The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) finally moved from the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) to the Computer Based Test (CBT) for students that wrote the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held nationwide.
The examination has been concluded with candidates assured of getting their results two hours after leaving the hall.
JAMB developed a software, that performs core operational services like checking of candidates’ result, retrieval of registration number, result verification, checking of admission status, centre location.
They also made special arrangements for the visually impaired candidates, with the introduction of Braille technology for the blind.
Here is what candidates that participated in the examination has to say;
Some of the candidates who spoke to reporters said the exams was well organised and they preferred it to the paper and pencil type of examinations. For Adeniran Rafiat, who wants to to study Business Administration at the University of Ilorin, said “I wasn’t too familiar with the computer but had to go learn how to use it and also bought the CBT practice disc which really helped me during the exams.
“The exams was without hitches though there were few cases of some candidates who were not familiar with the computer who mistakenly submitted their scripts without answering any question.” Sayidat Olajide also bought the CBT practice disc and had to learn how to operate the computer to enable her take part in the exams. She said “the exams was fairly easy for those who really prepared for it and we were given three and a half hours for the four papers.”
For Kehinde Nafisat, though the paper and pencil exams was a more preferred option because she isn’t too familiar with the computer, but the exams was okay as she prepared well for it. She said “though I prefer the paper and pencil type, the questions were somehow easy as I really prepared hard for it because I want this to be the last UTME I’ll write.” Though Olatemiotan Timileyin and Lanre Tijani were logged off before the expiration of their time, they said the exams was well organised, was fairly easy and didnt give room for exam malpractice as biometrics were carried out on the candidates before and after the exams.
According to another candidate, Chidinma Ukegbu, although the system is faster, there is need for improvement in subsequent examinations.
“The new system is faster and effective for anybody who is conversant with computer. Any candidate, who knows what he is doing can finish the examination on time and expect the results within 24 hours. But there is the need to improve on the Internet provision.” she stated.
A candidate who doesn’t want his name mentioned said that he regrets not reading the recommended text “Last Days at Forcados High” as fifteen questions came out from it. He however expressed confidence that he will scale through because he prepared for the examination very well with past questions which helped him a lot.
Many of the candidates are complaining that they experienced technical hitches at the beginning of the test.
For instance, Master Benedict Ameh, who sat for the examination at the Bafuto Computer and Secretarial School, Egbe, attributed the initial delay to a technical hitch.
The candidate, however said that he was conversant with desktop operations and noted that he found the whole exercise interesting.
Another candidate, Miss Chinasa Egbuebe, linked the delay to a system failure. At the Chams City, Ikeja, the examination also did not start by 8am.
Happiness Ele, whose centre was at Federal Government College of Education, Omoku, said she had not been able to write the examination for two days since she had been going to the school to wait her turn because the computers were insufficient.
“I am not the only one in this mess because some who were even booked before me have not taken the exams because the college does not have enough computers to go round and their servers are not working well,” she said.
At Electronic Testing Centre on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, many parents complained to have waited from morning till evening for their wards, because the examination started late.
One bitter parent, who chose to remain anonymous, said his son, whose test was slated to be done by 1pm, was not allowed into the hall until 4pm.
Angrily, he said: “They spoilt all my plans for today. I have been making calls to cancel all my meetings and appointments for today. Can’t anything just work right in this nation?”
The situation was similar at Cham City, Maryland, Ikeja, another CBT centre. A parent, Mrs Bridget Akpos said the time lag tired the candidates, accusing JAMB of not being fully prepared to run the CBT.
A parent, Mrs Grace Akpor whose daughter wrote at UNIPORT decried the trouble her child passed through for two days to write the exams.
“How can you ask UNIPORT that is not ICT-complaint to host JAMB exams when the federal government has not even provided them with the basic infrastructure they need; how much more computers? The whole arrangement is a mess and it shows that JAMB is not prepared for this exams,” she said.
At the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, some of the candidates complained that the systems given to them were neither working well nor sufficient for all.
“The systems are doing off and on magic,” said Johnson Masi, a candidate.
At the Port Harcourt office of JAMB, many candidates and parents were seen complaining of one thing or the other. But their complaints seemed to be like water poured on stone as there was no JAMB official to attend to them.
One of the complainants, Mr Basone Dimma, wondered whether JAMB inspected the centres before accrediting them.
Despite the hitches in some centres, some others were relatively problem free. In such centres, the candidates were happy and noted they preferred CBT mode.
Nosike Oscar, who wrote in Abuja, said the CBT eliminates examination malpractice, which was the bane of the PPT.
“The CBT remains the best because it has helped to eliminate examination malpractices. Everything was well organized when compared to previous UTME. This is my second attempt and I’m confident that I will pass,” he said.
Another candidate, Faith Oluwamuyiwa, said it reduces stress and the timing was perfect.
JAMB can take courage in success reports from other UTME centres in Lagos, including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Federal College of Education Technical (FCE-T), Akoka, and Digital Bridge Institute, Cappa, Oshodi, where the process was smooth and successful.
At UNILAG, the candidates took their test in due time and with minimal technical challenges.
Deborah Bello, Jessica Chijioke and Ayinde Rashidat, gave similar testimonies of the computers and server at their centres being in perfect condition, hence, they started and finished their examinations with no disruption.
In Abuja metropolis, there were six centres and two others located on the outskirt. Some of these centres are accredited ICT-oriented organization like Chams City at Garki, Digital Bridge at Utako, Global Learning at Central Area, NEEDS, Anglican, and then the centres at Bwari and Gwagwalada outskirts.
These centres have two or three sessions depending on their capacities. Basically, each session have 30,000 candidates.
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