ICT Exams and ECDL tests

Since last year, we have re-structured the ICT syllabus and ICT exams to better reflect ECDL tests.  The pass mark for both ECDL tests and ICT exams is 75%.  We strongly believe that students will need to prepare well for their ICT exams since a 75% pass mark is not very easy to achieve, and in return it will also benefit their ECDL preparation. 

Through our ICT course at school we are focusing more directly for the ECDL exams.  Questions, task sheets, practice tests and notes now include the same terminology used in ECDL tests, so students know what to expect.  Furthermore, as outlined earlier, ICT exams shall be practical tests which shall serve as a Mock test for the ECDL test.

SMC as an ECDL test centre

St Martin’s College is an independent test centre and ECDL tests are administered on our own equipment and by our own teachers.  There are no third parties involved with the exception of the regulating body which is the Computer Society of Malta, representative of the ECDL foundation.

Hardware & Software

ECDL tests are run on our own hardware.  We are equipped with 3 labs having 14 (Pentium 4) computers in each lab, networked and serviced by a single server sharing a 4Mb/s ADSL connection.  

As for software we use Windows XP as our operating system and MS Word 2003, MS Excel 2003, MS Access 2003, MS Powerpoint 2003, MS Internet Explorer 7 and MS Outlook 2003.  We do suggest that home computers should run similar software in order to practice tests.

Certificates

ECDL certificates are only issued when all 7 modules have been successfully completed.  Individual modules will not bear a certificate but Pass results are entered in the students’ skill card.  SMC will apply for an ECDL certificate for each student who successfully completes all 7 modules.

Skill Card

Each student must have a skill card before he/she sits for an ECDL test.  We have decided to keep their skillcard in a locked, safe place because since this is a three-year course, it can get easily lost, especially during the summer months.  Any replacement card carries a fee very close to a new one.  However, the Skill Card is the students’ property and can be requested at any time.  Following your request It will be handed over within 3 working days.

Automated Testing Vs Manual Testing

ECDL tests can be conducted in two ways.  The Manual testing is the one adopted by SMC, where students have a practical test and a tester will have to manually correct this test.  For each test, the tester must write a report and a comment on each task which is wrongly done.  As you might imagine this is a long process considering that at times 300 tests are administered within a 3-day period with just two testers.

On the other hand, Automated testing entails that a student takes a test within the framework of an application and the result is achieved automatically just after the test.  We have looked into various software to find the best solution, however we have not decided to go for this type of testing for the following considerations.

• Testing using automated tests are more expensive, when considering that each student is given only one free test sample.  Further test samples must be bought.
• Automated Test samples can only be done at school and not at any other location because it has to link to a server.
• The Test sample is a one-hour long session, so students from Form III upwards will not be able to finish it in a single lesson and the test cannot be paused.  In Middle school we would require two full weeks so that students do a practical test.
• The automated test automatically shuts off when 45 minutes (the duration of an ECDL test) have elapsed.
• Various short-cut keys (hot-keys) which students are familiar with, don’t work on most automated tests.

Results

We are aware that the manual correction is a lengthy process however we strive to publish all results on-line within 3 weeks from the test date.  Results shall be published on the school website ONLY and there will be no result sheets available for students.  Results will bear only the Skill Card Number and no names will be published.  The Web-site is also equipped with a facility which allows you to ask for a skill card number should you forget this number.  For your own benefit in November of each scholastic year we shall hand to each student an ECDL test completion report where all tests, results and financial information will be printed.

Should a student fail, he/she is encouraged to consult the tester so he would guide the student to perform better in the resit and obtain a Pass.

Re-Sits

Each module has an unlimited number of re-sits but we discourage students to take a test unless they are well prepared.  For re-sits we also provide students with a revision session.  Students also  need to work various test samples to be well prepared.  The cost of each re-sit is Lm3.00 which includes a 2-hour or 3-hour (depends on the module) revision session.

Pay Full

As from this year we have started a new payment scheme, where each application shall pay in full for all tests (does not include payment for re-sits) rather than paying Lm6 each year.  Therefore, you would be securing your tests at a fixed price for the coming three years and if test fees do go up, it will not effect your application.

Should, for some reason or another a student decides to sit any tests anywhere else, you shall be entitled for a refund on the test fees.  The Skill card is purchased once and may be used at any test centre around Malta.  The Skill Card fee is non-refundable.

Resources

We have produced a comprehensive workbook for each module for the ECDL which can be bought from the respective ICT teacher which is used also for ICT lessons.  Furthermore, we have also produced ECDL test samples which are available for download from the school web-site www.smc.edu.mt and then follow the link to the ICT Web-Site.