EDU: Advantages of JAMB CBT Over PPT, DBT (Must Read)

Statistics revealed that candidates who
used Computer Bases Test in 2014
UTME obtained good results compared
to their Pencil Paper (PPT) and Dual
Based Test (DBT) formats. Pondering
on this, one would be tempted to ask if
there are advantages of JAMB CBT
over the older methods, let’s talk about
it.
Some JAMBites that wrote PPT last
year argued that questions given to
their CBT counterparts were simple
(cheaper) compared to that written by
Pencil and Paper candidates. Although
JAMB declined official statement on
this, there are insinuations that CBT
questions were straight to the point
and easier to tackle than PPT. In this
article, we will make effort to point
out a few things that will make a
Computer Based Test candidate stand
a chance of making better results.
Some Advantages of JAMB CBT
1. Questions Are Direct: The Joint
Admission and Matriculation
Board (JAMB) recently
introduced CBT and enforced the
usage this year. The board is not
unaware of the poor level of
computer literacy among our
secondary school leavers, and of
course they won’t make things
complicated for “first timers” .
The questions in CBT exams
therefore are mostly direct to the
point, void of rigours and twists.
This makes CBT easier to tackle
than PPT and DBT.
2. Examination Halls Are Conducive:
Unlike when JAMB was written
in papers and pencil in large
( and sometimes chaotic)
examination halls; most of
which is located in heart of
noisy towns and cities, Computer
Based Exam Centers are situated
in schools, special exam centers,
churches and even higher
institutions some of which are
Airconditioned. The calm, serene
and conducive atmosphere
makes it easier for candidates to
focus and relax brain while
writing their examinations. Who
said that isn’t an advantage of
CBT over the former method?
3. Invigilators Are Approachable: YES
they are! You would understand
this better if you have visited a
CBT exam centre before. The
invigilators are mainly computer
savvy young teachers who are
willing to offer assistance to the
candidates in any way they can.
They don’t necessarily promote
cheating or malpractice (runs)
but their support can sometimes
boost the candidates courage to
focus.
4. No Missing JAMB Result: With the
use of computers to write UTME,
candidates’ results are released
almost immediately without
having to wait for any manual
marking that may sometimes
lead to manipulation of
candidates’ scores. Upon
submission or time lapse, the
system shows candidates their
result thereby notifying them
whether or not they passed. No
missing, pending, withheld, etc
results!
5. Environment Is Controlled: Each
candidate is screened with the
JAMB’s Security Apparatus and
Biometric scanning are also
taken prior to entrance into
examination halls. This helps to
minimize cheating, stealing, and
other vices that may sometimes
lead to cancellation of results in
a center.
There are a few other reasons why
JAMB CBT is better compared to the
old method of writing UTME in
Nigeria. Some of these unmentioned
advantages are left for the candidate
to figure out. However, in as much as
CBT is good, there also a thorn of
experiences that may make someone
choose to stick to PPT. Checking from
history, the best 10 results in 2014
UTME were recorded by candidates
that wrote with pencil and papers.
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