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Can the Keyboard Beat the Good Old Pen? Computer-Based Testing and Students’ Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Freitas, Pedro

    (Nova School of Business and Economics)

  • Nunes, Luis Catela

    (Nova School of Business and Economics)

  • Reis, Ana B

    (Nova School of Business and Economics)

  • Pereira dos Santos, João

    (ISEG)

Abstract

Computer-based testing is increasingly being adopted by educational institutions worldwide. However, whether this transition from paper-based testing leads to different outcomes in student performance remains an open question. This paper assesses the impact of computer-based testing by examining a large-scale pilot programme for low-stakes exams implemented in Portugal in 2022. We leverage rich student-level data to implement pooled OLS and difference-in-differences approaches. Our results indicate that students who used computer-based testing performed worse than their peers using paper-based testing by 5 to 14 percentage points, on average. This negative effect is concentrated in specific question formats, namely questions requiring the analysis of figures. We discuss the implications of our findings for the large-scale implementation of computer-based testing.

Suggested Citation

  • Freitas, Pedro & Nunes, Luis Catela & Reis, Ana B & Pereira dos Santos, João, 2025. "Can the Keyboard Beat the Good Old Pen? Computer-Based Testing and Students’ Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 18283, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18283
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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