We’re pleased to announce that The Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) has renewed their GradeMaker Pro contract to 2027. BEC has partnered with GradeMaker since 2020 and now creates all their assessments using GradeMaker Pro, improving the security and efficiency of their assessment process.
BEC made their test development process much more efficient by moving their authoring online. In 2020, with the disruption caused by the global pandemic, BEC decided to fast-track their e-authoring and item-banking plans. With the support of GradeMaker Pro technology, BEC successfully digitised their question paper development process.
Increased efficiency
BEC is now creating all of their exam papers across all subjects and qualifications using GradeMaker Pro. They have over 500 users and nearly 200 question papers, including their most complex and widely sat exams such as Standard 4, PSLE, JCE and BGCSE. Within GradeMaker Pro they manage their entire workflow in one place, ensuring the automated progression of papers, from first draft to final approval. They are streamlining development using the Whole Paper Authoring method to create the majority of their tests. They are also using a mixed source approach for any papers with a combination of authors.
Enhanced security
Security has always been a top priority for the BEC team. Therefore, it was critical that any changes which facilitated efficiency in their process should not compromise the security of papers. In moving to digital authoring, the teams at BEC were able to further improve their security processes and eliminate unnecessary and unapproved access to papers.
Progress tracking
The benefits of digital authoring have not been limited to improving the security of papers. Senior staff have also been able to avoid the hours of work that had previously been spent manually chasing for updates and managing workflow between team members. GradeMaker Pro displays the important milestone dates within each workflow, providing the team with an early warning system for any papers that may be delayed. This feature has enabled the project team to avoid delays and speed up the progress of their papers.
“Botswana Examinations Council selected GradeMaker Pro technology because it enables remote but secure authoring of question papers as well as improvements in efficiencies through workflow management. GradeMaker Pro assists in the timely quality assurance of question papers, even remotely, which ensures business continuity in times when physical meetings might be a challenge. This has immensely contributed to the cost containment initiative as a result on developing papers online, as opposed to the previous costly practice where question paper development personnel had to travel to BEC from the length and breadth of Botswana.”
Ratio Les Balositse, Head of Corporate IT, Botswana Examinations Council
Future plans
BEC is now pioneering approaches that will make their test building processes more efficient in future. In order to do this, they are exploring the Item-banking options that are available within GradeMaker and are planning to utilise this approach for some of their future items.
See how GradeMaker Pro technology can improve the security and efficiency of your test development process.
About Botswana Examinations Council
BEC is responsible for the conduct, management and certification of school examinations and assessments, as well as technical and vocational education and training in Botswana. They give thousands of primary and secondary students the opportunity to gain important qualifications every year.
They also advise the Ministry of Education and Skills Development on assessment issues, ensure the maintenance of internationally competitive performance standards, and accredit all examination centres in Botswana, including schools.
About GradeMaker Pro
GradeMaker Pro is a purpose-built digital authoring platform that manages production of high stakes assessments by many large awarding bodies. The application provides a secure environment where all stages of the assessment production process, from first draft to print, can be fully managed. Within the platform, awarding bodies can strictly control who has access to content at each step of the development process.
GradeMaker is part of AQA Global Assessment Services.
About AQA Global Assessment Services
AQA Global Assessment Services improves education and assessment around the world.
We provide research, assessment and curriculum capability, backed by digital delivery at international scale, across academic, vocational and professional skills. Our comprehensive capabilities, experience and services, and bespoke approach set us apart as a strategic partner, not just a supplier.
AQA Global Assessment Services is part of AQA, the UK’s leading exam board and an independent charity with over 120 years of assessment expertise and knowledge.