The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than one billion students worldwide. The news of the canceled exams has gotten a lot of attention in the media, and many people are wondering what options are available to students who want to continue studying and take important exams.
There are a number of companies that offer software for creating online examinations, allowing students to take exams on a computer rather than on paper.
Facts about the online exams:
- Data Security is Improved with Online Exams
The exam information is no longer moved around on exam papers and excel spreadsheets once exams are completed online. All data questions, test papers, candidate information, candidates' responses, marking, and results are kept in one safe and secure location. Depending on your service provider, this information will be stored in the cloud, with backup servers for added security. You can take online exam help from the TopAssignmentExperts platform.
You can also maintain greater security around candidate information and exam content by granting a very granular level of access to your examination software, where, for example, a question author can only access the 'authoring' section of the software, whereas a senior administrator may have access to all exam papers.
If you publish test papers and send them to test centers, then assemble them to send by the delivery driver to markers, then markers email in their signs, which someone manually enters into a spreadsheet, the risk of data loss and human error increases dramatically. When you go online, your answers are safe, and online marking, which includes useful marking tools and workflows, streamlines the process.
- Trying to cheat Prevention in an Online World
Exam software that uses remote invigilation to deliver exams includes a number of built-in safeguards against exam cheating. Using audio, video, and screen share, the invigilator or proctor will be trained to closely observe the candidate. They can see, hear, and see their screen at all times.
The exam's security is aided by other tools as well. Some suppliers use secure computer lockdown to prevent students from switching to other browser windows or applications while taking the exam. It's also possible to tailor security measures to the specific needs of each company. For example, you might choose linear exam progression to prevent candidates from changing their answers as they progress through the exam.
- Exam Timers
Taking an exam online is not the same as taking an exam in a testing facility. When a candidate arrives for an online exam, they frequently expect it to be the same as a paper-based exam in a testing center. The general consensus is that the exam will begin and end at the same time for everyone.
It doesn't have to be that way with online exams, though. Before access to the exam paper can be granted, a candidate must first connect to an online supervisor and pass some ID checks, as well as have their environment scanned to ensure it is secure.
For each candidate, this process may take a different amount of time. The candidate's exam timer will begin only after they have completed their validation process and begun their exam. They will have their own exam timer. As a result, it's possible that some candidates in the same exam will begin 5 minutes earlier or 10 minutes later than others. However, it makes no difference because each candidate will be given the same amount of time to complete their exam.
- Exam Invigilation at a Higher Level
There are several differences between the typical test center environment and the "exam hall" that is recreated in an online world. A large number of candidates can be supervised by a single invigilator or proctor in a test center. In an online scenario, however, the supervisor-to-candidate ratio is much lower. This means that even if a candidate is being supervised remotely rather than in person, the invigilator can keep a close eye on him or her.
Another significant difference is that, while the invigilator can clearly see the candidate, the candidate cannot see their invigilator. A candidate can tell if their supervisor has turned their back in a test center, but they have no way of knowing what their supervisor is doing online. They only know that they are being watched.
- Exam Accessibility for Everyone
Online exams can make it easier to adapt exams for people who need special accommodations. Aspirants with dyslexia or visual difficulties, for instance, can access highly specialized exam interfaces that have been adjusted for size, contrast, and other factors to make it easier to use, depending on the exam software used.
Unlike a pen-and-paper exam, an online exam can also include a zoom function – a small detail that can make a big difference for candidates with visual impairments. More information about exam accessibility in online exams can be found here.
- Increasing the Quality of Exam Questions Over Time
Once you've uploaded your question banks and test papers to an online system and started administering online exams, you'll find that you've gathered a lot of useful information about the questions themselves.
It is also possible to customize the format, question types, and other aspects of the exam itself. There are quizzes, surveys, diagnostic testing, and formative and summative exams to choose from.