A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OPEN BOOK AND CLOSED BOOK EXAMINATION IN A MEDICAL COLLEGE IN NORTH INDIA

Abstract

Background: It is generally accepted that open book examinations create an enriched environment, offering the student an opportunity to better understand and respond to a particular question. The purpose of the pre Aim Of The Study: sent research was to examine the testing effect with two types of tests commonly found in education: closed-book tests, the traditional method of testing students, and open-book tests, a method gaining popularity. A total of n=109 stude Material & Methods: nts of nal year MBBS participated in the study. A comparative analysis was made for a terminal examination between two papers of general surgery and allied specialties, one paper conducted through conventional method and other one through Open Book Examination. Results were assessed in terms of analysis of feedback form submitted by students and marks obtained. There was st Results: atistically signicant difference in terms of pass percentage between two groups as open book examination clearly surpassed conventional system by having a pass percentage of nearly 70% as compared to closed book examination with ~53%. Marks scored were also better in open book examination. Majority of the students were of the opinion that cheating was less common in open book examination and stress level was lesser, ascertaining open book examination to be a good practical tool for implementation of knowledge. An important consideration was time management which needs to be addressed. Majority of the students were of the opinion to have more open book examinations in future. Open book exami Conclusion: nation is an important tool for practical assessment of knowledge of students & it needs to be explored more for inducting it in our conventional system of examinations.