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2.1 - World Class Tests at a glance
For the award of a World Class Test, students must complete
two components within an age range and subject area:
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09M
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Nine year-old
Mathematics
World Class Test
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60 minute paper-based test
09MP
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60 minute computer-based test
09MC
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09P
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Nine year-old
Problem Solving
World Class Test
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60 minute paper-based test
09PP
+
60 minute computer-based test
09PC
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13M
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13 year-old
Mathematics
World Class Test
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75 minute paper-based test
13MP
+
75 minute computer-based test
13MC
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13P
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13 year-old
Problem Solving
World Class Test
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75 minute paper-based test
13PP
+
75 minute computer-based test
13PC
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2.2 - Availability of components
The computer-based and paper-based components for both
age ranges and both subjects are available each test session.
To achieve an award, the computer-based component and the
paper-based component must be taken in the same test session.
2.3 - Prohibited combinations
Students may not enter for different age ranges in any
one test session.
2.4 - Language of tests
All tests will be through the medium of English.
2.5 - Assessment coverage
Mathematics
Problem solving
2.6 - Items within the tests
The paper-based and computer-based components of each World
Class Test are made up of a number of items (questions).
Each item has been trialled extensively prior to inclusion
in a live World Class Test. After trialling, all items and
mark schemes are analysed using item response theory. Where
appropriate, assigned marks are then reviewed before items
are assembled into a test.
Total marks available for a component varies little from
one session to another, but some tolerance is allowed to
reflect the need to differentiate answers, as revealed by
trialling.
Balance is achieved over both mediums; paper-based and
computer-based. No differential weighting is applied to
component marks of subgroups.
Most questions are free response. Where a number of answer/distracters
are given, there are never less than five distracters and
generally there are more. No guessing correction is applied.
Where partial credits are awarded, these are defined to
discriminate at a relatively high level rather than at the
median performance or below.
Once marking has been completed for a test session, a standard
setting meeting is held to establish the grade boundaries
for each component. Each boundary will be set using both
professional judgement and statistical evidence. Awarders
will consider students' work selected on the basis of preliminary
boundary ranges proposed by the test setting agencies and
principal examiners, along with the background technical
and statistical information. Awarders will then use their
collective judgement to decide a single mark which best
represents the grade boundary in the light of the available
statistical evidence.
2.7 - Practice material
Practice material can be found on the World Class Test
practice site at http://training.worldclassarena.org.
The practice site is designed to allow anyone thinking of
becoming an administrator of World Class Tests to try out
the system in their school or centre. This will include
downloading some example test questions.
In addition, schools and centres may wish to use the online
mathematics challenge, which can be found on the website
home page at http://www.worldclassarena.org.
The online challenge provides students with instant feedback
on their performance.
Practice paper-based test questions may be found on the
website in the 'Have a go!' section.
2.8 - Level of IT skills required
Since one of the two components in each World Class Test
is computer-based, all entered students must have basic
IT skills. The practice material provides an indication
of the extent of skills required, such as the use of a mouse,
the ability to select, drag and drop, and basic keyboarding
skills.
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