Week 12 - Technology in testing: the present and the future

This paper talks about the advantages and disadvantages of computer-based tests (CBTs).

I think CBT is good especially for MC questions, gap fill exercises and cloze passages. It is convenient that markers can save time for marking similar answers. This kind of repeated marking can leave it to the computer for calculating the scores. It is also easy to get the score immediately after taking the test. Besides, learners can choose the time and place to take the test. It is more flexible.

However, there are some disadvantages. CBT is only limited to some question types. For writing tests and reading comprehension tests that required writing elements, it is difficult to mark it through computer. To correct it directly on the question papers is much easier for teachers. It is because writing usually involves many possibilities. Also, teachers can write comments on the papers easily. It is important to get control of the time and place where the learners take the tests. If there is no limitation, learners can ask others to take the tests through computer. As the test is computer-based, if the learners have poor computer knowledge, the result may be affected.