Innovating assessment
Kazakhstan's vision for modern education is being realised through enhanced assessment
The National Testing Center (NTC) of Kazakhstan has partnered with AQA Global Assessment Services to deliver on it's vision for an internationally competitive education system.
Through this strategic partnership, the NTC is set to drive meaningful reform by modernising its assessment systems, enhancing quality, boosting efficiency, and strengthening security.
Kazakhstan has made significant progress in recent years in reforming its education system, with a strong focus on international standards, digital transformation, and evidence-based policy. The NTC plays a central role in this progress, ensuring that national assessments are fair, reliable, and aligned with the country’s educational goals.
What is GradeMaker Pro?
GradeMaker Pro offers advanced tools for developing high-quality assessments, including support for multimedia content, remote collaboration, and secure integration with on-screen test delivery systems.
Laying the foundations
The first steps in our partnership will be to build strong assessment development processes, and provide a clear assessment of existing exams.
Modernised authoring
NTC have launched an implementation project with GradeMaker Pro, a digital platform for item banking and exam authoring. By using a centralised approach to assessment design and review, the NTC team will be able to monitor quality assurance more closely and more easily manage change.
Exam reviews
Through focussed Content Validity Audits, our team will bring international best practice and the latest in educational research to a review of existing exam materials. They will then provide actionable recommendations for aligning tests with national objectives and international standards.
The pilot project will support the NTC’s long-term goals, including:
Enhancing the assessment of functional literacy and higher-order thinking skills
Introducing multimedia and interactive content to modernise exams and practice tests
Improving security and reducing the risk of leaks through a fully digital, access-controlled environment
Increasing efficiency by streamlining workflows and centralising content development
While the Content Validity Audit is being carried out by our team of education consultants from AlphaPlus, our technology implementation team at GradeMaker will start work on the exam authoring pilot.
During a collaborative discovery stage, they will construct the smoothest experience possible for the test authoring team by working closely with NTC to create custom environments and personalised user journeys, specific to the needs of each subject and qualification.
This six-month project, following on from a successful sandbox pilot, will then allow a core team of NTC staff to further explore the system using low-stakes test content.
The project includes:
- System setup and training in both English and Russian
- Development and review of test items in up to three subjects
- Evaluation of onscreen test delivery using a secure test player
- Support for the NTC’s research team in designing a study to evaluate the impact of digital authoring on assessment quality
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation in education and to building sustainable, locally managed systems. The pilot will also explore options for in-country hosting of exam content, ensuring alignment with national data security requirements.
Modernise systems, build capacity and embed excellence with tailored advice and high-impact projects from AQA Global.
Looking Ahead
Following the pilot, the NTC will have the opportunity to scale up its use of GradeMaker Pro, with continued support, training, and access to new features as the platform evolves.
AQA Global Assessment Services is proud to support the NTC in this important initiative and looks forward to contributing to Kazakhstan’s vision for a modern, high-quality assessment system that gives every learner the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Where to start
Ensure your assessments reflect global best practice with a rigorous, independent audit of your exams.
Our expert-led Content Validity Audit will help you identify gaps, improve fairness, and ensure your exams accurately reflect your curriculum and learning goals. This focussed project will leave you with more valid, reliable, and internationally esteemed qualifications that better serve learners, educators, and employers alike.
Contact us today to see how we can support your assessment reform priorities with evidence-based insights and global expertise.
Contact our team
Fill in our contact form and we'll get in touch.
Email: info@aqaglobal.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Our London office
AQA Global Assessment Services
Lynton House
7-12 Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9LT
UK
Offices in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Bahrain, Sharjah and Hong Kong
Events
Meet with our experts at a conference near you.
We regularly attend education and assessment events around the world, often presenting our latest research.