Using computers for assessment in medicine

Computer based testing can offer many advantages over traditional paper based methods of assessment. The authors look at what it means and its potential uses for assessment in medicineUsing computers for assessment in medicine is not a new idea, but, as information technology has becomeever more important for teaching medicine, so computers have become an established means ofstudent assessment.1 Computer based testing (also called computer based assessment or computerassisted assessment) is not just an alternative method for delivering examinations, it represents an importantqualitative shift away from traditional methods such as paper based tests. In this article we consider what ismeant by computer based testing, its different manifestations, and its potential uses.