Online exam merits and demerits in 2023

Introduction

Researchers claim that over the past few decades, technological developments have forced higher education to change from a “brick and mortar synchronous environment” to a “click and learn asynchronous environment.” The present pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated that shift. Online exams, for instance, have grown to be common at colleges all across the world during COVID-19. In this article, we explore the online exam merits and demerits in 2023.

Examiners can administer online exams, commonly referred to as virtual exams, to applicants who are located far away The instructions ask candidates to use their computers to respond to the questions in an online test. The test window will close once the test is finished. Any preferred format can be used to write an online test; it is not necessary for it to be in an MCQ format. This Blog aims on online exam merits and demerits in 2023

Merits of online exams

Convenience and Accessibility 

The ease factor is among the main benefits of online exams. Examiners can easily upload the papers they’ve created to the testing system after setting them using question banks and a database of past exams. As the exams are online, students can choose the exam dates and times that work best for them (proctored exams have certain constraints ). It’s a significant bonus that students can nearly immediately receive their results. Also, as was already said, online exams scale incredibly well, making it simple for course administrators to build up exams.

Cost-Effective

The benefits of online exams for administrators are numerous. It is simple to identify an online exam system as the most cost-effective way to administer exams at scale when taking into account the human, logistical, and administrative costs connected with the traditional exam setting. There is no requirement that students congregate in huge, open spaces to take the exam. Examinees find the flexibility of time and location to be very appealing. There is no need to rent a classroom or pay a proctor for manual invigilation when taking exams online.

The price of securing an exam site, printing question papers, and giving students exam answer sheets and supplemental materials are a few of the rising overheads that organisers are battling. The effectiveness of the examination process can be recognized only after deploying an online examination system. Organizing an exam involves a lot of people, including administrators and teachers who work hard to ensure everyone is as comfortable as possible. So, one of the benefits of an online examination system is the elimination of needless and expensive operations.

Automated Grading System 

An automated grading system, which is more practical than a traditional grading approach, is one of the advantages of an online examination system. Due to the development of technology in e-learning and the growing number of participants, we require a perfect scoring system that reduces the workload on teachers, saves time, and maintains fairness. By comparing the respondents’ responses to the model answer, automated scoring determines the right answers. MCQs are frequently used in online exams since they facilitate computerised scoring.

Optimum Utilisation of Time

Everyone involved in creating, administering, and grading exams, from students to teachers, is aware of how enormous the process is. An online assessment method reduces the time required to oversee the entire test process, which is one of its key advantages. The exam platform saves valuable time for teachers and students that would otherwise be lost on tedious procedures. Students can access the exam and take it in batches thanks to the exam software’s option for adding and importing questions.

Exam distribution has historically required enough time for end-to-end management. The advantages of an online assessment system, however, have sped up the procedure.

Demerits of online exams

Resistance to Change

While the technological aspect of online exams is a huge benefit, it can also present some difficulties. Some people may find it challenging to switch from traditional pen and paper to online learning, especially older students who are not computer literate. When examiners learn how to use the technology and make the most of it, the transfer may initially take some time. Some students and examiners can just be averse to change. The best course of action, however, is to familiarise both teachers and students with the transition. Students and teachers would learn about the new features and advantages of an online examination system through this training.

Concerns around Cheating 

Cheating is one of the main drawbacks of an online exam system. Students frequently use impersonation, especially during high-stakes exams, which leads colleges to question test-takers identities. Students may also use smartphones or smartwatches to access outside assistance. The platforms that candidates utilise also present numerous opportunities to cheat, such as screen sharing, attaching external storage devices, etc.

With Pesofts extremely secure exam platform that includes cutting-edge AI-based proctoring tools, these instances of cheating can be avoided. Our three-step authentication procedure, secure browser, and several proctoring tools highlight a variety of irregularities, giving credibility to online exams.

Limited Scope of Questions 

The system administers online exams and evaluates them automatically. Although teachers initially create the exam questions, a significant drawback of the system is that it assesses closed-ended questions more favorably. These are the objective types or the ones where the majority of the responses are single words. Yet, open-ended, lengthy, subjective exam questions, which count for more marks, are also present. It will be challenging to develop a system that will allow the computer to assess it on its own. Teachers will need to analyze the long form individually because it is also significant, and this situation requires human intervention. The online exam’s intended human-free evaluation is failing to meet its purpose, which is the issue once again.

Lack of Infrastructure

Lack of access to technology and facilities such as laptops, tablets, and/or a steady internet connection, is one of the main obstacles to online exams. This element of online exams can be particularly difficult for students in rural locations. The requirement to set up testing facilities, schedule test hours, and hire facilitators might offset several benefits of online exams, including cost and ease.

Comparison of online exams with traditional exams

Online exams and traditional exams have several differences, as well as similarities. Here are some comparisons between the two:

Convenience: Students can take online exams from anywhere with an internet connection, whereas traditional exams require them to be physically present in a classroom or exam hall.

Time flexibility: Online exams usually offer a wider time window for completion, whereas traditional exams typically require completion within a specific period.

Cheating prevention: Traditional exams have a scope of cheating and use of unfair means despite monitored exam halls. Online exams may rely on technology-based measures such as plagiarism detection software or webcam monitoring.

Comfort: The most recent advances in online exams outperform traditional ones in terms of comfort. Students can comfortably take their exams online and offer their best effort throughout exams.

Feedback and grading: Online exams may provide immediate feedback to students and automated grading, while traditional exams may take longer to receive feedback and grading from instructors.

Technical issues: Technical issues such as internet connectivity, computer malfunctions, or power outages can affect online exams, whereas traditional exams are less susceptible to these problems.

It is undeniable that the online examination system has maintained education during a period of pressing needs. The instructor or institution may base their choice of exam type on the nature of the subject being tested and the available resources, as both online and traditional exams have their advantages and disadvantages.

The future of online exams

The newest technological gems are artificial intelligence and machine learning. We may not have realised how smoothly artificial intelligence has entered our daily lives. Many industries including healthcare, agriculture, and finance are using AI. AI has also impacted the education industry because it offers numerous advantages and can be utilized in various ways. AI is revolutionising the education industry in a variety of ways, from assisting instructors with administrative tasks like taking attendance and grading assignments to provide teachers with feedback by examining student test results.

The way we administer online exams is also changing because of AI, which is making them safer and simpler to plan. Online exams are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve security and stop cheating. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning apply facial and speech recognition technology in online exams.

Facial recognition Systems use AI algorithms and machine learning to identify and verify people based on their facial traits. These technologies can verify students’ identities before beginning an online exam, thereby assisting in preventing impersonation and other types of cheating. Certain facial recognition technologies can identify people even more precisely than people can, which makes them an effective tool for boosting the security of online assessments.

Speech recognition systems can be beneficial during an online exam to maintain the integrity of assessments, particularly when considering the online exam merits and demerits in 2023. These technologies can verify students’ identities and detect potential cheating indicators.

Overall, the application of AI and ML in online exams helps to improve security and prevent cheating, giving educators and institutions more trust and integrity while administering exams.

Many professors and students now have much easier lives because of online exam systems powered by AI. The stress of administering and organising exams has been lessened, which has benefited teachers. Also, they have benefited from the input offered by online testing platforms. On the other hand, students have benefited from a simpler and safer manner to administer exams.

Online exams still only have a very minor impact from AI. We may expect to see more AI applications in online exams, perhaps even to the point where there won’t be any more need for human intervention.

Our Last Word

Every situation has two sides. Online tests do have drawbacks, but that much is certain. Yet, because online tests are becoming more and more common, they can serve a wide range of demands, making the benefits clearer than the drawbacks. You can save time and money by using the appropriate online examination software, and you won’t have to worry about taking the wrong assessment tests.

The best online exam software cost-effective one provides scalability to accommodate ensures data security, and permits third-party integrations when necessary. Almost as crucial as picking the correct exam software is picking the right software vendor. The provider of exam software must have a solid reputation, be seasoned, and offer customer assistance depending on demand. In this article, we have explore about the online exam merits and demerits in 2023.

Pesofts online exam software provides you all the above mentioned features in a single platform. Give it a try to enhance your online examination experience. CHECK PRICE

Manjeet Mehta CEO @Pesofts

Manjeet Mehta is a professional writer and also the CEO @Pesofts, He passes out from IIT Roorkee in the year of 2013 and started their own business with thinking of the growing education sector with the help of technology. You can check out LinkedIn him and follow here LinkedIn