The JEE Advanced 2018 examination—to be held on May 20—will be conducted in a fully computer-based testing mode.
Ketan Kapoor
A rapidly developing IT infrastructure as well as affordable and easy access to the internet are powering India’s dream of digitisation. Consequently, the democratisation of education across all levels is also gradually becoming a reality, especially in the realm of higher learning. Along with the changes in the methods of teaching and learning, technology is facilitating a much-needed move from the traditional pen-and-paper-based tests to computerised assessments. In an environment where both organisations and educational institutions are looking for effective methods of assessment, remote online proctoring is the best solution that ensures integrity, security and faster results.
Computer-based tests
Online or computer-based testing (CBT) is vastly helpful for evaluators in drafting question papers since they have a large question bank to refer to, making the process much quicker and reducing chances of errors. Additionally, creating an anytime, anywhere testing platform is a much more secure and reliable method of conducting tests, instead of the one-time, single-slot test method. Time slots can be created for the test and students should be able to select the slot they want. With CBT, students can be allowed multiple attempts with shorter buffer time between two attempts and their scores can be valid for a couple of years. In addition, students can then either take the test online at a physical centre or remotely on the internet.
This is where remote proctoring comes in—to provide an additional level of security and authenticity to CBT or online tests. Online remote proctoring ensures a greater level of academic integrity through cheat-proof security features, making it indispensable for online/CBT. Remote proctoring technology facilitates advanced online invigilation method by applying AI algorithms to analyse a student’s biometric responses and effectively detect any impersonation during the test. The candidate is remotely tracked throughout the test by proctors who can intervene if they find any anomalous behaviour. Most remote proctoring tools employ video/audio recording to monitor candidates during the test, right from the registration till the test is completed. This video/audio recording can then be supplied to the admitting institute for further verification.
The need for remote proctoring
Most competitive examinations in India are conducted physically, unlike GRE or GMAT, which are anytime, anywhere tests. There are several challenges associated with conducting physical tests due to the considerable scale involved. The infrastructural and logistical burdens are major limitations of physical testing. With the massive number of examination centres required to conduct tests like NEET or JEE Advanced, ensuring reliable invigilation is amongst the biggest challenges of physical testing. So is managing and coordinating logistics in multiple centres across different parts of the country.
The IIT Joint Admission Board, which conducts the JEE Advanced tests, has proposed to make the national-level engineering entrance test computer-based. This decision came after students who appeared for the 2017 test were granted 18 bonus marks, as per a directive by the Supreme Court, due to several errors in the question paper. In another instance, there were cases of widespread cheating reported during the NEET examination this year. A few candidates leaked the question paper and distributed it, while some students were reported to have carried coded answers to the questions on the admit cards. Illegal and unethical practices like these put nearly 12 lakh MBBS and BDS aspirants at a major disadvantage, who prepare for these exams months in advance. Moreover, the incident is a question mark on the sanctity of NEET, eliciting an urgent need for online and CBT. An online testing system will not only make the entire logistics aspect simpler, but it will also make the evaluation process much more accurate and quicker.
Is India ready?
Incidents of cheating in competitive examinations and high-stakes tests which are conducted offline are fairly common in India, since measures for security are almost negligible. Hence, the case for adopting online proctoring is pretty strong. With the education sector in the country espousing innovative learning models, the future does seem promising. And as far as the question of India being ready for this technology is concerned, the answer is ‘yes’. In fact, there are already several educational institutions in the country that have not only adopted unconventional virtual learning methods, but also online proctoring to conduct reliable tests. Top business schools, private universities, large PSUs and private companies are now proactively using online learning, training and assessment.
Competitive tests like CAT, MAT and GATE, which are fully computer-based, have proven the success of online testing in the country, offering reliable, timely and standardised evaluation. The cost-effectiveness and convenience of online testing and proctoring has also played a significant role in its rapid adoption by the corporate sector. Most large IT services companies in the country are active users of online proctoring for product certification or project management training.
Educational institutions and governing bodies need to invest in acquiring the latest technology and building an infrastructure to support online proctoring. This way, they can facilitate a standardised and unbiased system to assess candidates appearing for high stakes competitive tests for higher education. Turning the JEE Advanced tests online is an excellent decision and should be an impetus for other institutions to leverage technology. With adequate support from the private sector and the government, universities and educational institutions can deploy this technology at a large scale and positively impact education delivery in India.
The author is CEO & co-founder, Mettl, the assessment and skill-measurement company
