UNIOSUN CONDUCTS FIRST CBT EXAMINATION FOR GNS

The 2017/2018 Rain Semester examinations of the Osun State University began on Tuesday, 18th August, 2018, with Computer Based Test (CBT) GNS Examination successfully conducted across all Campuses of the University. The 2017/2018 Rain Semester GNS examination is a landmark in the history of the University as it marked the first time the examination would be conducted on a CBT platform.

As approved by the Management, the Information Management and Technology Centre (IMTC) of the University developed GNS software for the conduct of the GNS CBT examination within two (2) weeks. The examinations are done in batches where each student has sixty (60) minutes to answer seventy (70) questions.

Commenting on the software at the conclusion of the exercise, the Acting Director of the Information Management and Technology Centre (IMTC), Mr. Vincent Okeke said the GNS CBT Software developed by the Centre is based on the existing implementation infrastructure, modeled along the traditional mode of conducting GNS examination. The systems adaptability was designed and improved to meet the demands of the GNS directorate.

“The GNS directorate were  consulted  in order to  establish the  goals, requirements, and services  that the end-user  requires  and  expects  from  the  system.  This involved proper definition of nature, scope and peculiarity of problem. The  design and  implementation of  the software is to make sure that it does  not  suffer  the  setbacks  of  the  existing  manual method of writing GNS examination,” he said.

Mr. Okeke further maintained that the software is an online examination system based on a browser/server framework which carries out automatic grading of objective questions, uses a user-friendly browser as the client’s interface. Cryptography, real-time monitoring system and data transmission encryption were used to guarantee security of the system.

The system has an improved random administration of questions to reduce the level of examination malpractice and assesses the students using multiple choice questions set by the lecturers and capable of grading students accordingly.

Also commenting at the conclusion exercise, the Ag. Director of the General Studies Unit, Dr. Temitope Balogun, appreciated the management for approving the conduct of the GNS examination on CBT platform noting that the system has proffered solutions to various challenges in conducting examination.

 “Due to the ever increasing number of students offering GNS courses, there was a need to employ a method of assessment that can be used to conveniently examine large number of students at a time. Computer Based Test is a modern approach to testing and assessment

“With the total conduct of the 2017/2018 GNS examination by CBT platform, e-testing has come to stay in Osun State University. It is also heart-warming to note that the management has planned to equip and upgrade the various ICT centres in the colleges into CBT centres and with existing construction of the 500-seater CBT centre in Osogbo campus.

"The students are grateful to the Management and the leadership of GNS directorate for adopting CBT for all GNS examinations and hope that the difficulties experienced with the release of GNS results in the past would not occur again," she remarked.