With international student numbers steadily rising, accurate placement testing has become vital in helping institutions manage diverse learning needs and maintain student retention. In the U.S., for example, over 60% of students placed in remedial courses do not complete their degrees, underscoring the need for precise initial placements that avoid costly remediation and improve student outcomes. By integrating Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), Spotlight offers a more efficient, personalised approach to placement testing, benefiting both students and institutions.
How Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) Works
Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) adjusts question difficulty based on a student’s previous responses, creating a responsive and personalised testing experience. For example, if a student answers a question correctly, subsequent questions increase in difficulty; if incorrect, they become more approachable. This adaptive process has been shown to reduce test time by up to 50%, according to research from ETS, while maintaining or enhancing accuracy.
“The adaptive nature of the Spotlight test ensures each student has a personalised testing journey, with no two students experiencing the same path. The test is bespoke, adapting to the student’s responses, keeping them engaged and delivering a more accurate measurement of their abilities.” – Tom Dawtrey, Head of Partnership Development.
Spotlight further refines CAT by grouping questions into sections, allowing students to progress through different levels in a structured way. As Theodore Liu, Technology Innovation Lead, explains, “We’ve designed questions in sections, allowing for smoother progression, a reduction in testing error and a cohesive adaptive experience tailored to each student’s level.” Institutions can customise the number of sections, ensuring a flexible placement process that aligns with their curriculum needs.
Efficiency and Precision
Spotlight streamlines the placement process by automating grading and delivering real-time feedback, enabling institutions to make timely and informed decisions about student placement. By reducing the time spent on assessments, educators can allocate more resources to strategic planning and supporting student success.
The platform also prioritises robust in-house security measures to maintain the validity and integrity of assessments. Security features include identity verification and test monitoring, ensuring reliable results for institutions and students alike.
“Our security features ensure that each test remains valid and secure, offering institutions the reliability they expect without adding unnecessary complexity for the student,” notes Theodore Liu.
Validity and Reliability
Accurate placement testing is essential for improving retention and resource allocation. Institutions using adaptive and data-driven testing models report an average 15% improvement in student retention, according to Complete College America. Spotlight’s technology-driven approach ensures that students are assessed accurately and placed appropriately, leading to better engagement and academic outcomes.
Spotlight’s flexible security options allow institutions to customise the level of security for each test, adapting to specific needs and testing environments. From identity verification to varying degrees of test monitoring, institutions can select the right security measures for each use case, ensuring the assessment’s integrity without adding unnecessary complexity for students.
“Students access content at their level, progressing confidently through the test to achieve a highly accurate result,” notes Tom Dawtrey. Spotlight’s design minimises time spent on irrelevant questions, focusing only on material relevant to the student’s proficiency.
Spotlight’s adaptive testing offers a modern solution for placement assessments. Spotlight delivers a reliable and customisable placement experience by combining academic expertise with advanced adaptive technology. This approach ensures that students are accurately assessed while also providing institutions with valuable insights that can enhance academic outcomes and improve operational efficiency.
Explore how Spotlight can benefit your institution HERE.
