Can CAA be used only with objective test questions?

No, objective testing is not the only type of assessment delivered using CAA. The following are examples of assessment systems which use methods other than objective testing:

CEILIDH (Computer Environment for Interactive Learning in Diverse Habitats) was developed at the University of Nottingham to aid the teaching of programming languages and includes a facility which automatically marks students' programs, assessing them for style, layout, design and format.

THESYS developed by a team at Nottingham Trent University and supported by the Department of Employment, is a generic tool for assessing student projects. The package contains two parts, with the first aimed at students for self-assessment and the second designed for project supervisors. The package contains four sections, each of which targets a specific area.

Through a series of questions (including issues such as understanding, time management, originality, content, style, quality and lay-out) a profile of the project is created and the system offers a recommended mark, advice about different aspects of the project and where effort could be concentrated to improve it. Visit the City University in Hong Kong to learn more about THESYS. (Bull, 1993)