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Review of onscreen hospitality multiple-choice test items
We'll be undertaking a full-scale review of the test items in the following knowledge-based onscreen tests:
· Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Award in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Food and Beverage Service) (QCF)
· Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Award in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Front of House Reception) (QCF)
· Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Award in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Housekeeping) (QCF)
· Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Award in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Hospitality Services) (QCF)
· Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Food Production and Cooking) (QCF)
· Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Professional Cookery) (QCF)
· Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Professional Cookery) (QCF)
Why are we reviewing the test items?
Many of the items that are used as questions within the tests were devised in 2009 or early 2010 when there were fewer pathways within the Hospitality and Catering suite. The questions were written for the original qualification pathway they were intended for, which means that in some cases they have been written for a specific context.
As the portfolio of qualifications has expanded, many of the existing units have been incorporated into additional structures and the tests have simply been carried across to the new pathways.
For the majority of the tests, the questions are relevant regardless which pathway they sit in. However, we have discovered that some of the contexts in which the questions are set do not relate to the qualification’s title. Where we have identified 'rogue' questions, we have replaced the item, but we cannot guarantee there will be no more issues.
When will the tests be reviewed?
In order to align our tests with the new technical certificates and the additional pathways, and to guarantee the quality of our questions, we will be revisiting all test items. Once the tests are reviewed, we need to allow time for rewrites, proofreading, rebuilding the tests onscreen, and quality checks. This work will start at the beginning of April, and we'll keep you updated on our progress. We will publish a date when we expect to go live as soon as we can gauge the scale of the re-work required.
What will this mean for centres and learners?
Until the review is complete, there may still be anomalies in the test items. We would appreciate your patience and understanding in any such circumstances, and would ask you to forward details of the query so that it can be addressed in the review. Queries and feedback about the content of these tests should be sent to btectestfeedback@edexcel.com. Please give us as much detail as possible about the test taken (qualification title, test name/number, centre number, candidate number, date/time that the test was taken and as much information as possible about the query or feedback given). Please note that this email address should not be used for technical queries or test booking.
We understand that this is not a perfect interim solution, and would therefore advise you to prepare and pre-warn learners of the possibility that some question contexts may seem at odds with the context of the qualification. In most cases, the performance in these tests has been above the pass rate required, so we do not anticipate a great deal of disadvantage to the learner. However, we can investigate any stand-alone cases where the decision of the test result is deemed to be unfair.
New hospitality technical certificate structures
 View the new technical certificate structures for hospitality
This document includes additional mandatory units and additional optional units. Units that have the same titles as those within the current structures remain unchanged. Due to the announcement by People 1st on 31 March, registrations for existing structures can be made up until 19 May 2011. |