Find out!! The marking process of CBT exams by various, exam bodies and institutions in Nigeria.
Computer-Based Testing, popularly called CBT, has come to totally revolutionize the mode of conducting examinations in Nigeria. In fact, it has now emerged as the standard approach for all major examinations conducted, such as JAMB, Post-UTME, and several university examinations.
This is quite unlike the traditional paper-and-pencil test which CBT replaced to ensure speedier and accurate results and efficiently process large numbers of candidates.
However, a number of students have the question of how these exams are marked, mostly in situations where the number of questions doesn’t quite add up to the final score. In this article, we will find out how in Nigeria CBT exams are marked, taking JAMB as a case study, to clear the confusion and give insight into the marking process.
How CBT Exams are Marked in Nigeria
If you’ve taken a CBT exam, be it JAMB, post UTME, or normal schools CBT exams. It’s possible at some point you’ve been curious on how it’s being marked, given that the number of questions most at times are not the same with the score they are marked over…
Let me start using JAMB as a case study.
JAMB usually set 180 questions. 60 in English and 40 in the 3 other subjects you write.
Making a total of 180 questions..
Remember JAMB is marked over 400.
How do they achieve that?
The average person will begin the calculation by trying to multiply 180 by 2? If you do that you’ll have 360, below 400.. and if you multiply 400 by 3 you’ll have a score of 540. Above the 400. So how do they achieve the 400?
Even if you multiply the individual subjects let say by , 2, 3, 4 5 you still won’t achieve the 400 score..
If all this doesn’t solve the problem how then does it work?
How JAMB Mark Candidates Score
There’s normally an easy Math and Algorithm behind it.
Both the English and the 3 other subjects are marked over 100. And here’s how they archived the score.
Score you get/Number of questions set * over the score marked.
In words, The score you get, Dived by the number of questions set then multiply by the score marked over.
Mathematically let say you get 31 in your English language in your JAMB. We know it’s total of 60 questions. Here’s how they’ll calculate your total English score.
31/60 * 100 = 51.66666667
It’s usually being approximated. So your total score in English will be 52.
If you get 60 questions correctly it’ll be 60/60 *100 = 100
The same method or idea is used to calculate the other 3 subjects..
Let say you take Physics, physics has a total of 40 question. And marked over 100
If you get 30 questions correctly it’ll be 30/40 * 100 = 75
Meaning you had 75 in Physics.
You can use the same idea to calculate the remaining subject.
After the score of each course is calculated using the format above. It’s then adds together to get your total score.
Let say
52 in English
75 in Physics
80 in biology
60 in Chemistry
You have a total of 267 over 400.
Using ABU POST UTME as a case Study
Here is how Ahmadu Bello University CBT) post UTME exam is being marked.
English is with 20 or 25 questions, while the other 3 subjects are 15 questions each.
Let say your English is 20
And if you get 15 questions correctly..
It’ll be
15/20 * 100 = 75
If your English is 25 questions they’ll use thesame format above to calculate your total score..
Other 3 subjects remaining are 15 questions.
Let say you get 10 questions out of 15. They’ll obtain your score for that subject using the format I use in the English
10/15 * 100 = 66.66666667
It’s normally approximated. Your score will be 67
If you get 15 out of 15 it’ll be
15/15 * 100 = 100
After calculating each individual score they sum them together.
English score + Subject 2 + subject 3 + subject 4. That’s how the mark you have in the Post UTME is obtained.
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Are the calculations done manually?
No the calculations are not manually done. The system already has an algorithm that mark everything immediately a candidate is done.
Tips to Maximize Your Score in CBT Exams
Understand the Exam Format
Familiarize yourself with the format of the CBT exam that you are going to write. For example, JAMB has 180 questions altogether divided into four subjects.
This helps you estimate how many questions in each subject, and thus you can estimate how much time and effort to channel
Practice with Past Questions
Past questions are a good avenue through which the kind of questions that always appear in examinations can be known. If practiced regularly under a time framework helps in increasing the speed and accuracy.
Time Management
CBT exams are timed, and so you need to make every second count. Practice solving lots of past questions within a given time, so you know you can finish all the questions and not rush through the exam when it’s time.
Practice using CBT Apps and Software
Many online platforms/Softwares work on the simulation of the CBT environment. Practice using this apps and softwares in order to become more conscious and confident on using the systems during the exams, and make sure to take the questions confidently within real-time settings.
Start by answering easier questions first.
Start by answering the questions you know better. This helps build your score quickly and leaves more time for difficult questions later.
Conclusion
Understanding how CBT exams are marked can give candidates a clearer perspective on their performance and help alleviate any confusion about their final scores. From the automated system used to calculate results to the simple mathematical formulas applied, the process is designed for accuracy and fairness. By focusing on preparation strategies, time management, and accuracy during the exam, candidates can maximize their scores and improve their chances of success. Whether you’re sitting for JAMB, Post-UTME, or any other CBT-based exam, being well-informed about how the marking works is a key step toward achieving your academic goals.