Policy and purpose of computerization
- Full computerization of the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination is adopted as a policy to enhance confidentiality, integrity, credibility, and examination quality.
- Full computerization is adopted to ensure the immediate release of examination results so successful examinees can work or practice at once.
- Full computerization is adopted to give the Board more time for supervision, regulation, and control of the practice of the profession.
- The computerization process is treated as involving not only correction and rating of test papers, but also the use of a test bank from which questions are extracted and randomly arranged by and through the computer.
Coverage and implementation start date
- The Civil Engineering licensure examination is required to be fully computerized starting with the November 27 and 28, 1993 schedule.
- The computerized processes cover the stages involved in the release of results, including correction and rating of test papers and other processes tied to results release.
- Questions used in the examination are produced from a computerized test bank with extraction and random arrangement for examinees.
Test bank build-up and question sourcing
- A Board Member must input into the test bank at least three hundred (300) questions per subject as the starting point.
- The test bank must be built up by a minimum of two hundred (200) new questions every examination.
- The target size of the test bank is at least the ideal optimum two thousand (2000) questions or more.
- Questions deposited in the test bank must be withdrawable and replenishable with new ones to keep abreast of technological trends in the profession.
- Questions may come from those personally prescribed or formulated by the Board Member, or those adopted from questions supplied by the academe.
Question appraisal, construction standards
- No question may be fed into the test bank unless appraised as to objectivity, validity, materiality, reliability, and efficaciousness.
- An expert on test construction may be consulted to fine-tune each question to confirm it satisfies the required constraints and parameters.
- Each question must be assessed for being unambiguous, definite, and answerable with only one definite correct answer, not with the “best” answer.
Classification and subject weighting
- Questions in the test bank must be classified by:
- Degree of comprehensibility: easy, average/moderate, and difficult;
- Level of knowledge: sound adequate, and fair; and proficiency: competent, adequate, and fair; and
- Nature: essay, problem-solving, and objective (multiple choices).
- Each subject must apply the following proportional weights:
- 60% for objective type questions selected by and corrected through the computer; and
- 40% for problem-solving, essay type, or similar questions chosen by the computer and corrected manually.
Exam question generation, multiple sets
- The number of questions for each subject must be extracted from the test bank and randomized.
- Randomization must produce at least two (2) sets (e.g., “A” and “B”) containing the same number of questions but with different chronological arrangement for printing and distribution.
- Different chronological arrangement is used to preclude examinees from copying answers of their seatmates.
Security, confidentiality, and tamper-free systems
- Security measures must be implemented to ensure computer programs and files are tamper-free.
- Multiple passwords must be adopted so that no one has complete control of, or access to, the computer programs and files.
- Three (3) responsible key officials must be designated to support this security structure.
Computerized correction, rating, and results release
- Correction and rating of test papers must be computerized.
- Other stages/processes involved in the release of examination results must also be computerized.
Implementation approvals and dissemination
- The resolution becomes effective only after approval by the Commission and after compliance with the fifteen (15) days publication rule.
- Schools/colleges offering civil engineering must receive circularization of the resolution for guidance and information of all concerned.
Officers and approvals
- The resolution is chaired by Ernesto S. de Castro and includes members Camilo P. Creus and Macra A. Cruz (as reflected in the signatures).
- Approval is signified by Hermogenes P. Pobre (Commissioner), with Mariano A. Mendieta and Armando C. Pascual as Associate Commissioners.