CST Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
- What is the Computing Skills test?
- Who must sit for the test?
- Dates for the test
- How do I nominate for the test?
- What does the test look like?
- What will be tested?
- Where do I practise my computing skills?
- Who do I contact?
Answers
- What is the Computing Skills test?
- The Computing Skills test is a mandatory requirement for the School Certificate. The test is based on the skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that students have developed through their study of the revised mandatory Years 7–10 syllabuses during Stage 5, and through their studies in Stage 4, including the mandatory Design and Technology course.
- Who must sit for the test?
- The Computing Skills test is a mandatory requirement for each candidate for the School Certificate, unless the student is studying one or more courses based on Life Skills outcomes and content.
- For students undertaking one or more courses based on Life Skills outcomes and content in Stage 5 the Computing Skills test is optional.
- Completion of either the online version or the pen-and-paper version is a requirement for the award of the School Certificate.
- Dates for the test
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- November 12 (Wednesday), between 8am and 5pm
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2008 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - online format *
- November 13 (Thursday), between 8am and 5pm
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2008 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - online format *
- November 14 (Friday), between 8am and 11am
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2008 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - online format **Schools can schedule test sessions for their students at any convenient times on these days.
- November 14 (Friday), commence 11am only
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2008 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - pen-and-paper format
- How do I nominate for the test?
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The Computing Skills test will be available as an online test and as a pen-and-paper test. Schools may elect for all students to present for either the pen-and-paper test or the online test. Schools must do this by June 23 through Schools Online.
Every student who is entered to receive the award of the School Certificate this year has automatically been entered for the test.
If you need further information on entering students for the test, please call Student Records on 02 9367 8130.
- What does the test look like?
-
The Computing Skills test consists of 100 questions in multiple-choice format. All questions are compulsory.
There are 20 questions in each of the five skill areas:
- Computer operations
- Word-processing
- Spreadsheets and databases
- Graphics and multimedia
- Internet and email
The Computing Skills specimen test shows the types of questions that will be tested in the School Certificate Computing Skills test.
This specimen test indicates the form and layout of the pen-and-paper test. The pen-and-paper test has been designed so that the format of the questions closely resembles the layout used in the online test.
A practice test will be made available for schools to download from Schools Online to use with their Year 10 students to familiarise them with the format and navigation of the online test. The practice test provides students with an opportunity to log in to the test, navigate through a sample series of questions and print their answers.
- What will be tested?
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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
- Where do I practise my computing skills?
-
Online multiple-choice quiz on Computing Skills:
Questions from previous Computing Skills tests have been added to the Board's online multiple-choice database.
Students can use these multiple-choice questions to practise for the School Certificate Computing Skills test, and get instant feedback on their performance. They can choose questions from any combination of the five computing skill areas that are in the test.
Past Computing Skills tests:
- Support materials prepared for the 2003 trial Computing Skills test
- Quizzes on the net
- Who do I contact?
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For further information contact:
- (02) 9367 8130
- (02) 9367 8299
- (02) 9367 8329
- csthelp@bos.nsw.edu.au