A Digital Examination also known as CBT (Computer Based test) refers to delivering assessments with computers as an alternative to using the pen-and-paper method. Such a test can be conducted online using the internet or a computer-aided facility. It is a time-efficient and effective means of hosting large-scale online examinations.
The need for conducting computer-based examinations has rightly increased, given the post-pandemic challenges. The global pandemic has underlined the challenges and vulnerabilities the education sector is facing. There are serious concerns about building a resolute framework to keep academia immune to such disruptions. Well, CBT provides a scaffold by minimizing the administrative burden of conducting examinations in academia, reducing the time and effort that would otherwise be consumed on the laborious process of setting up examination centers, printing and distributing exam papers, and other overheads.
In computer-based testing (CBT), computer technology is employed, which means the candidates use computers to answer questions presented on the monitor. The test-taker submits the answer using a keyboard or a mouse. The computer, which the test taker is using, can be referred to as a client computer. In contrast, the computer used for delivering the exam while being connected on an intranet/internet is referred to as a server computer. Therefore, computer-based exams take place in a client-server environment.
The appeal of online CBT lies in its functionality to streamline how educational assessments, certifications, or pre-employment tests are conducted in multiple ways. From its inception in the 1970s, to now when computers have assumed a ubiquitous status, it has become the ideal successor to paper-and-pencil tests. Interestingly, the term “online exam” and “computer-based exam” are often used interchangeably; however, there is a subtle difference between these two.
An online exam may be perceived as a subsection of the CBT because, as the name suggests, the computer-based test is too comprehensive not to include online exams in its ambit. While the term online exam can be used for any examination conducted over the internet, the computer-based test is generically used for any test that is given and taken using computers, without depending on the internet.
To put it into perspective, a CBT may or may not be connected to a server on the intranet/internet and may act as standalone testing. Once the exam is over, the result can be transferred online to a web server or locally stored on the computer’s hard disk.
The computer-based examination can be used most effectively for several academic purposes, certifications tests, or during pre-employment screening processes that have examinations (assessments) as one of the decisive rounds to screen out applicants. Moreover, for corporates, such tests can enable management to develop pathways for employees’ career progressions. Learning and development departments can also leverage online CBTs to identify employees’ strengths and weaknesses and design appropriate training programs for holistic workforce development.
Computer-based tests have various advantages over traditional examination methods. From conducting exams to delivering reports, computer-based exams have made the examination process smoother than ever. Besides, computer-based tests offer multiple benefits to candidates and administrators in administering, grading, and scaling up the process.
Aerosoft Consulting India is always committed to providing high-qualityvalue-added services to its clients. Aerosoft Consulting India has established a full-service business framework based on its research foundation for the development of online examinations and other IT-enabled services. We are the solution to your online exam outsourcing needs and informatics-related problems. We have the capability to provide online and offline examination services, and we are conducting workshop and seminar services across India with our Pan India Association.
We provide dedicated exam centers to conduct online exams in various cities of India with superb infrastructure, and we manage the operational and technical functions at the test centers. We have a good infrastructure and skilled manpower to meet the requirement to conduct the exam successfully online or offline all over India.
