Oxford launches online exams app

Oxford University Press East Africa (OUPEA) has launched an interactive online application, Exampoa, to help students prepare for exams.

The app will enable learners with smartphones and tablets to download questions and answers, and use them for revision.

Primary school pupils will access learning materials for English and Science, while secondary school students will get Biology, English and History material.

Each download will cost Sh60.

“The teachers and parents were at first apprehensive about the application. They thought it could be used for exam cheating and as a way of drilling children for exams only and not educating them. But after knowing that they can closely monitor what the students are learning and help with their homework, their perceptions changed,” James Ogola, the sales and marketing manager at OUPEA said yesterday.

He added that his firm has no link to the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec), so its application cannot be used for exam cheating.

The publisher is banking on the Government’s laptop project to reach more learners.

“It is unfortunate that many children, especially those in rural areas, lack access to smartphones and therefore cannot access the app. We hope the laptop programme will change this,” said Mr Ogola.

He added that Oxford is hesitant to produce e-books as these are for a more mature audience and require complex tools, such as e-book readers, to navigate. Exampoa, he said, is a more interactive option.