Development of an Online Examination Platform with Anti-Cheating Features for EBSU

The integrity of online assessments in Nigerian universities is increasingly threatened by examination malpractice, particularly as institutions expand digital learning offerings post-pandemic. This study develops an online examination platform for Ebonyi State University (EBSU) equipped with anti-cheating mechanisms including randomized question ordering, tab-switch detection, webcam-based proctoring snapshots, and time-bounded session management. The platform was developed using the Django web framework for the backend and React.js for the frontend, with PostgreSQL as the database management system. Anti-cheating logic was implemented as middleware and client-side JavaScript event listeners. System development followed the Rapid Application Development model. Pilot testing was conducted with 120 third-year students across two departments during a simulated end-of-semester examination. Results indicate that tab-switch events were flagged in 18 percent of sessions, with 11 percent triggering an automatic warning to the proctor dashboard. Question randomization eliminated identical answer pattern correlation across 95 percent of sampled pairs. System stability was maintained across the full 90-minute examination window with no crashes recorded. Academic staff rated the proctoring dashboard usability at 4.2 out of 5. The study concludes that locally developed online examination platforms with embedded integrity controls are feasible for Nigerian universities. Recommendations include AI-based facial recognition integration and offline examination mode for bandwidth-limited settings.