Abstract
This study investigates the impact of digital literacy and reading /writing proficiency on NCE students taking Computer-Based Testing (CBT) examinations. The study was guided by two objectives, two hypotheses, and employed a quasi-experimental pretest and posttest control group design. The population comprised 10,345 Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) students. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select 180 NCE two students. The sample was divided into an experimental group (90) students from the Federal University of Education, Zaria, and a controlled group of (90) students from the College of Education, Gidan Waya. Two instruments were utilized namely: Digital Literacy Scale (DLS) and ACTFL Test of English Proficiency (TEP) with a Cronbach’s alpha reliability of 0.80, and CBT examinations of NCE 2 students adopted from traditional paper-based testing methods that utilize computer technology to deliver and administer the tests with a reliability coefficient of 0.76. The experimental group was exposed to digital literacy before the CBT examinations for the first semester for all courses in general education for four weeks, while the control group was given the CBT examination without any digital literacy. Also, they are taught general education courses emphasizing digital literacy and reading/writing in CBT examinations. After the intervention, a posttest was administered to both groups, and data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results revealed a positive correlation between digital literacy and reading/writing proficiency, with p-values = 0.00 for both hypotheses being less than 0.05 alpha level of significance. Based on these findings, the two hypotheses were rejected. It is recommended that educational policies and practices on integrating digital literacy development into curricula provide engaging and interactive learning experiences, motivating learners. In addition, the development of targeted interventions to support students with lower digital literacy levels, and enhancing reading/writing proficiency in CBT examinations, prepares students for the digital world by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, developing the 21st century skills.