The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) successfully commenced its maiden Computer Base Test (CBT) for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) first series, designed for private candidates.
The examination, which began on January 31 and is set to conclude on February 17, aims to eliminate the prevalent issue of examination malpractice.
Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, the Head of the National Office (HNO) for WAEC, emphasized that the introduction of CBT would significantly reduce instances of leaked exam content. He stated that traditional methods of transporting question papers had been a major source of leakage, but with CBT, this risk is diminished.
The separation of candidates with cubicles and varied questions further enhances the security against malpractice.
Dangut highlighted the advantages of the CBT mode, noting that special software is unnecessary to detect malpractice as questions vary among candidates. He reported encouraging feedback so far, with no reported infractions or technical hitches across the designated examination centres nationwide.
WAEC made comprehensive preparations, including sensitization and hands-on practice for candidates before the exam. Power supply concerns were addressed with two alternative arrangements, ensuring a smooth examination process.
As of the latest update, over 8,350 candidates are participating in the examination, with the opportunity for ‘walk-in candidates’ to register and commence exams the next day.
The examination is simultaneously taking place across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Dr Dangut expressed confidence in the success of the maiden edition and revealed that results are expected 45 days after the last paper. He also indicated optimism for implementing the CBT mode in the second series of WASSCE for private candidates, scheduled to begin in November.
Candidates shared positive experiences, stating that the CBT format provided a glimpse into the evolving landscape of technology-based testing.
WAEC anticipates a successful transition to CBT, marking a significant step in the evolution of examination processes.
REPORT AFRIQUE had in January reported the move by WAEC to transition into Computer Base Test for its candidates.
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