QTS Skills Tests
Encyclopedia
The QTS Skills Tests are three computer-based tests in literacy
, numeracy
, and ICT
, which must be passed by anyone attempting to gain Qualified Teacher Status
(QTS) in England
in addition to successfully completing a teacher
training course, such as a PGCE
, a BEd
, a BA or the GTP
.
. In order to sit the tests, candidates must register with a special number allocated to them by the TDA which is supplied to the candidate by their training provider, e.g. teacher-training college or university. These numbers are not supplied until the final year of the course, meaning that no-one can take these tests in advance. Once registered with the TDA, booking is made on-line through the TDA website at any one of about 50 centres (usually in teacher training college
s, universities or schools) around the country, but spaces are limited and can become difficult to book as the training year progresses. Many centres are only open for a few halfdays during the week. Booking may be made up to three months in advance.
All three tests are conducted on computers in special rooms under the watchful eye of supervising staff. Casual working can be done on an interactive whiteboard.
The three tests can be taken individually on separate days or on the same occasion (depending on time availability).
), the other must have a name and signature. If you present these on one day but turn up the next day to take another test without them, you will be denied the chance to take the second test and will have to rebook.
website (below). These are downloadable files which can be installed on a home computer. The literacy
test is based on spelling
, punctuation
, and comprehension
and lasts for no longer than 48 minutes. The numeracy
test starts off with a series of mental arithmetic questions, each with a strict time limit, though paper working is allowed. That is followed by a series of more complex questions involving interpretation of statistical data and graphs, computing costs of school trips and so on. For this section of the test an on-screen calculator is supplied. Candidates have up to 45 minutes for the whole test.
The most idiosyncratic of the three is the ICT
test. This consists of a series of exercises in word-processing, e-mail, web-sites, using attachments, printing, presentations, databases and so on. The TDA
has avoided the use of Microsoft Windows
and instead utilised its own series of programmes. These resemble Windows applications but are crude in appearance and differ in significant detail. This makes prior practise essential. Candidates have 35 minutes to complete the test.
being anecdotally the hardest. On the other hand, many candidates find the tests straightforward and pass all of them first time. Staff at centres suggest that younger candidates have more trouble with literacy
whereas older candidates can find numeracy
more challenging.
Trainees who have failed to pass the tests were formerly allowed a five-year grace period to pass. This concession has been removed from 31 August 2008. Trainees who have not passed these tests during their training and who are employed by schools must expect to have their contracts terminated.
do not have to pass the tests, even though the rest of the requirements for Qualified Teacher Status are identical. Teachers in Scotland
and Northern Ireland
also do not have to pass the tests, though the requirements to become a qualified teacher are different to England and Wales.
Teachers wishing to teach in a different Home Nation to the one they trained in must apply to the relevant General Teaching Council to be allowed to teach there. With the exception of teachers trained on the GTP, this is normally a formality for teachers who have successfully completed their training. This has led to inconsistencies with regards to the QTS Skills Tests across the UK: as passing the QTS Skills Tests is a requirement of QTS in England, teachers who train in England who then go on to teach elsewhere in the UK must still pass the tests despite them not being a requirement in their destination nation; however, as England normally automatically recognises the equivalent of QTS from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, teachers who train in these nations do not have to pass the QTS Skills Tests to teach in England, even though English-trained teachers must pass them.
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
, numeracy
Numeracy
Numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. A numerically literate person can manage and respond to the mathematical demands of life...
, and ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
, which must be passed by anyone attempting to gain Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status is required in England and Wales to become, and continue being, a teacher of children in the state and special education sectors...
(QTS) in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in addition to successfully completing a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
training course, such as a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
, a BEd
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
, a BA or the GTP
Graduate Teacher Programme
The Graduate Teacher Programme is a programme in England and Wales for graduates who want to gain Qualified Teacher Status while working...
.
Booking and administration
The tests are administered by a commercial organisation on behalf of the TDATDA
TDA is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Taking and Driving Away, a former criminal offense under UK law, introduced in S.28 Road Traffic Act 1930, repeated in s.217 of the Road Traffic Act 1960, and with amendments became s.175 Road Traffic Act 1972 and s.178 Road Traffic Act 1988...
. In order to sit the tests, candidates must register with a special number allocated to them by the TDA which is supplied to the candidate by their training provider, e.g. teacher-training college or university. These numbers are not supplied until the final year of the course, meaning that no-one can take these tests in advance. Once registered with the TDA, booking is made on-line through the TDA website at any one of about 50 centres (usually in teacher training college
Teacher training college
A teacher training college is a college of higher education that specialises in training students to be teachers.Many universities offer similar facilities, a number of which acquired their provision by taking over a teacher training college or by a teacher training college evolving into a...
s, universities or schools) around the country, but spaces are limited and can become difficult to book as the training year progresses. Many centres are only open for a few halfdays during the week. Booking may be made up to three months in advance.
All three tests are conducted on computers in special rooms under the watchful eye of supervising staff. Casual working can be done on an interactive whiteboard.
The three tests can be taken individually on separate days or on the same occasion (depending on time availability).
Identification
Every candidate must present two pieces of identification on each attendance. One must have a photograph, name and signature (e.g. passportPassport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
), the other must have a name and signature. If you present these on one day but turn up the next day to take another test without them, you will be denied the chance to take the second test and will have to rebook.
Practise materials and taking the tests
Practise materials are available on the TDATDA
TDA is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Taking and Driving Away, a former criminal offense under UK law, introduced in S.28 Road Traffic Act 1930, repeated in s.217 of the Road Traffic Act 1960, and with amendments became s.175 Road Traffic Act 1972 and s.178 Road Traffic Act 1988...
website (below). These are downloadable files which can be installed on a home computer. The literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
test is based on spelling
Spelling
Spelling is the writing of one or more words with letters and diacritics. In addition, the term often, but not always, means an accepted standard spelling or the process of naming the letters...
, punctuation
Punctuation
Punctuation marks are symbols that indicate the structure and organization of written language, as well as intonation and pauses to be observed when reading aloud.In written English, punctuation is vital to disambiguate the meaning of sentences...
, and comprehension
Understanding
Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object....
and lasts for no longer than 48 minutes. The numeracy
Numeracy
Numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. A numerically literate person can manage and respond to the mathematical demands of life...
test starts off with a series of mental arithmetic questions, each with a strict time limit, though paper working is allowed. That is followed by a series of more complex questions involving interpretation of statistical data and graphs, computing costs of school trips and so on. For this section of the test an on-screen calculator is supplied. Candidates have up to 45 minutes for the whole test.
The most idiosyncratic of the three is the ICT
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
test. This consists of a series of exercises in word-processing, e-mail, web-sites, using attachments, printing, presentations, databases and so on. The TDA
TDA
TDA is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Taking and Driving Away, a former criminal offense under UK law, introduced in S.28 Road Traffic Act 1930, repeated in s.217 of the Road Traffic Act 1960, and with amendments became s.175 Road Traffic Act 1972 and s.178 Road Traffic Act 1988...
has avoided the use of Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and instead utilised its own series of programmes. These resemble Windows applications but are crude in appearance and differ in significant detail. This makes prior practise essential. Candidates have 35 minutes to complete the test.
Passing and failing
The pass mark is 60% in each test. Failure in any one means the candidate cannot attain QTS. However, the tests can be retaken throughout their training year until a pass is achieved. Nevertheless, for some candidates this can prove problematic, with numeracyNumeracy
Numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. A numerically literate person can manage and respond to the mathematical demands of life...
being anecdotally the hardest. On the other hand, many candidates find the tests straightforward and pass all of them first time. Staff at centres suggest that younger candidates have more trouble with literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
whereas older candidates can find numeracy
Numeracy
Numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. A numerically literate person can manage and respond to the mathematical demands of life...
more challenging.
Trainees who have failed to pass the tests were formerly allowed a five-year grace period to pass. This concession has been removed from 31 August 2008. Trainees who have not passed these tests during their training and who are employed by schools must expect to have their contracts terminated.
Rest of the United Kingdom
The QTS Skills Tests are only compulsory in England. Teachers training in WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
do not have to pass the tests, even though the rest of the requirements for Qualified Teacher Status are identical. Teachers in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
also do not have to pass the tests, though the requirements to become a qualified teacher are different to England and Wales.
Teachers wishing to teach in a different Home Nation to the one they trained in must apply to the relevant General Teaching Council to be allowed to teach there. With the exception of teachers trained on the GTP, this is normally a formality for teachers who have successfully completed their training. This has led to inconsistencies with regards to the QTS Skills Tests across the UK: as passing the QTS Skills Tests is a requirement of QTS in England, teachers who train in England who then go on to teach elsewhere in the UK must still pass the tests despite them not being a requirement in their destination nation; however, as England normally automatically recognises the equivalent of QTS from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, teachers who train in these nations do not have to pass the QTS Skills Tests to teach in England, even though English-trained teachers must pass them.