In recent weeks, the BCS has made a number of announcements regarding changes to the ECDL Syllabus, planned for September this year and for 2008. Our first edition of Activ News, issued at the end of March, reported on how hugely committed we are to ensuring that all our customers will have access to new testing and training products from us in good time to meet these changes.
As a result of the BCS publicity, a number of customers have contacted us to ask various questions. Below is a selection of the more important ones, with their answers.
In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to keep you up to date on the progress of our development programme for the new products that will enable you to offer training and testing solutions to meet all the new syllabus requirements. If you have any questions, please email or call your Account Manager, or telephone Activ Head Office on 01234 340 880.
1. Q. Exactly what changes are taking place in September 07?
A. There will be some minor changes to the Syllabus for modules 1, 2 and 7, in order to make them more up to date with modern practice and to meet the new National Occupational Standards (NOS). These changes are, in effect, amendments to the present Syllabus 4 and will therefore be classed as Syllabus 4.5. The BCS Level 1 and 2 qualifications will be re-named as ECDL Essentials and ECDL Extra, respectively.
2. Q. What changes are taking place in September 08?
A. There will be a new ECDL Syllabus (5.0) introduced that is expected to be NOS compliant. This is currently at the discussion stage. At this time, the BCS is also planning to add new NOS units in IT Troubleshooting, IT Maintenance, IT Security and Website Design.
3. Q. Will candidates who have already registered for ECDL before 1st September 07 be able to sit Syllabus 4 tests after 1st September 07?
A. Yes. Candidates registered before 1st September 07 will be able to use Syllabus 4 and 4.5 tests. The BCS strongly advise that all candidates registered on or after 1st September 07 should be tested using the new Syllabus 4.5 tests.
4. Q. If, in September 07, we have some Syllabus 4 ActivTest licences left over, will we still be able to use them?
A. Yes. The test licences for Syllabus 4 will also work for Syllabus 4.5 and therefore you do not need to worry that you will be left with test licences that you cannot use.
5. Q. Will we have to purchase the new Syllabus 4.5 tests?
A. No. We will add the new Syllabus 4.5 test package to your ActivTest account without any charge. You will then be able to select the Syllabus 4.5 tests when queuing tests for candidates. The Syllabus 4 test package will remain in your account for candidates registered prior to 1st September 07, as explained in 3 above. As always, you will only need to purchase more test licences when you need to top up your overall total.
6. Q. Will the Activ courseware be updated to Syllabus 4.5?
A. Yes, we will be releasing new and approved Syllabus 4.5 courseware in advance of 1st September this year. All courseware customers will receive this courseware, whether they have opted for network, Web or CD-ROM deployment and it is expected that most organisations will run both Syllabus 4 and 4.5 courseware together for a period of time to cater for candidates registered before 1st September.
7. Q. Will we have to pay for the new courseware?
A. No, you will be upgraded free of charge.
8. Q. Our centre is still using Version 4 of ActivTest. Will we need to be upgraded to Version 6 by 31st August?
A. Yes, our Support Desk will contact you to arrange your upgrade well before 31st August. (By the way, please do not confuse ActivTest version numbers with Syllabus version numbers, as they are not related at all!!)
9. Q. How will we get hold of the new Activ tests and courseware?
A. The new test package (containing the Syllabus 4.5 tests) will be added to your account automatically in the case of Web-based systems. If you are hosting the ActivTest system on your in-house servers, we will be in touch shortly with regard to getting the new test packages to you, either on a CD-ROM or via a download, so you can install them into your ActivTest database.
As for courseware, where you have the Web-based version, we will make both Syllabus 4 and 4.5 available to you but if you have the courseware installed on your own server, or if you use CD-ROMs, then we will send you the new courseware as soon as it is ready, in time for you to install by 31st August.
10. Q. Will candidates who have registered for Syllabus 4 be able to switch to Syllabus 4.5 tests?
A. Yes, this choice will be available to candidates but they need to realise that there are some changes to Modules 1, 2 and 7. The Syllabus 4.5 tests will be only slightly different to those for Syllabus 4 but such candidates should be advised to study the minor Syllabus changes which will be covered in the Activ courseware, before sitting the tests.
11. Q. Will the Activ diagnostic assessments also be upgraded, to meet the new Syllabus 4.5?
A. Yes, and they will be added to your ActivTest account free of charge.
12. Q. Do the changes affect the e-Citizen and e-type courseware and qualifications?
A. No, not at all.
13. Q. What are the implications of the changes to the Syllabus taking place in September 2008?
A. The introduction of Syllabus 5, mentioned in 2 above, will simply mean upgrading the tests and courseware once again. When the full details are known, we will give you them via Activ News. One thing is for certain; Activ will be committed to providing you with training and testing solutions that will satisfy whatever these changes bring.
May 2007
