Alterations of testing system in the period of Z generation

The complex pandemic process that has prevailed in our country has been much more difficult. These difficult conditions have been a great test for any system, and our unity and childhood have been tested. It was not easy to organize and conduct tests in such a situation. But that didn't stop there. There are plans, and updates are being made for applicants and all systems that are required to take the exam in general.

UzA correspondent spoke with Majid Karimov, Director of the State Testing Center under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, about the innovations and benefits of the test system, as well as practical work.

The state testing center, as a large part of the public thinks, does not only conduct tests for admission to undergraduate programs in higher education throughout the year, holds another 27-28 such events a year. It is easy to say that quality preparation for tests, transparent and fair processes do not happen by themselves, almost the entire system of public administration is involved and cooperated for the testing process.

Discussion Let us recall the tests for admission to the bachelor's degree programs of higher education institutions held in the 2020/2021 academic year. It should be noted that the tests conducted last academic year were radically different from the previous ones.

For example, 65 open facilities were prepared for testing with 1,304,194 entrants and was equipped with 2,708 units, including 137 personal identifiers, 2,434 stationary and 137 rotating cameras, as well as 126 metal detectors, and 347 backup power supplies (UPS).

A sharp increase in workload was also observed in the formation of test items. Last year alone, more than 200,000 in general and special subjects (Uzbek, Russian, Karakalpak and Tajik), as well as a database of test assignments in 1295 Uzbek and Russian languages on the definition of intellectual ability, logical thinking, psychological stability was formed and examined. During this period, science experts worked in conditions completely isolated from the outside world, complying with the requirements of information security.

In order to support applicants in the event of a pandemic, they are required to take tests without compulsory subjects that was allowed to take only 2 majors, select up to 5 undergraduate majors with the same set of disciplines and sequences, and take the tests in the area of their choice. At the same time, a total of 60 test tasks in 30 subjects were given in each specialty, and a total of 3 hours of 1.5 hours were set to solve them.

It is true that last year there were difficulties in preparing applicants. A number of meetings chaired by the President also discussed the issue of finding a painless solution to such cases.

Tests have been simplified to support applicants, given the pandemic conditions and the requirement to stay home during quarantine requirements. This has increased the share of easy and simple, pictorial, unwritten map, tabular test tasks, and reduced the number of complex test tasks. There are also conditions for applicants to use the e-Test system free of charge. This had not yet been observed. In addition, information about the test scores of applicants was published on the website abitur.dtm.uz the day after the test. In this case, the entrants through their personal cabinets can see the color-scanned state of the answer sheet, which they worked on, that answer to which test task, regularly monitored the correctness or incorrectness of the answers they assigned to each test task and their overall scores. It helped build their confidence that their results would not change.

Preventing the gathering of parents and others was also an important issue at a time when quarantine restrictions were in place and health concerns were high. Good work has been done in this regard, as a result of which all interested people have been able to follow the testing process online through a specially launched website test2020.uz.

Problems

Admittedly, last year's event had some successes as well as some shortcomings. The shortcomings have caused a stir in the community, leading to negative feedback. However, in good conscience, such deficiencies were remedied before they led to serious violations. For example, despite all the technical means, despite the increase in the number of law enforcement officers prohibited vehicles, mainly mobile phones, were brought to the test sites; with the help of which the questions in the test books were photographed and posted on the Internet. It should be noted that the negative contribution of this situation is not in the fact that the questions have spread, as in the case of social media, but in how mobile devices have penetrated. Because in such cases, the spread of questions is reduced to an insignificant level. This is because the questions are distributed separately for each shift, not used in other shifts.

These include an increase in the number of maximum scores, approval of recommendations for applicants with military privileges, and some adverse events related to the announcement of results.

The state testing center currently conducts 28 types of tests. It is projected that their number will reach 35 this academic year. Indeed, the bachelor's degree entrance exams are the largest and most important process in the nation.

Republican higher education institutions offer bachelor's degrees, law colleges under the Ministry of Justice, Academic lyceums of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, academic lyceums "Temurbek School", professional educational institutions under the State Committee for Tourism Development, admission to specialized state general education institutions (5th, 7th grades), admission to professional educational institutions (colleges and technical schools), tests in many areas can be enumerated, such as tests for military servicemen graduating from conscription. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 646 of October 12, 2020 provides for the introduction of a national test system for assessing the level of knowledge of general education in a complex of disciplines in accordance with the directions of undergraduate education from December 1, 2020. According to it, the certification of general education sciences from December 1, 2020 in the native language and literature (Uzbek language and literature, Russian language and literature, Karakalpak language and literature) and mathematics, from February 1, 2021 in chemistry and biological sciences will be introduced in physics, geography and history in 2022-2024. In December last year, applicants for their native language and literature (Uzbek language and literature, Russian language and literature, Karakalpak language and literature) and mathematics were registered online. Those who score at least 60% of the maximum score on the test will receive a certificate for a period of 3 years. It is also about the level of knowledge of the relevant general education subjects from the admission of the 2021/2022 academic year to an applicant with a state-issued certificate in accordance with the percentage of mastery in the certificate a bachelor's degree admission test is graded in relation to the maximum score set in the subject.

Conclusion

The existence of any state, its bright future is based on the health of the nation of that state and the care and support of its youth, equipping them with modern knowledge. The legislation of our country and the policy of the country's leadership have already been systematized in accordance with these principles. Such systematic reforms in education will soon begin to blossom. In the world community, a sense of pride in our spiritually rich children, full of potential, maturity, competitiveness, universal and national values, becomes a daily reality.