For the fairness of evaluation and the possibility of grievance… 65% of students prefer paper tests over “electronic” tests.

The results of an opinion poll conducted by “Emirates Today” through its various digital platforms revealed remarkable support from students and their parents for paper-based exams as the most appropriate option for implementing central exams, as 65% of participants confirmed that they are more accurate and fair in measuring students’ levels, especially in scientific and mathematics subjects that need to take several steps to reach the solution or implement equations, compared to only 19%, who preferred electronic exams, in an indication of the continued confidence of a wide segment of society in traditional assessment methods despite the escalation of reliance. On digital solutions.

Students and parents participating in the survey confirmed that paper-based exams provide a greater degree of reassurance and psychological stability, due to the clarity they provide in questions, the avoidance of technical problems that may negatively affect students’ performance outside the framework of their academic readiness, and the possibility of filing grievances over the results of paper-based exams, unlike electronic exams.

Emirates Today asked the Ministry of Education a set of questions about the survey, but it did not receive a response until the report was published.

Various digital platforms

In detail, the results of the survey, in which more than 10,000 students, male and female, and parents participated through the various digital platforms of the newspaper “Emirates Al-Youm” under the title “Voice of the Field and Central Examinations,” showed that 65% of participants believe that paper-based exams are more appropriate and fair in measuring students’ levels, due to the clarity and stability they provide, and their ability to reduce technical problems that may negatively affect students’ performance during exams.

On the other hand, 19% of participants supported the implementation of electronic exams only, considering that they represent a modern trend that is consistent with the digital transformation in the education sector, due to their speed in correction and ease of organizing tests, in addition to enhancing students’ technical skills.

Approved method

11% of the participants supported conducting the central examinations in the hybrid system (electronic and paper), indicating that the method adopted in the examinations is not the decisive factor, and that the quality of the questions and their suitability to the curricula and students’ levels remains the most important criterion for ensuring fair and effective evaluation.

While 5% of participants believed that the most appropriate form for implementing central examinations should be determined according to the nature of the academic subject and the educational stage, taking into account the individual differences between students and the requirements of each stage.

The survey reflects the diversity of the educational community’s opinions about the best evaluation mechanisms, and stresses the importance of involving various segments of society in discussing education issues, which contributes to developing a balanced educational system that combines reliability and innovation, and supports the quality of educational outcomes.

A more stable option

In an analytical reading, the opinions of students participating in the survey indicated the technical problems they face while taking electronic exams, such as device malfunctions, applications stopping, or a weak Internet network, which leads to their tension and confusion.

They emphasized that the paper-based exam gives the student a better space to think, explain, and clearly write the solution steps, and allows him to review his answers and return to them freely without the pressure resulting from dealing with the devices, in addition to the possibility of submitting grievances.

review

In the same context, the participants called for a reconsideration of the mechanism for distributing grades between semester work and the final exam, stressing that the efforts of an entire semester should not be reduced to one hour of exam, whether paper or electronic, pointing out that an error in the final exam may lead to a significant decrease in the grade, which requires adopting a more balanced and fair evaluation system for students.

They stressed the need to better organize the examination schedule, while providing appropriate time periods between subjects, especially those that require high mental effort, such as mathematics, physics, and languages, to avoid mental exhaustion and psychological pressure on students.

Students and parents stressed that the primary goal of any examination system should be to measure the student’s true understanding, and not his ability to deal with devices or overcome technical problems.

Organizing ideas

Mathematics Coordinator, Dr. Amr Munjid, confirmed that the results of the survey reflect what the field experiences daily, as students show higher focus in paper exams and a better ability to organize their thoughts and explain the solution steps, especially in scientific subjects. He points out that the anxiety resulting from technical malfunctions in electronic exams often distracts the student’s mind and affects his actual level.

Mathematics teacher Wafaa Al-Basha confirmed that the ideal solution is to adopt a balanced mix between paper and electronic, according to the nature of the subject and the academic stage.

The essence of the issue

Educator Walid Fouad Lafi believes that technical malfunctions, no matter how limited, affect the student psychologically and are directly reflected in his performance, which weakens the principle of equal opportunities among students.

Educator Khaled Abdel Hamid emphasized that the essence of the issue is not related to paper or electronic form, but rather to the quality of the assessment itself, pointing out that exams must be measured by the extent to which their questions relate to the curriculum and the students’ levels, adding that the results of the survey reveal an urgent need to reconsider the weight of the final exam, so that the effort of an entire semester is not reduced to one test that may be governed by emergency circumstances.

Basic skills

The director of a private school, Salma Eid, believes that the ideal solution lies in adopting a flexible testing model that balances digital transformation with the requirements of educational justice, and applies the most appropriate examination method according to the nature of the subject and the academic stage.

Clear gap

Educational expert Dr. Marwa Amara confirmed that the majority’s preference for paper-based exams does not constitute a rejection of digital transformation, as much as it reflects the need for a more stable and fair assessment.

She explained that paper-based exams, especially in basic subjects, remain the best able to measure the student’s true level of understanding, as they give him space for gradual thinking, explaining the solution steps, and reviewing his answers calmly, away from the tension resulting from technical malfunctions.

Basic problem

She pointed out that the main problem does not lie in the method of the examination, but rather in the philosophy of evaluation itself, stressing that the quality of the questions and their direct connection to the curriculum, in addition to their consideration of individual differences among students, remains the decisive criterion for achieving educational justice, whether the examination is paper or electronic.

She stressed that the results of the survey send a message to reconsider the weight of the final exam, organize exam schedules in a way that reduces psychological pressure on students, and turns the exam into a real tool for measuring learning instead of being a source of anxiety or confusion.

Recommendations and solutions

Amara proposed a set of practical solutions to enhance the effectiveness of assessment and ensure its fairness, starting with developing exam questions to be accurate and directly related to the academic content, taking into account the different levels of students and the individual differences between them. She stressed the need for questions to reflect the student’s true understanding of the curriculum, not just his ability to answer quickly or deal with technical pressures.

She stressed the importance of providing integrated technical support when adopting electronic exams, to avoid sudden malfunctions and ensure a stable exam environment, which helps maintain students’ focus and gives them confidence while taking the exams.

She added that organizing appropriate time periods between study subjects is one of the essential factors for reducing psychological stress and pressure on students, especially in subjects that require intense mental effort such as mathematics, science, and languages, to ensure students’ ability to focus and think progressively during the exam.

Various evaluation methods

She called for the adoption of various assessment methods, including class work, projects, and short tests, in a way that reduces the burden on the final exam, provides a more comprehensive and accurate picture of the student’s level, and turns assessment into an effective tool for measuring learning and not just a test of temporary skills. She stressed that the success of any examination system is not measured by the modernity of its method, but rather by its ability to do justice to the student, enhance his self-confidence, and ensure accurate and fair measurement of learning outcomes, in a way that primarily serves the student’s educational and psychological interest.