# **3. The Quality Assurance Test**

The Quality Assurance Test (QAT) is the backbone of the FAS program, as eligibility for program benefits are directly tied to the performance of the school in this test. The test has several design and administration strengths. In terms of salient design features, the QAT is designed by professional subject specialists at the Academic Development Unit (ADU) in PEF. It is a criterion-referenced test based on learning standards in the national curriculum.<sup>7</sup> It tests five levels of cognitive learning under Bloom’s (1956) classification: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. The test duration varies between 45–65 minutes, with shorter test durations for lower grades. The QATs designed for students in primary and elementary grades have sections in English, Urdu (the vernacular language in Punjab), mathematics, and general science; those designed for students in secondary grades have sections in English, Urdu, mathematics, and a combination of three of the following five subjects: biology, chemistry, and physics, electrical application, and computer science (the combination of the physical science subjects is the norm).<sup>8</sup> Except in the English and Urdu sections, where the questions are matching, short-answer, or essay type (Urdu section only), questions in the rest of the subjects follow a four-option multiple-choice format. Instructions for the QAT are provided in Urdu; the questions and multiple answer choices in the non-language sections are in both Urdu and English. The QAT is offered twice every academic year, first in November and second in March. The tests are structured identically and are of equal difficulty but more material is covered in the March test, in line with the syllabi in the program schools.<sup>9</sup> To help schools familiarize themselves with the test content and format, PEF periodically shares sample test papers with program schools. PEF has also developed and periodically shares content lists which delineate expected content knowledge, separately by grade and subject.<sup>10</sup>

> 7 The majority of program schools use textbooks from the Punjab Textbook Board as they are provided free of charge through the program—these textbooks are based on the national curriculum.

> 8 Each program school is categorized into a subject group based on information provided prior to the QAT. The subject group determines the subjects tested in classes 9 and 10. The groups are Biology (physics, chemistry, biology, math, English, and Urdu), Electrical Application (physics, chemistry, electrical application, math, English, Urdu), and Computer Science (physics, chemistry, computer science, math, English, Urdu).

> 9 The November QAT tests material from the first six months of the academic year. The March QAT tests material from the full academic year.

> 10 Sample QAT papers and content lists are available on PEF’s website at http://www.pef.edu.pk/downloads-model- <u>papers.html</u> and <u>http://www.pef.edu.pk/downloads-content-list.html, respectively (Last accessed: June 15, 2010).</u> Content lists are also shared with program schools in booklet form. The first time the contents lists were shared was in June 2007, prior to QAT 4.

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