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Computer-based exams open more doors

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 13 Jan 2012

Computer-based testing (CBT) examinations are becoming popular among African IT professionals who are looking to further their careers.

This is according to Pearson VUE, a commercial testing company and education publisher, which recently increased the number of computer-based exams delivered via its pan-Africa test centre partnerships by 33%, while developing its testing network by 20%.

Rather than the traditional paper-and-pencil method, the CBT process uses a computer or equivalent electronic device such as a cellphone or PDA. CBT may be a standalone system or part of a virtual learning environment, possibly accessed via the Internet.

As a standalone process, CBT uses computer software used for instructional purposes. This can include simulations, interactivity, testing, bookmarks, database and customisation. In online CBT, trainers use a variety of video-based course titles and courseware formats designed for different types of training scenarios. Delivery formats could include CDs, DVDs, intranet and online software training courses.

CBT has become a highly effective, popular and globally embraced form of assessment in recent years.

Suzana Lopes, Pearson VUE MD for new markets, says that, on the African continent, CBT is most prominent in Kenya and Nigeria, with growing interest in SA.

She notes that there are many advantages of using CBT for both test owners and candidates. “One key benefit is that it offers flexible delivery, allowing candidates to attend their most local test centre, rather than travel to another region or country in order to sit [for] an exam. A major advantage for test owners is that they can benefit from worldwide exam delivery.

“This is ensured through a global test centre network, providing access to international candidates who could not be reached via the paper-and-pencil method. Arguably the biggest advantage of computer-based testing is its robust security measures, which ensure the right person takes the exam at the right time.”

With CBT, test owners can readily access data, along with other key metrics. “As there are no batches of exam papers, marking responses and notifying candidates of their results is a more prompt and efficient process,” Lopes adds.

In 2010, Pearson VUE saw a 27% annual increase in the number of computer-based IT exams it delivered to candidates and professionals worldwide.

“Africa has a rapidly growing appreciation for CBT. The emphasis is now on the region's education providers, governmental bodies and key employers to make certification available to citizens and potential workforce candidates across the continent,” says Stephen Eliovson, Pearson VUE's business development manager for Africa.

“This will allow more Africans to secure the roles they desire and establish better lives for [themselves] and their families,” he adds.

Dan Wanjohi, a systems engineer from Kenya, says, having spent years planning a career in IT, it wasn't until he pursued industry-specific certification through CBT that his dreams started to become a reality.

“Certification has changed my life. Not only has it allowed me to demonstrate my capabilities and knowledge, it has given me greater confidence inside and outside of the workplace. The more certifications I gained, the more driven I became to secure a higher-paid position with added responsibility,” he says.

Cyrus Riobah, another Kenyan IT professional whose life has been improved thanks to CBT, says: “My current role has motivated me to pursue an area of IT for which I have long held a passion - wireless.

“Fortunately for me, my manager at Circuit Business Systems shares this passion. I could not have pursued this path without certification. Computer-based testing has most definitely changed my life for the better”.

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