Creation and Adoption of a Unique Conventional Pen & Paper Examination by Online

Commercially available online examination systems suffer with several limitations such as useful only for holding computer based tests, not for holding the comprehensive conventional examinations, lack the robustness needed to run the examinations of a premier institute, reliability of invigilation and reliability of connection.

In view of this and to serve in the pandemic situations, Prof Raja Kumar personally architected a method of holding detailed pen & paper examinations online. It was created at IIT Bhubaneswar under architecture and guidance of Prof Kumar. This method uses the currently available systems like the Wheebox as a subsystem. The system uses a virtual examination hall, actual invigilators (IIT's own teachers have invigilated the exams), question paper distribution on-line, and submission/reception of soft copies of answer books which may be printed, if needed. The examinations are held using the client-server model of the system with the students sitting anywhere across the country (or the world) and the server placed anywhere. The system uses two or more network connection for reliability and additional facility for reliable invigilation. Unlike in systems where a student has to come to an examination centre equipped with computers, in the proposed system, a student can take the examination from home or anywhere. However, for availing this advantage in return a student is required to be equipped with gadgets which is very much feasible. The system was designed to be very robust, good on human factors and was used very successfully by the institute without problems for holding tests of wide ranging nature including end and mid-semester examinations of the institutes, class tests and with ease for holding tests for admissions, though the participants were untrained on the system.

The system was tested successfully by holding a mock test on 9th may 2020 involving about 240 students stationed across the country, question papers of 31 subjects and 20 invigilators. It was found that the tests can be held successfully and effectively as long a student has at least one of the two connections working at any time during the examination.

The system evolved an empowered Helpdesk to handle the cases of students who did not have two mobile/internet connections and those who have bandwidth related problems. The examinations could be help flawlessly with invigilation (at 15-20 students allotted per invigilator for the entire period of the pandemic right from May 2020. Possibly IIT Bhubaneswar was the only institute in the country and may a few across the globe to hold examinations in full form like in normal times, during pandemic.

IIT Bhubaneswar holds conventional End-semester exams by on-line in June 2020
IIT Bhubaneswar uniquely holds examinations in June 2020 despite the pandemic
IIT Bhubaneswar holds examinations with 100% attendance in June 2020 despite the pandemic