Conducting Final Programming Exams with Auto-Grading and Code Evaluation Tools

Programming is a fundamental subject in the majority of technology-oriented degrees, particularly in Computer Engineering programs. Mastering programming requires continuous practice to understand the syntax, semantics, and execution of the chosen programming language, as well as developing the problem-solving mindset necessary for effective coding. Rapid feedback on errors made during exercises is essential for skill improvement. However, manual grading of practices and exams is a challenging and time-consuming task in continuous assessment systems. This work aims to demonstrate the application of an existing tool, VPL (Virtual Programming Lab), integrated with JUnit tests, for auto-grading final programming exams. The proposal has been successfully implemented in the Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) course, yielding highly satisfactory results.