School Certificate Computing Skills test 2009
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.
A separate version of the test for Special Examinations Provisions students is no longer required. There is now a single version for Windows and for Macintosh for all students. The test is in a similar format to 2008.
Students who have special examination provisions approved will have access to larger fonts, background colours, extra time and rest breaks relevant to their provisions. Read more.
In 2009, schools must nominate to sit for either the online test OR the pen-and-paper test.
The same test is used for all students, including students with special examinations provisions approval.
Information for students
- 2009 Computing skills test – Information for students including special examinations provisions
- Published August 2009
Important dates
June 1
Practice Test available via Schools Online
June 30
Closing date for schools to enter either the pen-and-paper or online test.
November 11 (Wednesday), between 8am and 5pm
2009 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - online format*
November 12 (Thursday), between 8am and 5pm
2009 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - online format*
November 13 (Friday), between 8am and 11am
2009 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - online format*
*Schools can schedule test sessions for their students at any convenient times on these days.
November 13 (Friday), commence 11am only
2009 School Certificate Computing Skills Test - pen-and-paper format
For further information contact:
- (02) 9367 8130
- (02) 9367 8299
- (02) 9367 8329
- csthelp@bos.nsw.edu.au
Communication with schools
All communications will be linked here after they are sent to schools during the year.
Further information
- Scope Statement and Test Specifications
- School Certificate Computing Skills Specimen test
- Guide to the 2009 School Certificate: Rules and Procedures for Students
- Multiple-choice quiz
- Technologies in the Revised Mandatory Stages 4 and 5 Syllabuses (2004)
Special Examination Provisions Information
A separate version of the test for Special Examination Provision students is no longer required. There is now a single version for Windows and for Macintosh for all students. The test is in a similar format to 2008.
Students who have special examination 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 special examination 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 special examination 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 reading readers.