With more and more examinations expected to go online in the next three to five years, tests are going to be just a click away. Of late, many educational institutes are opting for computer-based entrance exams to tackle the issue of malpractices, such as leakage of question papers.

According to industry experts, there is a good probability of leakage and malpractices taking place in paper-based exams and this can be minimized by taking tests online. Other than GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS and the new entrant CAT, few of the other online exams that are conducted in India include entrance tests for IIIT (Bangalore), BITS Pilani, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Symbiosis, Anna University and Manipal Institute of Management.

“The problem of question paper leakage can be tackled by implementing advanced and secure online testing and assessment,” said Madan Padaki, co-founder & CEO of assessment firm MeritTrac Services. The questions are sent to centres in encrypted forms, thereby reducing chances of leakage. Also, the questions are jumbled up and the entire exam process is monitored to prevent candidates from cheating.

“Well monitored online examinations and assessments save time for both examiners and examinees, it reduces turnaround time, helps in optimised utilisation of resources, data maintenance become easier and it can be used by anyone who has a minimum understanding of technology,” Padaki added.

Prashant S, assistant vice-president of MindLogic, a Bangalore-based assessment firm, said: “Two out of 10 universities face problems of malpractices. The only way to curtail this is to go online. Automation of exams is the way forward and the coming decade will see most of the universities adopting online exam patterns.”

Out of the 350 entrance exams conducted annually in India, less than seven are taken online, according to Padaki. MeritTrac is in touch with over 100 university bodies and about 80 of them have expressed interest in conducting online tests and assessments. Out of these, 30 universities will adopt online exams by the end of this year.

Earlier, there was lack of technology platforms, expertise and availability of infrastructure for the test organisers to consider moving online. But the situation has changed and companies offering online assessment have systems backed by security mechanisms such as labs with testing terminals, advanced proctoring systems such as IP cameras and stringent registration mechanisms like biometric fingerprint scanners and so on, Prashant added.