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.
A study published in Frontiers in Education has commended Kazakhstan’s recent strides in education reform, particularly its commitment to international standards, digital transformation, and evidence-based policymaking.
The research also identified a key opportunity for further progress, recommending steps to strengthen the fairness, validity, and scalability of national assessments. It noted that exam authors lacked access to psychometric data and item-level performance insights, tools essential for meeting Kazakhstan's goal of aligning with global best practice.
What is GradeMaker Pro?
GradeMaker Pro helps exam teams to write, review and manage questions all in one place, with built-in tools to track quality and performance.
"In the age of digitalization of education, an integral digital solution that ensures all stages of item creation, from authoring and reviewing to quality assurance and storage, is required for transparency, consistency, and efficiency."
Didarbekova, Sarmurzin, Altybaeva, Abdrasilov and Karkenova, Advancing digital item development in Asian assessment systems: insights from Kazakhstan's Unified National Testing, Frontiers in Education, Vol 10, 2025
In response to this need, the National Testing Center of Kazakhstan has partnered with us to implement GradeMaker, the assessment authoring platform already powering high-stakes testing systems around the world. Together, we are supporting their ambition to enhance exam quality, streamline workflows, and build a more data-informed approach to national testing.
Through this strategic partnership, the NTC is set to drive meaningful reform by modernising its assessment systems, enhancing quality and strengthening security.
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.
Start with an Assessment Validity Audit
Ensure your assessments reflect global best practice with a rigorous, independent audit of your exams.
Our expert-led Assessment Validity Audit will help you identify gaps, improve fairness, and ensure your exams accurately reflect your curriculum and learning goals. This focused project will leave you with more valid, reliable, and internationally esteemed qualifications that better serve learners, educators, and employers alike.
Contact us to see how we can support your assessment reform priorities with evidence-based insights and global expertise.
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