The University of Ghana has made significant progress in administering end-of-semester examinations online since their introduction in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online exams have now become a key component of the university’s assessment process.
However, as the second-semester examinations for the 2024/2025 academic year concluded on September 14, 2025, students remain divided over which mode of assessment works best.
“Between online and written exams, I prefer online because I think it’s convenient. You’re able to go straight to the point. Written exams also allow you to express yourself in detail, but I prefer online,” one student shared.
“I prefer writing exams online to writing them on paper. Online exams are much easier. With written exams, if you are not well-prepared, there’s no way you’ll be able to write,” another student added.
While many students highlight the convenience and time-saving nature of online exams, others have raised concerns about fairness and flexibility in answering questions.
“Recently, with online exams, we are not able to go back to previous questions. It’s linear, so we can’t review questions we think we didn’t answer well or cross-check answers before submitting, and that’s worrying,” one student lamented.
“Sometimes, you’re given a preamble to solve, and it’s needed for subsequent questions. But since you can’t go back, you have to keep everything in your head as you move forward. That’s very difficult. With written exams, you can flip through pages and go back to check your work,” another student explained.
As the semester’s examinations concluded, these mixed reactions highlight an ongoing debate about the future of assessments at the University of Ghana. Students will be watching to see whether the institution will fully adopt online examinations in subsequent semesters or continue to combine both modes.
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Story by Oliver Arthur Acorlor | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
