Study of Students’ Attitude Towards the Use of Computer-Based Testing in Undergraduate Examinations at Ahmadu Bello University

Computer-based testing has been increasingly adopted in Nigerian higher education as an efficient and objective assessment mode, and understanding student attitudes towards CBT at federal universities in the North West zone is important for improving the assessment experience and reducing examination anxiety. This study examined undergraduate student attitudes toward computer-based testing in two departments at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey using a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to 300 randomly selected undergraduates. Attitude dimensions assessed included ease of use, fairness perception, anxiety during CBT, technical reliability, and preference compared to paper-based testing. Results showed that 58.7 percent of respondents held generally positive attitudes toward CBT. Ease of use was rated positively by 69.3 percent. Concern about system failure during examination was the most commonly cited negative attitude (62.0 percent of all respondents). Students with prior CBT experience showed significantly more positive attitudes than first-time CBT examinees (p < 0.05). Female students expressed higher anxiety levels during CBT than males. The study concludes that student attitudes toward CBT at ABU are moderately positive but are significantly tempered by technical reliability concerns. Recommendations include mandatory pre-examination CBT familiarisation sessions, reliable examination hall infrastructure, technical support staffing during examinations, and a post-examination student feedback mechanism. Keywords: computer-based testing, student attitude, Ahmadu Bello University, assessment, North West Nigeria