations since its benefits outweigh its disadvantages.
The earlier secondary schools in Nigeria make Standard the better since it will expose more secondary school students to the computer.
