Growing your assessment programme internationally is often a huge logistical challenge. Before you begin to market your qualification there are several factors worth considering:
- Geographical spread of candidates
- Test session frequency
- Candidates’ availability for testing
All of these factors can inform or even dictate the delivery methods an organisation opts for, but are you fully aware of the available options when it comes to reaching candidates? And how do you know which is the right option for you? This article aims to make it all clear with a look at these factors, and the advantages that Test Centres and Online Invigilation have to offer for different scenarios.
Geographical spread of candidates
Candidates clustered by geographical location provide a focused approach to candidate growth. Although nationwide assessment programmes can present their own additional challenges, having large numbers of candidates based around city hubs can make it easier to establish a testing programme which requires a test centre network. Although some candidates may still be relatively remote, they will probably be familiar with travelling to these regional hubs. In scenarios like these, a well-established test centre network can be the perfect method of test delivery.
In 2014 BTL introduced a test centre network which has grown to be one of the largest in the UK and it is rapidly growing internationally. Test centres are audited on a regular basis to ensure excellence in candidate experience and test security.
Test Session Frequency
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For various reasons, many organisations may not be ready for on-demand testing. Therefore, fixed-form session-based testing can be a dependable approach for providing comparable results for cohorts. Some of the factors that prevent on-demand testing are:
- Risk and impact of malpractice and item harvesting.
- Volume of available items and associated performance data.
- Available delivery technology.
- The assessment format and results release process.
[/one-half] [clearfix]If these factors are not an issue for your assessment programme, then on-demand testing may be the next step for your assessment growth through the use of a linear-on-the-fly testing (LOFT) model.
BTL’s recent developments in linear optimisation for LOFT have seen an improvement to an already widely respected and industry-recognised approach to testing. LOFT with linear optimization presents each candidate with a unique and psychometrically balanced test form, assembled at the point of registration using item and test performance data. The nature of on-demand testing means that it can be difficult to service candidates with a test centre network if demand is difficult to predict. In cases such as this, it might be worth exploring Online Invigilation.
Candidate availability for testing
Candidates are more frequently looking for convenient options when it comes to taking their test. Taking the day out the office to travel to a test centre could be an expensive and time-consuming experience.
Online Invigilation, particularly the ‘record and review’ method, presents candidates with an increased degree of flexibility – candidates can sit their test in the workplace or at home, reducing the amount of time they need to take out, and reducing stress levels in the build up to exams.
Exploring your options
Test Centres
BTL are providers of the largest Test Centre Network in the UK and offer access to over 280 Surpass-ready audited test centres around the world. Working with 40 trusted suppliers who are often part of a nationwide structure, a test centre network removes the burden of an organisation having to source centres in numerous locations, gives confidence that the environment and equipment is up to standard, and can scale up should needs change.
Using a test centre network can provide the perfect solution for the delivery of session-based tests that are delivered to globally spread clusters of candidates.
Online Invigilation (Remote Proctoring)
BTL’s Online Invigilation service involves the use of two cameras and the Surpass Test Delivery environment. Candidates can be watched taking their tests live, or through a process of record and review. The latter involves a faster than real-time playback of the examination along with additional malpractice detection tools.
[one-half-first]Test security is a key factor to consider when selecting Online Invigilation as an option. Using two cameras during delivery means that BTL’s approach is more secure than other services on the market. One of the key advantages of Online Invigilation is its ability to support peaks in demand.[/one-half-first][one-half]
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People too often assume that online invigilation is only used for on-demand testing, but that’s not the case. Using Online Invigilation for session-based testing means that you can explore growth, without compromising on security. As all items are exposed at the same time, the opportunities for cheating are reduced.
The Association of Corporate Treasures (ACT), the organisation spearheading use of BTL’s new Online Invigilation service, are a great example of this.
[one-half-first]The ACT have already successfully delivered a number of exam series using Surpass with a combination of both live and record and review Online Invigilation. For the ACT and BTL alike, the two most important factors were the customer experience, and exam security. A combination of a thorough exam entry process, alongside the dual camera technology, means invigilators have full sight of the candidate and their examination environment, either in real-time or after the exam has been completed, leaving little room for malpractice. Communications are streamlined, all coming from the organisation familiar to the candidate, and they can take their test in the trusted Surpass test driver. The candidate still receives an excellent experience, the exam is secure, and there’s no barriers to test access.[/one-half-first] [one-half]Watch a short interview with Janet Legge, Director of Awarding Body at the ACT, talking about why they have opted for BTL’s online invigilation service and the importance of the candidate experience.[/one-half] [clearfix]
Questions to consider
Have you explored the benefits of Test Centres vs. Online Invigilation? Could online invigilation be the key to expanding your candidate reach? Ask yourself:
- Are there unexplored global markets which would be interested in our offer?
- Could we be missing out by not offering flexible delivery options?
- Do we have the data to support an on-demand model?
- Have we explored the BTL Test Centre Network for new market growth?
Find out more
If you’d like to find out more, tune in to the next Surpass Community webinar on Tuesday 26th March, where Ceri Harper, Head of Test Delivery Services at BTL will be talking in detail about both Test Centres and Online Invigilation, and how to select the best approach in order to expand your global test reach. Sign up here.
In the meantime, why not read this Q&A with Ceri to find out more about BTL’s Test Delivery Services.
Read the interview with Ceri Harper
If you’d like to discuss options further, please contact your BTL Account Manager, or Ceri Harper on ceri.harper@btl.com.