DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ONLINE EXAMINATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

1.1 Introduction

Online exam management systems are quick and incredibly easy to use. Any educational institution or training facility may design their exam-taking strategy and achieve better outcomes faster by implementing the suggested technique effectively. When preparing for an exam, educational institutions can save time by using the Online Examination Management System, which also helps with mark sheet preparation and paper checking. Many educational institutions utilize an examination called an examination management to choose which students to admit. From elementary school to higher education, these tests can be given at any level of education, but they are more frequently given at the latter.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

In the modern world with all the complexity of running a university in the present world, online admission exams for students must be based on knowledge that is both well-structured and derived from science. Management of the automated system is essential for its survival and further expansion. Online exams are used in some regions, such as Europe, for student admission exams. This approach has been shown to be very effective and has fulfilled several standards, replacing the traditional pen and paper methodology.

An online programme called the Online Examination Management System creates a network between applicants or students and an institution. The examination questions that institutes enter on the website are presented to eligible students as a test. The pupils' submitted responses are then assessed, and a score is computed and recorded. The institutions may then use this score to assess the performance of the students and find out how many of them pass the test.

Online examinations are administered to remote candidates over the internet or an intranet if the candidate is located inside the organization. A time restriction is given to the candidate to respond to the questions; beyond that, the answer sheet is automatically deactivated and the candidate's responses are forwarded to the examiner. Among the many candidates who take part in a test, the Online Examinations System offers a forum for choosing qualified candidates. An administrator of the institution oversees the general operation of the system.

The online examinations system is application software designed to give the institution the ability to choose candidates or eligible students without favouritism or politics. To test a remote applicant, online exams are administered over the internet or, if within the organisation, an intranet. The candidate has a certain amount of time to respond to the questions; once that time has passed, the answer sheet is immediately deactivated and the candidate's responses are forwarded to the examiner. The applicant will receive an email or access to the website with the findings of the examiner's evaluation of their responses, which will be done manually or by an automated method. An online test system will aid in assessing students' academic performance and in providing equitable ratings.

The primary goal of the Online Examination Management System is to quickly and accurately assess candidates using a completely automated method that saves a great deal of time and produces results quickly. Teachers would have more flexibility to meet their demands, and pupils wouldn't have to waste time getting extra supplies like paper or pens. Another main aim of this system is how to make the online examination environment safe. Imo State University (IMSU) has been selected as the project's case study. In IMSU, examinations are done by hand. Because students are continually searching for the centre during exams, some students who are unfamiliar with the school's infrastructure skip the test. Each examination venue will be posted on the notice board by the school the morning before the exam starts.

1.3 Statement of Problem

According to the results of the investigation, Imo State University is one of the best universities in Nigeria, gets a lot of applications each year. The paper-based methods are used to manually administer the school and entrance tests.

As a result of this manual testing process, the test results are always not released until the following semester. Because of the manual exam technique, IMSU has encountered a number of problems. They consist of the following:

1. Delay in releasing of result.
2. Examination malpractice.
3. Ease of result modification.
4. Students meeting lecturer for help.
5. Insufficient question paper and answer sheet in the examination hall.

Furthermore, a lot of candidates find it challenging to travel the considerable distances to the testing locations at a reasonable cost. It is impossible for organizations to connect with a diverse range of candidates in order to admit the top students.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to design and implementation of an online examination management system that will help eradicate the manual operation and to reduce the costs associated with conducting examination, and to achieve total automation of examination process, to provide online facility examination for IMSU.

Specifically, in achieving the above stated aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design and develop an application software that will:

1. Conduct examination in an efficient manner and reduce the tedious paper work;
2. Save the time of examination section and minimize the use of manpower;
3. Store the logs of candidates and their marks and backup for future use;
4. Generate various reports almost instantly when and where required; and
5. Reduce the hectic job of assessing the answers given by the candidates and paper work.

1.5 Significance of Study

The significance of this research will benefit IMSU staff and students by lowering exam costs, which will decrease as a result of this strategy. This method will also be used to conduct an unbiased and free assessment of IMSU. Students get prompt access to their grades.

Furthermore, due to the fact that they will understand that the test is computer-based and that cheating is not an option, pupils will be able to perform to the best of their abilities.

Finally, academic institutions may find it beneficial as well. When a candidate requests anything, this system will be able to respond. Assessing the candidates' replies will become less of a laborious task with the help of the online examination method. Educational establishments including primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, training academies, and professional and vocational institutes can all benefit from the use of Online Examination Management Systems.

1.6 Scope of Study

The scope of this research is focused on the Design and Implementation of an Online Examination Management System using Imo State University (IMSU) as a case study.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies:Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.8 Definition of Terms

Examination:

It is a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge

Structure Query Language:

It’s a data base application that store different forms of data or information.

PHP:

It is a programming language used to develop web based application

Software:

It is a written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory

Entrance Exam:

An entrance examination offered the system, have some question and multiple choices answer.

Teacher (Lecturer):

A person contributes questions and views profile of candidates.

Candidate:

A person has an account on the online entrance examination.

Administrator:

A person manages the operation of the system.

Guest:

A person registers an account in the online entrance examination.

Question:

A problem has 4 choices and only correct answer.

Profile:

It refers to all the information of candidate such name, birthday, grades of all examined entrance examinations.