by Contributor
(Jan. 30, 2021) — Digitalization has transformed education in today’s era. Looking at the current situation of pandemic, online education has gained immense popularity. But being in its initial developmental stages, the online education industry is striving to build itself as a sound and reliable system of providing good quality education. Many companies have launched their mobile applications for imparting education. These applications help in delivering live lectures all over the world. These applications have changed the methods of teaching by schools, colleges, institutes, etc. The present situation of COVID has made online assessments the requirement for the progression of academics. Integration of online exam software has proven to be beneficial for the online education industry.
The global pandemic situation has led to a surge in enrollment of various online courses by students. A solution to administer exams online has indirectly promoted the online education industry and made its future bright. Online exam software should have the following features to be reliable and trustworthy.
Essential features of online exam software
Automation of enrollment and registration
The first and foremost thing required for the administration of the examination online is the applicant’s enrollment and registration. To conduct online exams on a large-scale requires lots of planning. It is essential to have proper applicant management characteristics within the software to avoid any mess during the pre-exam period. Therefore, it is one of the most important features of any software for online examination. This feature consists of functions like application processing, managing applicants in groups, generating test time table, etc.
Test or assessment formulation
The feature of assessment formulation is the starting step of giving shape to your evaluation plan. It provides the exam creator to follow a set pattern of conducting the examination through an interactive and instructive interface. After deciding about the test pattern, other components can be added further.
Selection of questions for tests
The reliability and effectiveness of online evaluations depend highly on the questions. Online exams can have different types of questions like true-false, fill in the blanks, one-word answers, objective type subjective type, etc. The combination of different types of questions can also be used to bring modification in the test pattern. The person setting the test can even use various multimedia components such as images, videos, graphs, etc., or even mathematical equations.
Assignment of scores
It is essential to define the marking scheme for an online exam. It will lead to the generation of an automatic result at the end. The online exam software should provide options for different types of marking schemes like negative marking, decimal marking, etc. Determining difficulty levels in the test is also a necessary feature to enhance the test pattern. These features should be present in the online exam software.
Customization of tests
Online exam software should have features for customization of tests so that the test creator can create the test according to the requirements of the applicants. Customization includes changing themes, colors, fonts, timer, different options for moving to the next question or previous question, option for skipping the question, etc. These are the basic components of every test that is provided by an online exam software.
Assignment of test
Once the test format is created, the next step is assigning the test to the candidates. This feature of test assignment must be simple and flexible. The test can be assigned by sharing a link through e-mail or using the application.
Active Notifications
With the help of this feature, candidates and their parents or guardians can be regularly notified about the status of the exam in real-time. The test that is lined up, going on, or missed can be easily identified. These notifications can be received through mobile applications or the web portal.
Advance features
Advance features include randomizing the questions or options, etc. It helps in creating a unique question paper for every candidate appearing for the test. It can also include the live monitoring of the candidates by the invigilator in real-time. It helps in eliminating the chances for any misconduct.For starting the online test, the candidate requires a good internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone supported by the device. It would negate the chance of cheating in online tests.
On-the-spot evaluation
This feature eliminates the need for manual evaluation of the test. Unlike in the case of the traditional examination process, an evaluator used to check every answer sheet and allot marks, the evaluation process in online examination is automated. It can be regarded as the best part of an online examination. Manual evaluation has a disadvantage as there can be errors and mistakes that can lead to inaccurate results, whereas evaluation in online examination is more accurate for evaluating all the tests. Moreover, it can generate a quick and instant detailed report of the test as soon as the test is finished.
In-depth test report
A complete test report that can be generated at the end of the test displays the performance of candidates. This report aggregates various factors on which the displayed scores are based. The detailed report includes total scores and percentage, total number of questions attempted, number of questions unattempted, number of correct and incorrect questions, marks scored in every question, etc. along with overall feedback.
Compatible with the Learning Management System (LMS)
Various schools, colleges, institutes, etc. already have an LMS platform and are looking forward to incorporate an online examination system with it. The seamless combination of online exam software with the LMS allows the managers to manage their learning content and test in one place.
Educational institutions are now looking for factors to consider before buying software for online teaching and conducting online exams. These institutes are trying to integrate such solutions with robust AI-based live monitoring by invigilators that provides an effortless method for conducting the exam anytime and from anywhere. Therefore it is vital to opt for a perfectly integrated software solution for conducting exams that matches with all the learning management systems.