Seven papers will introduce computer-based exams this semester as the University trials computer-based examinations.
OUSA Campaigns Officer Roger Yan sits on the Computer Based Examinations working group that has the “goal of finding a working product that the University can use if it wants to.”
They’ve been looking at a software called Examplify from ExamSoft, but it is “by no means what we’re sticking with”.
Roger did a mock exam using the software on April 20th. Yan said it has some “pretty cool features, including a silent alarm where the top bar will flash when the time finishes.” You can set the alarms “whenever you want” to keep to time in an exam.
After the trial period this semester, which “covers a wide array of subjects from Med to Law to Marketing,” there will be “a feedback period to decide to commit to it.” We want to “see how lecturers and students find it.”
Students will download the programme onto their own devices to sit the exams. Yan says the “biggest limitation I can see is that it is limited to one device. Let’s say your computer calls kaput, you will effectively have to restart the exam on a new device.”
“Presumably there would be a workaround though, we’re testing it so we can work out the kinks.”
Many high schools are already using computer-based examinations for NCEA subjects.