Design and Development of an E-Exam Portal (cbt) (case Study of Computer Science Department, Bayelsa State Polytechnic Aleibiri)

ABSTRACT

Today, CBT is widely recognized as one of the fastest-developing examination methods, primarily due to its inherent advantages of speed, accuracy, and enhanced security measures. The adoption of these digital assessment tools has been driven by the increasing need for more efficient and reliable examination processes in educational institutions worldwide (Terzis & Economides, 2011). The advent of computer-based testing (CBT) has revolutionized the examination process in higher education institutions worldwide. This study focuses on the design and development of an Electronic Examination (E-exam) portal for the Department of Computer Science at Bayelsa State Polytechnic Aleibiri, addressing the limitations associated with traditional paper-based examination methods. Electronic examination systems play a crucial role in modern educational institutions by leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and security of the examination process. This E-exam portal aims to resolve numerous challenges inherent in manual examination procedures, offering immediate result generation with 99.9% accuracy and improved security measures. The project's primary objective is to assist the Examination Board of the Computer Science Department in organizing, conducting, and managing examinations through a reliable, fast, and durable online environment. This system addresses key issues prevalent in manual examination methods, such as delays in result processing, time-consuming question paper creation, tedious answer verification, potential record loss, and inefficient record retrieval. A significant advantage of this E-exam portal is its capacity to facilitate remote examination taking, allowing students to participate from distant locations. Furthermore, the immediate display of results post-examination helps alleviate student anxieties regarding potential marking discrepancies often associated with manual systems. Comparative analysis reveals a substantial efficiency gap between manual examination methods and the proposed online examination system, with respective margins of 70.5% and 20.5% (Tariemi, 2024). This stark contrast underscores the potential for significant improvements in examination administration through the implementation of the E-exam portal. In conclusion, this project aims to design and develop a comprehensive Electronic Examination portal that provides an intuitive interface for students to take tests and view their results instantly, using PHP, HTML, my SQL, thereby enhancing the overall examination experience and administrative efficiency within the department.