SOSCA: 
Information sheet Example Feedback
Secondary On Screen Curriculum Assessments
SOSCA is a suite of curriculum-based assessments designed to measure pupil progress in Maths, Science and Reading at age 14 (Year 9*/S2). *In Northern Ireland this is Year 10.
It offers an efficient and cost effective alternative to Key Stage 3 SATs and is administered via the computer during a pre-defined testing window in April/May each year.
Who can participate?
- Any school that wants to know how their pupils are performing relative to the curriculum and against other pupils in the sample;
- Schools that are interested in seeing how much progress (value-added) their pupils have made, both during the lower part of secondary school (from the MidYIS baseline test) and during the last two years of compulsory schooling (from SOSCA to external examinations).
Curriculum coverage
We have paid careful attention to the different curricula in different countries to make SOSCA suitable for schools following:
- The English National Curriculum
- Scottish 5-14 Curriculum Guidelines
- Independent schools' curricula
- The National Curriculum in Wales
- The Northern Ireland Curriculum
- International schools following any of the above
Particular care has been taken to cater for a wide range of abilities. The tests themselves are adaptive, ensuring that pupils are presented with items suited to their ability, meaning a more pleasant testing experience for all.
SOSCA is one of the latest monitoring systems offered by CEM, the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University, home of MidYIS, Yellis and Alis.
See the Introduction for a more detailed description of SOSCA.
See the SOSCA Site Map to see what web pages are available.
SOSCA's home page is www.soscaproject.org
Latest News - updated 10th Dec 2009
10 Dec 09: SOSCA TO SQA Value Added Feedback now available
27 Nov 09: SOSCA Registrations now open for testing in 2010.
27 Nov 09: SOSCA is being updated to suit curriculum changes
In addition to our continual updating of items, science teachers are being invited to take a stake in SOSCA by contributing their experiences with the new curricula.
For MORE NEWS visit our SOSCA News Items page.
Durham University