An Introduction to Computer-Based Assessment

Dear Editor, With the emergence and progress of the information and communication technology, computer-based assessment (CBA) is considered as an efficient, innovative, and evolutionary assessment method in educational environments to evaluate students’ performance compared with conventional paper-based one. Electronic exam is performed by means of an electronic system (computer) and enables the students to access the questions through a computer. One of the main advantages of CBA is the practical improvement of assessment exams, which is not possible in conventional assessment systems (paper-based assessment). Educational assessment is a fundamental aspect of a teaching and learning process. The purpose of this assessment, as a systematic process, is to collect, analyze, interpret, and evaluate relevant information about students’ progress and make judgments in order to achieve the educational objectives. There are many different assessment methods with remarkable influence on the students’ performance. Over the decades, the traditional paper-based assessments (PBAs) are accepted and implemented to achieve the educational objectives in many universities in the world. However, it can sometimes be hard to strategically achieve the real objective of the assessment in view by PBAs. Studies show that the conventional methods of assessment cover the elementary levels of learning (the level of knowledge) (1) and are answer-based and memory-dependent, while in a standard assessment, it is necessary to assess the cognitive and metacognitive levels of students; and the students need to be involved in deeper levels of learning such as analysis, reflective thinking, intuitive thinking, critical thinking, and creativity. Therefore, it is essential to implement new and modern methods instead of conventional ones to assess students’ performance. Today, with the rapid advancement of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) and computer systems, it is better to allow the integration and application of these facilities throughout the educational process that can be taken as an evolution of assessment in the education process. Computer-based assessment recognized as an electronic assessment (e-assessment) or electronic exam (e-exam) is an electronic system that uses ICT technology (1) and allows the students to access the questions of their exams via a computer and provides a chance to assess the students’ learning.