Survey of Students' Views on Online Exams at Medical Universities in Iran During the COVID-19 Outbreak

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical universities in Iran have changed from traditional exams to online exams for their educational practices. This research explores medical students' opinions on online exams during this shift, seeking to assess their contentment and the elements affecting their interactions. A descriptive survey was accomplished by distributing a structured questionnaire to 1,517 medical students in different universities in Iran. The study gathered information on demographics and evaluated students' contentment with online exams through a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis included both descriptive and inferential statistics, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. 63.3% of the participants were women. The results showed student satisfaction ratings differed by category, with technical assistance having the lowest average score of 2.48 and general satisfaction at 3.11. Strong connections were found between satisfaction and elements like exam content, technical support, and instructor performance. The shift to digital assessments has brought to light both possibilities and obstacles for medical education in Iran. Although online exams have the potential to decrease student anxiety and enhance contentment, there is a need for substantial enhancements in technical resources and assistance. This research provides valuable information that can help improve online assessment methods, leading to better virtual learning settings.