No More “Expo”? WAEC Says CBT Is the Best Way to Curb Exam Malpractice
WAEC is stepping up its fight against examination malpractice, with the council pointing to Computer-Based Testing as a major tool for making cheating harder.
The days of students whispering answers across examination halls may be getting harder to pull off as WAEC doubles down on Computer-Based Testing (CBT) as a major weapon against examination malpractice.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is turning to technology in its fight against cheating, with officials pointing to Computer-Based Testing as one of the most effective ways to reduce examination malpractice. And for students who have become accustomed to the traditional paper-and-pencil examination system, the change could mean a very different exam experience.
With CBT, candidates can be presented with questions in different sequences, making it much more difficult for students sitting next to one another to simply copy answers.
WAEC has also introduced other technology-driven measures, including question serialisation and digital monitoring, as part of its efforts to tighten examination security.
One of the biggest advantages of the new system is question randomisation. Rather than having every student work through the questions in exactly the same order, the system can present questions differently to candidates.
So, while two students may be sitting side-by-side and answering the same examination, their question numbers may not necessarily match.
CBT is not the only measure being used. WAEC has strengthened its approach to handling malpractice allegations, including introducing a malpractice portal that allows candidates accused of examination malpractice to respond to the allegations and present their side before a final decision is reached.
The council has also continued to warn candidates, schools and examination officials against involvement in examination malpractice.
The shift represents a major change in how major examinations are conducted in Nigeria.
For students preparing for WAEC, the message is simple: Learn the work. Know your stuff. And don’t depend on “expo.”
Because as WAEC moves further into the digital era, the old tricks may no longer be as easy to pull off.
Source: TrendyBeatz
