Computing Skills test scope statement and test specifications
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been integrated within the outcomes and content of the revised Years 7–10 syllabuses. A mapping of the ICT statements from the mandatory syllabuses is available on the Board’s website. Questions in the Computing Skills test will be drawn from these ICT statements.
The ICT skills that will be tested in the School Certificate Computing Skills test have been grouped into five skill areas:
- Computer operations
- Word-processing
- Spreadsheets and databases
- Graphics and multimedia
- Internet and email
Test specifications
The Computing Skills test will consist of 100 questions in multiple-choice format. All questions are compulsory.
There will be 20 questions in each of the five skill areas as listed above.
All students will complete the test online this year. Each school is required to nominate a test coordinator through the Schools Online website. Schools are also required to install and run the Practice Test at least once during Term 2. This will help to identify technical problems that may exist and enable timely support. The test and other related information will be available from the beginning of Term 2 through the Schools Online website.
Test coordinators should see their principals to arrange for access to Schools Online. All documentation needed for the Computing Skills test is in Schools Online.
Students who have disability provisions approved will have access to larger fonts, background colours, extra time and rest breaks relevant to their provisions.
Communication with schools - Schools Online
All communications will be linked here after they are sent to schools during the year.
Further information
Disability Provisions Information (formerly special examination provisions)
From 2009, a separate version of the test for Disability Provision students is no longer required. All student are to access the test through a single version for Windows and for Macintosh.
Students who have disability provisions approved will have access to their provisions such as larger fonts, background colours, extra time and rest breaks when they log on to the test. Font size, font colour and background colour can be modified after the initial log on, prior to commencement of, and during the test.
Students with approved disability provisions that entitle them to extra working time will have the additional time, as approved by the Office of the Board of Studies, automatically added to their timer.
Students who have been approved disability provisions that entitle them to additional time without access to the test will have access to a ‘PAUSE’ button that they can use when they wish to take a break. The student may take breaks and ‘pause’ the test at their discretion, just as a student sitting a pen-and-paper test. The breaks will need to be timed by the supervisor to ensure that the student only takes up the maximum time allowed.
Students who have been approved a reader for the SC test may or may not elect to use the reader for the Computing Skills test. The reader is permitted to read the question and all possible answers. The reader is NOT permitted to interpret the questions or advise the student in any way. Please refer to the rules and procedures for the use of a reader/writer, available on the Board’s website through Schools Online in the ‘Memos and Documents’ section, for further information regarding readers.