Digital testing during the pandemic crisis: University students’ opinions on computer-based tests

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In 2020, the pandemic crisis caused by covid-19 led to some changes in global education. Consequently,
primary and secondary schools as well as universities introduced distance learning in many countries all
over the world. This situation mostly required, among other things, a new way of testing learners’
knowledge and skills. The objectives of this paper are to reveal university students’ opinions on computerbased tests in comparison with paper-and-pencil tests and to map their requirements concerning digital
testing of English as a foreign language. The research sample includes 284 students of the Faculty of
Business and Management, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic. These students experienced
online testing at home during the summer semester of 2019/20 as well as paper tests at school in the
previous winter semester of the same academic year. Thereafter, they were asked to complete an
anonymous online questionnaire. The results have shown that the learners were mostly satisfied with the
introduction of online testing at home. However, if the electronic tests took place at school, not all of them
would prefer this way of testing. Regarding tasks in digital tests, the learners gave priority to assignments
based on multiple choice. Moreover, the respondents expressed their views on electronic devices and
testing speaking skills on online platforms.
Klíčová slova
digital testing
English as a foreign language
online tests
pandemic crisis
university students