West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has began its first Computer-Based Test (CBT) format for WASSCE private candidates.
Gatekeepers News reports that the CBT examination began on January 31 and will conclude on February 17, 2024.
Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, the council’s Head of National Office, emphasized that the CBT format aims to eliminate issues of question leakage and malpractice.
The introduction of CBT is seen as a significant step to curb malpractice and improve the integrity of the examination.
“So, I think with the introduction of this CBT, the issue of candidates having foreknowledge before the commencement of the examination will largely have been eliminated. It can no longer be business as usual.
“The major avenue, source of leakage, where we used to have supervisors carry these question papers from one point to the other will no longer obtain.
“When I say leakage, I mean the tearing of the bag containing the examination questions and sneaking out one. So, with this new concept, this will never happen.
“Again, you can see with the sitting arrangements that the candidates are also separated with cubicles that will not enable them to engage in any form of examination malpractice, coupled with the fact that they have to be dealing with different subjects at the point in time,” he said.
The CBT system also allows for a hybrid mode, with objective questions displayed on screens while essays are written in provided booklets.
Dr. Dangut highlighted the efficiency of the systems, with zero reported hitches since the commencement of the examination. The CBT examination is conducted in 10 centers in Lagos, including the WAEC Test and Training Centre (WTTC) at Ogba.
In addition, the council has accommodated “walk-in candidates,” allowing individuals to register and commence their examination within 24 hours. Approximately 8,350 candidates are expected to take part in the CBT examination.
He said, “We have about 8,350 candidates sitting for this examination as of today because we have the opportunity for people who want to register and start their examination the next day.
“We call such candidates ‘walk-in candidates’ and because of that too, the entry keeps going up every day.
“Candidates who would want to sit for a paper on Monday are doing their registration today. They will have to register at least 24 hours before the commencement of the paper they intend to be examined on,” he said.
The results of the examination are projected to be released 45 days after the last paper. As WAEC embraces this new format, there are plans to strategize for the second series, demonstrating the council’s commitment to adapting to modern examination practices.
