JAMB and the CBT exam method

JAMB and the CBT exam method

Professor Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar JAMBDespite some of the hitches it faced at the initial stage, the just concluded Computer Based Test (CBT) introduced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is a step in the right direction to sanitise JAMB test processes.
A total of 1,475,477 candidates, including 208 inmates and 192 visually impaired persons, sat for this year’s JAMB test, said the Registrar of the board, Professor Dibu Ojerinde.
The exercise was characterised by complaints, ranging from incessant power outage at some centres, collapse of internet servers, delay in commencement of test, sudden change of centres, computer illiteracy among students and additional fees of N1,000 charged for download of e-slips, among others.
Candidates are also made to endure hours of waiting due to limited computers in some centres. This has resulted in reschedule of test by many candidates. Still, many candidates ended up taking it hours behind schedule.
These problems, Daily Trust observed, have made JAMB authorities to conduct make-do tests in some centres.
Nevertheless, the CBT got rid of some criminal activities and vices synonymous with examination malpractices. From the sales of forms, eligibility of candidates, choice of examination centres, cheating during the test and marking of the scripts, some people used to be found wanting.
The CBT method is not only fast, it also gives immediate feedback at each of the stages before the release of result, which is done in hours, not months, like before.
It also offers automated analysis of results, secured, fair and key into the best global practices.
The computerised encryption system also makes breaking into the test almost impossible.
Contrary to the previous method of candidates obtaining JAMB form and filling same, the CBT system makes it easier for candidates to purchase their scratch cards through e-registration from any designated commercial bank and register online.
Again, unlike in the past, where candidates were expected to write the test simultaneously, the CBT gives candidates the privilege of choosing when to write the test during registration.
The test schedules are prepared on first-come-first-served basis. And candidates are advised to schedule their appointments as early as possible.
After registration, a candidate will receive an e-mail from JAMB notifying him/her of the date, time and location of his/her examination centre.
Taking the test does not require a deep knowledge of computer programming. Rather, the ability of the candidate to use the mouse or keyboard to answer questions is what is needed.
To make it easy for the candidates, the JAMB website was designed with a mouse practice session which a candidate can practice as often as he/she deems necessary before the examination date.
The candidates also have the opportunity of reviewing and changing their answers during the examination. This can be done before submission of the script.
The system, in the case of power failure while the test is ongoing, will not affect the candidate because as soon as power supply returns, the system will return the candidate to the exact place where he/she stopped before the outage.
After the candidate has finished answering and reviewed the questions, he will be required to click the “end” button. Another box will ask him to confirm if he is ready to end the examination.
As against the old method of the pencil and paper test where, once a candidate handed his script to the examiner or supervisor he cannot retrieve and make changes, in the CBT candidates can review and make changes before the final submission.
In its bid to address some of the challenges affecting the CBT method, the federal government has directed the National Communication Commission (NCC) to build more CBT centres across the 36 states of the federation for the JAMB.
The centres will be managed by the JAMB authorities.
The Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, also said that government will build computer laboratories in every school to address the problem of computer illiteracy among students.
The minister, who stated this during inspection of this year’s CBT test in Abuja, said the CBT method has more advantages than disadvantages.
Commenting on the CBT exercise, the head of information unit of the board, Mr. Fabian Benjamin, said the success recorded in the test this year was encouraging.
He explained that students have accepted the method and stakeholders are ready to make adjustment to better the system in future.
“Based on our experience, JAMB has resolved to work only with serious organisations. With few but serious and reliable centers, we can still achieve our objectives.”
He said that the board will notify some universities the challenges it faced at their centres, warning that “they either exhibit high level of commitment or we will device means of addressing the problems on our own.”
He said that some state governments have started building computer centres in secondary schools, adding that this will make more students become computer literates.
Some JAMB candidates who sat for this year’s CBT tests shared their experience with Daily Trust. One of them, Maryam Yunus, who did her test at Cham City Centre, Abuja, described the CBT as interesting.
“The method has made the JAMB easy for candidates. But JAMB authorities have to do more as some candidates find it very difficult to operate computer. They also need to do something to address the case of abrupt collapse of servers.”
Another candidate, Blessing Eze, said she has to seek for the assistance of a JAMB official before she could start the test. She said: “Initially, I was confused because I have never used computer before, but when the official put me through, I found it easy throughout the exercise.”

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