Integration of Latex Formula in Computer-Based Test Application for Academic Purposes

Abstract

LaTeX is a free document preparation system that handles the typesetting of mathematical expressions smoothly and elegantly. It has become the standard format for creating and publishing research articles in mathematics and many scientific fields. Computer-based testing (CBT) has become widespread in recent years. Most establishments now use it to deliver assessments as an alternative to using the pen- paper method. To deliver an assessment, the examiner would first add a new exam or edit an existing exam using a CBT editor. Thus, the implementation of CBT should comprise both support for setting and administering questions. Existing CBT applications used in the academic space lacks the capacity to handle advanced formulas, programming codes, and tables, thereby resorting to converting them into images which takes a lot of time and storage space. In this paper, we discuss how we solvde this problem by integrating latex technology into our CBT applications. This enables seamless manipulation and accurate rendering of tables, programming codes, and equations to increase readability and clarity on both the setting and administering of questions platforms. Furthermore, this implementation has reduced drastically the sizes of system resources allocated to converting tables, codes, and equations to images. Those in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, etc. will find this application useful.