Electronic exams aim at providing accuracy in measuring the student's performance as well as discovering the student’s points of strength and weakness, from different angles. This, in turn, contributes to the development and improvement of the quality of teaching and learning, and enables the level of students to be accurately determined as well as their classification into groups. Electronic tests also provide statistical analysis, ensure transparency and credibility, and achieve greater speed and precision in results.

Within this context, a series of electronic exams were organized for the students of the College of Applied Sciences, the Department of Chemistry, on Sunday and Monday, 9 and 10 Sha`ban, 1440 A.H., corresponding to 14 and 15 April, 2019 A.C. These tests included 30 divisions, comprising 380 students. The tests were taken for the course of general chemistry (which is a practical course). Students were distributed among three labs provided by the deanship for conducting exams, in collaboration with the College of Computer and Information Systems.

The Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education secured all the elements of success needed to conduct the exams properly, under the precise directions of His Excellency the Dean of E-Learning and Distance Education, Dr. Khalid bin Hatim Al-Mutairi, and field supervision by His Excellency the Vice Dean of Technical Affairs, Dr. Ahmad bin Muhammad Humaid, His Excellency the Head of the Department of Information Systems, Mr. Ra'id Nabil Al-Ghazzawi, and the systems and digital production team at the deanship.

The exams were conducted in exceptional circumstances, and left a good impression on all the students and teachers at the College of Applied Sciences. They were attended by His Excellency Dr. Ismail bin Ibrahim Al-Thaqafi, the Head of the Department of Chemistry, who supervised the proceeding of the exams. He expressed his thanks to the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education for providing all the preparations for the electronic exams, including the infrastructure, technical support, communication quality, and training programs on e-testing skills.

Dr. Ahmad bin Humaid pointed out that electronic exams save time, effort, and money for academic members, and significantly stimulate the motivation to learn on the part of the students. He added that this type of examination has certain advantages that are lacking in traditional tests. He then sincerely thanked the Department of Chemistry for its effective operation of the e-learning system with all its tools, especially the electronic exams. He also thanked the General Administration of Educational Services for providing all the capabilities for the success of the electronic exams.

Dr. Khalid bin Hatim Al-Mutairi highlighted the importance of implementing electronic examinations for the ease of both the students and academic staff. The teacher can establish a question-bank of different levels, covering all lectures of the course, which will help develop and facilitate the planning of a test. He pointed out that the electronic exams have several advantages, the most important of which are the flexibility in organizing them, transparency in evaluation and grade assignment, and speed and accuracy in the listing of the scores attained and being able to automatically upload them to the e-learning system.

His Excellency expressed his sincere thanks to the university leadership, represented by His Excellency the University President, Dr. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, for providing support, at all the required levels, to the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education. He referred to the constant support of His Excellency the Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Rashad Suruji. He also offered his deep thanks to His Excellency the Dean of the College of Applied Sciences, Dr. Hatim bin Muhammad Al-Tas, for this distinguished initiative. He then thanked His Excellency the Dean of the College of Computer and Information Systems, Dr. Majid bin Muhammad Qathami, and the staff of the college for the cooperation and hospitality they had shown by allocating some of the college labs for the performance of the exams. Finally, he praised the efforts of the academic members who are engaged in the modern learning system, and who prepared electronic exams for the current semester.