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Examination management system
UNVPortal Exams: builds the exam, marks it and links it to outcomes
UNVPortal Exams is a browser-based examination management and automation system for universities. Building exams from a question bank, session and hall planning, optical answer-sheet marking, item analysis, and learning outcome and programme outcome measurement are done in the same system. Because every question is linked to a learning outcome, attainment levels are calculated as the exam is marked; when accreditation time comes, there is nothing left to calculate separately.
What is an exam automation system?
An exam automation system brings an educational institution's question bank, exam building, session planning, optical sheet reading, scoring and result analysis together in one application. Optical marking is the scoring of answer data from an optical reader against the answer key; item analysis calculates the difficulty and discrimination of each question. UNVPortal Exams is an exam automation system that adds learning outcome and programme outcome measurement to these steps.
Who uses it
- Lecturer: writing questions, building exams, answer keys, grade entry and result reports.
- Head of department: grade distribution per course and the level at which outcomes are met.
- Assessment and evaluation unit: item analysis, question bank health, exam reliability indicators.
- Accreditation committee: comparison of programme outcome results across terms.
What it does
Question bank and exam building
Questions are written into the bank together with their course, topic, difficulty level and the learning outcome they belong to. When an exam is built, questions are picked from the bank or drawn automatically against criteria. Several booklet versions are generated, with question and option order shuffled per booklet.
Administration and session planning
The exam date, halls and invigilators are assigned. Hall capacity is matched with the student list, and the seating plan and signature list are produced as printouts.
Optical answer-sheet marking
The file from the optical reader is uploaded and matched against the answer key. Booklet-version separation, blank and double-marked answers, and forms whose student number could not be read are shown in separate lists. When a question is cancelled, scoring is recalculated.
Item analysis
Difficulty and discrimination are calculated for each question. Questions with low discrimination are listed and flagged in the bank, so the same question can be kept out of the next exam.
Learning and programme outcome analysis
The link made at question level is carried up the chain: the question is linked to a learning outcome, and the learning outcome to a programme outcome. When the exam is marked, the attainment level of the student, the course and the programme is calculated for every outcome. Comparisons across terms are produced as tables and used as evidence in the Quality module.
The measurement chain
| Layer | What is held | Linked to |
|---|---|---|
| Question | Text, difficulty, topic | Learning outcome |
| Exam | Booklets, answer key, scoring | Course |
| Learning outcome | Student and course attainment level | Programme outcome |
| Programme outcome | Attainment rate per term | Accreditation report |
Because this chain is in place, the outcome table in the accreditation file is not filled in by hand; it is taken from the system.
Deployment and access
It runs in the browser. Permissions are granted per course and unit; a lecturer sees only the questions and results of their own courses.
Exams shares one database with UNVPortal Labs and UNVPortal Quality. When Quality is deployed, outcome measurement results are linked directly as evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Which optical readers does it work with?
UNVPortal Exams works from the data file produced by the optical reader; it is not tied to a device brand. The output format of the institution's reader is defined during deployment.
Can exams be held online?
The current version of UNVPortal Exams is built around printed exams and optical marking. Tell us about your online exam needs and we can clarify where it stands on the roadmap.
Can we import our existing question bank?
An existing question bank can be imported into UNVPortal Exams: question lists held in spreadsheets or text files are imported. Outcome mapping is agreed together during deployment.
Are results transferred to the student information system?
Grade lists can be exported from UNVPortal Exams. A direct connection to the student information system is set up under UNVPortal Connect, depending on the system the institution uses.
What does it cost?
UNVPortal Exams follows an enterprise licence model; the price is quoted based on the number of users and the selected modules. For a quote and a live demo, write to contact@erimworks.com.
Deployment and licensing
It is enough to contact us with your institution's name, the number of programmes and the expected number of users; your enquiry is answered with proposed times for a live demo.