Anna University

Anna University ups its tech game for upcoming online exams

Anna University students can use a mobile app on their smartphones or a secure browses on their laptops and desktops to take their online exams on February 1. This marks the second time the university is conducting semester exams online. The university said the online tests would carry 80% weightage and viva-voce, to be conducted after the online exam, 20%.

“(The new measures are) more user-friendly. Students can take the exams even with even weak internet connection,” an official said. “The exams are only for second, third and fourth year students. Exams will be held in March for freshers. More than six lakh candidates are scheduled to appear for 48 lakh tests from February 1to March 2.”

In order to attempt the paper via the app, students must first log in and take a selfie. The app will capture both audio and video during the exam. The university also will depute remote proctors, invigilators and a squad to monitor students besides auto proctoring. “We will allot 20 candidates per invigilator,” another official said.

Students indulging in various malpractice will face stringent punishment, the varsity warned. “The university will invalidate the particular exam and other exams if a candidate is caught speaking to someone on a mobile phone to get answers or referring to external sources to retrieve answers. Candidates also will be punished if more than one face is seen in the video helping them or if people collectively discuss answers,” the official exam guidelines stated.

If any student is involved in impersonation, both will be permanently barred from appearing for further exams, the varsity said. If the candidate fails to keep the camera focused on their face or is not visible on video, has muted the microphone or changed focus of the screen, the exam for a particular subject would be invalidated.
Meanwhile, professors said many YouTube channels have emerged teaching students how to cheat on online tests. “Students share answers on WhatsApp groups. It is tough to invigilate online tests,” a professor from a city college said, adding that the pass percentage for online exams is around 90%,up to 30% higher compared to pen and-paper exams.
Source: Times of India

 

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