Gone are the days when standardised testing was only administered on paper. In today’s digital age, online assessment is becoming more popular. Online assessments have several benefits, such as easy administration, efficient scoring, and immediate feedback. The switch to online assessment has forced providers of standardised testing and practice tests to adapt to the new format and leverage the digital infrastructure. 

In this article, we will explore various online assessment tools and strategies to help providers keep up with this rapidly changing landscape.

Choose the Right Online Assessment Tool

The first step in creating an online assessment is selecting the right tool for the job. Providers can either create an in-house testing platform or use an external platform. Providers who choose the in-house option can create a custom solution that meets their specific needs. However, this option can be costly and may require significant technical expertise. 

The external platform option can be more cost-effective and easier to set up. Providers provide a range of online assessment tools, each tailored to meet a specific need, be it national or international. 

Create Interactive and Engaging Questions

Online assessment questions should be interactive and engaging to keep students interested and invested in the process. Providers can leverage multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio to create an immersive testing experience. Providers can also use interactive elements such as drag and drop, matching and hotspots to help students better understand the material being tested. 

Careful attention should be paid to phrasing and clarity of questions; failure to do so can befuddle or momentarily derail students, and such incidences can affect both accuracy and student morale. 

Leverage Academic Competitions and Challenges

Education institutions are also now able to leverage online platforms to deliver academic competitions and challenges. These are further tools to motivate and engage students in the learning process. These can be delivered remotely and provide access to students who have difficulty making it into a classroom, allowing them to compete academically with their peers. This can help drive interest and enthusiasm from all students in regards to the material being tested, as well as provide an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge in a fun and interactive manner. Providers should create engaging competitions that are tailored to the specific type of assessment they are administering. 

icasassessments.com is a great example of a school competition provider that inspires and challenges millions of students across the globe. Their questions present real-world scenarios that challenge students to use classroom learning in new ways, leveraging higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.

Design Assessments with Security in Mind

The security of online assessment tests is also critical. Providers should take measures to ensure that assessments aren’t tampered with, answers aren’t shared, and testing conditions aren’t compromised. 

One way to enhance security is by using time-limited assessments that require students to complete the test within a specified time frame. Proctoring can also be used to deter cheating, whereby the student’s device is locked down, and their actions are monitored. Such approaches such as automated proctoring or remote invigilation ensure integrity while keeping costs and test impact minimal.

Use Data Analytics for Insights and Refinements


With online assessments, the data is king. Providers can leverage analytics tools to gain insights into how students performed and identify trends and areas that require improvement. 

Leveraging data analytics also enables providers to use Artificial Intelligence to identify patterns and anomalies, an application of machine learning that means refining assessments becomes a faster, collaborative process. This refinement and analysis should ensure that any residual biases toward individual student characteristics or formats of assessment are reduced. A feedback system can be set up so that immediate insights are served to educators, parents, and students to utilise test results effectively.

Continued Innovation and Adaptation

Finally, the digital landscape is always changing, and providers must be well-positioned to adapt to changes as they happen. Providers should continuously innovate and invest in technology, keeping up with best practices and developments in online testing. 

By moving quickly and harnessing emerging and cutting-edge technologies, providers of standardised testing and practice tests can pioneer online assessments that better serve educators, parents and, most importantly, students in increasingly diverse settings.

In Summary

The digital age presents an exciting opportunity for providers of standardised testing and practice tests to innovate and offer a better experience for students today and in the future. Online assessment tools help providers meet the changing needs of students, improve efficiency, and cut costs. 

Providers must choose the right online platform, create interactive and engaging questions, maintain high levels of security, leverage data analytics, and above all stay agile in their approach. It is only through such consistent and innovative efforts; providers will develop a testing experience that is accountable, more widely adoptable, and an accurate reflection of the abilities of each student.