WBPRB mulls computer-based test for job aspirants

Kolkata: The West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) is actively considering introduction of a computer-based examination system to screen job aspirants.

The system will be in place mainly for the job aspirants with graduation-level educational qualification at minimum.

The main reason behind introduction of the computer-based examination system is to ensure fast completion of the performance assessment process and at the same time, there will be no "physical movement of answer scripts of the examinations", that once again makes the process more transparent and smooth.

If everything goes as planned, then the system may get introduced with the examination to be conducted for recruiting sub-inspectors (SIs) of the Excise department and the same may get followed in other examinations, in which job aspirants with graduation and above qualification will appear, thereafter.

Already, 81,000 job aspirants have submitted their application forms for around 161 posts of SIs of Excise.

Usually, the examination for the post is conducted in four layers and it will be the same this time as well, sources said.

First, the job aspirants will have to appear for a preliminary screening test. After clearing the first level, one would get the opportunity to appear for the second round of examination, that is physical fitness test, etc.

The third level is the main examination, in which selected job aspirants need to give descriptive answers to go to the final level of the examination, in which they need to face an interview.

In the preliminary screening test, job aspirants answer multiple choice questions (MCQ). Earlier, they had to mark the correct answer of the MCQs on OMR sheets and classrooms of different schools and colleges used to be the examination centres.

But with introduction of the computer-based examination, job aspirants will get to see the name of a computer laboratory as their examination centre, printed on the admit card that they will get a few weeks ahead of their examination. They now have to key in the right choice from the MCQs, instead of the use of pen and paper.

At the same time, e-marking system will also be brought into place for assessment of the papers of the main examination. The answer scripts will no longer be sent to examiners. Instead, they will be scanned and will automatically get stored in servers.

The entire correction process will take place through an e-marking software, that will be developed only for this purpose.

Examiners will be provided their user IDs and passwords. They will get access only to those answer scripts, which they are supposed to check, by keying in the respective user ID and password.

It may be mentioned that WBPRB will also be conducting an examination to recruit 1,525 SIs of Kolkata Police.