Policy Objective and Benefits of Full Computerization
- The policy to fully computerize the Physician Licensure Examination aims to:
- Enhance confidentiality, integrity, credibility, and quality of the examination.
- Enable immediate release of examination results, allowing successful examinees to practice promptly.
- Allow the Board more time to focus on supervision, regulation, and control of medical practice.
Mandate from the Professional Regulation Commission
- Pursuant to Resolution No. 265, Series of 1993, the Commission mandated full computerization of licensure exams for all professions in 1993, except for those with fewer than 1,000 examinees, which would be computerized in 1994.
Scope of Computerization Process
- Full computerization encompasses not only computerized correction and rating but also involves:
- Utilization of a test bank from which questions are extracted and randomly arranged by computer.
Implementation Guidelines and Procedures
Test Bank Development:
- Board Members must initially input at least 500 questions per subject into the test bank.
- A minimum of 300 new questions must be added each examination to reach an optimal pool of 3,000 or more questions.
- The test bank is dynamic; questions can be withdrawn or replenished to stay current with scientific advances.
Source of Questions:
- Questions may be personally formulated by Board Members or adopted from academic sources.
Question Appraisal:
- Questions must be appraised for objectivity, validity, materiality, reliability, and effectiveness.
- Expert consultation in test construction may be sought to ensure questions are unambiguous and have only one correct answer.
Question Classification:
- Classified by difficulty: easy, average/moderate, difficult.
- By knowledge level: sound, adequate, fair.
- By proficiency level: competent, adequate, fair.
- By nature: essay and objective formats (multiple choice, matching type, true or false, etc.).
Security Measures:
- Multiple passwords and other measures ensure the integrity and protection of computer programs and examination files.
- Three designated key officials have controlled access to these programs and files.
Examination Question Sets:
- Questions are randomly extracted from the test bank to produce at least two distinct sets with the same number but different order of questions.
- This prevents examinees from copying answers.
Computerized Correction and Result Release:
- The correction, rating, and other processes related to releasing examination results will be computerized.
Effectivity and Dissemination
- This resolution shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or newspapers of general circulation following Commission approval.
- The resolution will be distributed to medical schools and colleges for guidance and information.
Important Legal Concepts
- Utilization of quasi-legislative power under Section 17, Article III of R.A. No. 2382 for adopting procedural rules.
- Emphasis on maintaining examination integrity and public trust in licensure processes.
- Implementation of modern technology to improve efficiency and fairness in licensing examinations.