Last updated: 04 Oct 2005

The organisation developed the first onscreen test of Information and Communication Technology for 14 year olds to measure their abilities against national curriculum levels for ICT.

QCA is midway through its mission to develop an IT solution for delivering leading edge technology to every secondary school in the country. This year a national pilot was successfully completed with over 45,000 pupils across the country participating in the first on-screen key stage 3 (KS3) ICT test. The organisation has been shortlisted in two categories of the national Computing Awards: Public Sector Project of the Year and Innovative Project of the Year.

Martin Ripley, QCA's Head of eStrategy said:

"The Computing Awards" recognition of the KS3 ICT test shows that QCA is leading the development of e-assessment in this country. This is a huge accolade for QCA as a large number of prestigious organisations entered for each category this year. This project has shown the possibilities and enormous potential for a very different learning experience than that offered by pen and paper materials. The success and recognition of the test both here and internationally is helping to pave the way for a new generation of deeper and more credible assessments."

Notes to editors

1. The KS3 ICT test is a new assessment that makes the delivery of tests more efficient. The KS3 ICT test is set in a virtual world in which pupils use websites, spreadsheets, web-browsers and other applications. It allows pupils to use their ICT capabilities to solve everyday problems. All marking is electronic and eliminates the expensive and slow processes of posting scripts and human marking. The system has been designed to give schools a choice and control over the date and time they schedule their testing within a month's window. The delivery of the test has been successful and it has proved popular with pupils and teachers.

2. The onscreen KS3 ICT test will have two national pilots in 2006 and 2007.

3. Over 45,000 pupils in 400 participating schools took part in the national pilot this year. A full report of the pilot will be published in October 2005.

4. For further information contact QCA's eStrategy Team, Qualifications and Skills Division on 020 7509 5535 / waldrenj@qca.org.uk mailto:waldrenj@qca.org.uk

5. Visit www.qca.org.uk/eassessment or http://www.ks3ictpilot.com/ for further information.

6. For information on the Computing Awards visit http://www.computing.co.uk/