Key takeaways:  

• Nationwide online exams accommodating up to 10,000 students per session across Pakistan.  
• A complete shift from physical test centres to remote proctoring.  
• High-concurrency capacity enables most students to test simultaneously.  
• A repeatable assessment process facilitates nationwide selection every four months.

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Industry: Nonprofit / Education

Client:  SundarSTEM School

Representative: Mr Muhammad Saffi Ullah, VSS Head (Virtual STEM School)

Location: Pakistan

Website: https://sundarstem.edu.pk

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A Conversation with Mr. Muhammad Saffi Ullah, VSS Head, SundarSTEM School

Quilgo: Let's start from the beginning. What is SundarSTEM, and who do you work with?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: SundarSTEM is a non-profit institute focused on identifying and nurturing talented students in Mathematics, Science, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence across Pakistan. We follow a need-blind scholarship model, which means a student's financial background never limits their opportunity to participate. Our mission is to make high-quality STEM education accessible to the most promising young minds, regardless of where they live.

Quilgo: What is your role within SundarSTEM?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: I lead the Virtual STEM School (VSS), one of SundarSTEM’s core initiatives. I oversee nationwide assessments and coordinate the overall testing process.

Quilgo: What types of exams are you running with Quilgo?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: We utilise Quilgo to conduct nationwide online Mathematics multiple-choice exams for our VSS and Pakistan Math Contest (PMC) programs. These exams are held three times a year and can accommodate up to 10,000 students per session.

  In addition to these large-scale exams, we also organise weekly quizzes and semester-based assessments for smaller groups of around 150-200 students. All tests are in multiple-choice format and available in both English and Urdu.

Quilgo: What does participation typically look like at this scale?  

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: Our primary audience consists of students in Grades 5-7 from all over Pakistan. For nationwide exams, participation can reach several thousand students per session, with most attempting the exam simultaneously. This results in very high concurrent usage, which is essential for the platform to manage effectively.

Quilgo: How were exams conducted before transitioning to an online format? 

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: Previously, exams were conducted in person at Virtual University campuses. This required students to travel long distances to reach their assigned centres, creating accessibility issues and limiting participation. Managing logistics, invigilation, and coordination across multiple locations was also resource-intensive. Moving to an online format was essential to eliminate these barriers, but it was crucial to ensure that fairness and exam integrity were maintained.

Quilgo: What challenges did you face while making the shift to online exams?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: Our primary concern was integrity. We needed a system that could provide reliable proctoring while still being accessible. Additionally, we required flexible scheduling, the ability to send test links to thousands of candidates via email, structured reporting, and responsive support for quizzes and high-stakes nationwide exams.

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Quilgo: Why did Quilgo stand out among the platforms you evaluated?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: After evaluating numerous platforms, Quilgo emerged as a leading choice for secure remote proctoring, large-scale assessments, and adaptable pricing. This combination was especially effective for a non-profit organisation conducting nationwide events.

Quilgo: How was the setup and onboarding experience?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: The setup process was straightforward and user-friendly. Creating quizzes, sharing them with students, and managing large groups of candidates didn't require extensive training. The platform allowed for easy operation at scale.

One improvement we would like to see is more granular role-based management, such as the ability to share specific quizzes with selected team members rather than automatically sharing them with the entire team. Overall, however, the setup experience was smooth and intuitive.

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Quilgo: Which proctoring controls matter most for your exams?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: All of these elements are essential for monitoring exams, tracking screens, verifying identities, timing sessions, creating unique test links, and assessing behavioural indicators. Together, they establish a solid foundation for maintaining exam integrity.

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Quilgo: How did the first nationwide online test perform in practice?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: We organised the first nationwide exam session for approximately 6,500 students, and ultimately, 2,837 students participated. One notable observation was that nearly all participants logged in during the same time frame, which created a significant load on the system.

Despite these high-demand conditions, the exam proceeded without any issues. We did not encounter any significant regional connectivity problems across Pakistan, and no special measures were needed during the session. From an operational perspective, this experience has given us confidence that large-scale online testing is not only feasible but also reliable.

Quilgo: How would you describe the overall impact of moving exams online?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: The impact was significant. By shifting away from physical testing centres, we eliminated student travel time, costs, and logistical challenges. At the same time, we significantly reduced administrative and invigilation efforts on our end.

From an integrity standpoint, online proctoring gave us greater control and visibility than traditional physical exams. With a few additional improvements, the system could become even more reliable for high-stakes, nationwide assessments.

Quilgo: Is Quilgo now part of your long-term assessment process?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: Yes, absolutely. We regularly use Quilgo for quizzes and internal assessments during the semester. Additionally, we conduct two nationwide selection tests every four months. Quilgo is no longer just a one-off tool for us; it has become part of our assessment infrastructure.

Quilgo: How would you describe Quilgo to another national contest organizer or nonprofit?

Muhammad Saffi Ullah: Quilgo is a platform that performs effectively at scale. Its concurrency-based pricing is ideal for significant events, and the built-in email delivery feature simplifies communication. Additionally, the combination of proctoring and reporting addresses our essential requirements. Furthermore, the support team has been highly responsive whenever we needed assistance.

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At Quilgo, we’re excited to partner with organizations like SundarSTEM to expand access to quality education nationwide. While moving high-stakes exams online is challenging, especially with thousands of students, it’s vital for ensuring fairness and accuracy in the process.

We are grateful to SundarSTEM School and Mr Muhammad Saffi Ullah for trusting Quilgo to be part of their nationwide assessment process and for openly sharing their experiences. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and supporting SundarSTEM as they implement accessible and secure testing across Pakistan.

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