CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN ICT

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Broadband internet connection
Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7 operating system
Adobe Flash Player (Verify/Download)
Microsoft Word 2000, 2002 (XP), 2003, 2007 or 2010
Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002 (XP), 2003, 2007 or 2010

REGISTERING CANDIDATES

You are permitted to register candidates between 1 September and 1 March of the current academic year. To register candidates, visit the Certificate of Achievement webpage and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be required to login. Your school will have details of its ISEB account number and password. When your registration has been processed (which can take up to three days), you will receive a registration confirmation email. This email will include login details for the candidates and the centre (the centre ID and password is separate from the ISEB account number and password mentioned earlier) and a ZIP file attached containing the following:

Module 1(a) external test resources; this will contain a Microsoft Word starter document, instructions for the candidate to follow and a mark scheme
Module 2 external test resources; this will contain a Microsoft Excel starter spreadsheet, instructions for the candidate to follow and a mark scheme
Module 6(b) external test instructions; the test itself is taken online

The email will also contain a link to download a Windows program for marking word processing and spreadsheet tests (the 'marking engine').

REGISTRATION/LICENCE FEES

The fee is £20 per standard candidate and £35 per extension candidate. This permits the licencee to use the external tests and marking engine from 1 September to 15 June of the current academic year. You do not need to provide a method of payment during registration as your school will be invoiced.

ELEMENTS OF THE ASSESSMENT

Part 1
Internal assessment of skills

Candidates are required to demonstrate internally that they have used correctly each of the skills defined in modules 1, 2, 3, 4 (extension candidates only), 5 and 6. These skills should be assessed on a pass/fail basis by the examination centre and recorded on the Skills Assessment form (Word version and read-only PDF version). Examiners should produce a copy for each candidate.

Part 2
External Test

The external test is divided into three modules. The modules are designed to be taken whenever candidates are ready and are to be conducted in a proctored environment. Once candidates have been registered, they have until 15 June of the current academic year to complete the required modules. Candidates are required to gain a score of 80% for each module in order to pass. They are required to gain a pass in each of the three modules. There is no distinction awarded for the external tests; candidates either pass or fail. If candidates are unsuccessful, they may retake a failed module. A retake is not permitted until two weeks after the last attempt.
The three modules are:

Word processing (1(a) of specification)
The teacher provides each registered candidate with an electronic copy of the word-processing starter document and a printed copy of the instructions. The candidate then edits the document on his or her PC in accordance with the instructions. Once a candidate has completed and saved his or her work, the document can be marked using the marking engine.
The module is designed to be taken within a normal 35-minute teaching period. Candidates are permitted to refer to notes, previously completed exercises, online tutorials, the Internet and any application help files which they may find useful. They are not permitted to use email or to discuss questions or answers with teachers, supervisors or other candidates.
Data handling (2 of specification)
The teacher provides each registered candidate with an electronic copy of the spreadsheet starter file and a printed copy of the instructions. The candidate then edits the spreadsheet on his or her PC in accordance with the instructions. Once a candidate has completed and saved his or her work, the spreadsheet can be marked using the marking engine.
The module is designed to be taken within a normal 35-minute teaching period. Candidates are permitted to refer to notes, previously completed exercises, online tutorials, the Internet and any application help files which they may find useful. They are not permitted to use email or to discuss questions or answers with teachers, supervisors or other candidates.
Web-page design (6(b) of specification)
The teacher provides each registered candidate with a printed copy of the instructions. The candidate is required to visit the module 6(b) webpage, supply his or her login credentials and then commence the web-page design test. The candidate then fulfils various web-page design tasks in accordance with the instructions. At any point during the test the candidate is able to click the Preview button to preview his or her HTML. The Submit button is clicked to submit the candidate's work when he or she has finished.
The module is designed to be taken within a normal 35-minute teaching period. Candidates are permitted to refer to notes, previously completed exercises, online tutorials, the Internet and any application help files which they may find useful. They are not permitted to use email or to discuss questions or answers with teachers, supervisors or other candidates.

This element of the test requires Adobe Flash Player to be installed on the PC.

Part 3
Coursework
Portfolio

All candidates are expected to produce an electronic portfolio of work. This portfolio will contain:

five word-processed documents demonstrating at least eight distinct skills from module 1(a); files should be in .doc or .pdf format
one presentation demonstrating all the skills from module 1(b); the file should be in .ppt or.pps format
three spreadsheets demonstrating at least five distinct skills from module 2; files should be in .xls format
three graphics files demonstrating at least four of the six skills from module 3; files should be in .jpg, .tif or .jif format
one website consisting of at least two linked pages demonstrating all four non-externally examined skills from module 6(b); files should be in .htm or .html format
for extension candidates only:
one piece of work demonstrating four of the skills from module 4

Moderation

Coursework will be assessed by the school and also by externally-appointed moderators on a distinction/pass/fail basis. Schools are asked to submit the portfolios of three candidates for moderation: the work of a candidate in the top 20% of the school's cohort; a candidate in the middle 60% of the cohort; a pass candidate in the lower 20% of the cohort. Schools should have moderated the coursework internally if more than one teacher has been involved in delivering the course. ISEB will moderate the coursework submitted and may ask for further samples from the different ranges. Schools will be asked to verify (on the appropriate forms) that each candidate has produced coursework of the correct standard before certification.

Quality of coursework

Schools will be asked to nominate candidates who they believe have satisfied the criteria for distinction, as laid out below:

using ICT skills as outlined in the syllabus correctly and in the correct context
using ICT in an innovative way
producing solutions which enhance the presentation of information and communication of data to the intended audience

Submission of coursework

Portfolios and the accompanying paperwork should be submitted electronically to enquiries@iseb.co.uk by 15 March of the current academic year. Each of the three portfolios should be clearly identified with the candidate number and ranking, i.e. in the top 20%, middle 60% or lower 20% of the cohort. Coursework from failed candidates should not be submitted although their names must be entered on the Coursework Results form. The portfolios should be accompanied by the Coursework form (Word version or PDF version) and the Coursework Results form (Word version or PDF version). A template for coursework submission is available for download below. Please note that failure to send the correct forms could result in a delay in receiving results and certificates.

Sample Coursework Submission Template

MARKING

The Windows 'marking engine' program is required for marking word processing and spreadsheet tests. Please note that you must have an active internet connection to commence marking. It is up to the teacher to decide whether he or she will mark the candidate's work or allow candidates to mark his or her own work.

Start the marking engine and supply the candidate's login credentials. Choose the Test type you wish to mark, click the Select File button to locate the candidate's completed test and then click Open. To commence marking, click Mark File. Once marking has been completed, the marks are transmitted to ISEB servers and you will be presented with a popup window providing detailed marking feedback. This process can be repeated for the other test relating to the same candidate. When a different candidate's work is ready for marking, the marking engine must be exited and restarted with the new candidate's login credentials entered.

The marking of Web-page design tests occurs when the Submit button is pressed during the test. There is no detailed marking feedback for this module.

RESULTS

Visit the following webpage and supply your centre login details to view candidate results relating to your centre. Alternatively, you can supply a candidate's login details to view results and feedback specifically for that individual.

In order to gain the Certificate of Achievement, candidates must demonstrate that they can correctly use all the skills in each module, pass the external test for each module and gain a pass for their portfolio. In order to gain a distinction, candidates must gain a distinction for their portfolio.

After 15 June, certificates will be issued for all eligible candidates and sent to schools within a month.