ANNAPOLIS, MD--(Marketwire - Jun 27, 2011) - Summit Consulting Group, a leader in the computer-based testing industry, today announced it was awarded a contract to provide the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) with online examination technology through its eAssessment program.
Summit's technology will enable ACCA, the global body for professional accountants, to administer assessments virtually, which translates into significant benefits for employers and students around the world who select ACCA qualifications for their professional training.
Specifically, ACCA will be able to test students' knowledge and skills in a way which more accurately reflects real-life workplace scenarios and activities. The eAssessment program also offers greater flexibility to students. ACCA testing is currently only available to students twice a year.
"The contract with ACCA is a monumental milestone for the company as it involves redefining the organization's testing module," said John Sotiros, president of Summit Consulting Group. "Professional certification is the core value the ACCA provides to the marketplace and we are honored to be their partner in evolving to meet the changing demands of both employers and students."
Summit will provide ACCA with design, development, and implementation services and will introduce eAssessment on a phased basis. The first examinations will transition to the new system in 2012 with all examinations being phased over the next few years.
"We selected Summit because of the company's proven track record and computer-based testing expertise," said Helen Brand, chief executive of the ACCA. "Moving fully to online testing is an exciting step forward for the ACCA, and will help our organization effectively assess professional accountants and ensure they have the skills needed in an increasingly digital world."
Summit's team of seasoned technology professionals has designed solutions for a variety of clients in the testing and assessment industries which allows test authors to create very complex test structures and implement section and group level scoring and adaptive navigation rules.
Additionally, Summit has developed its own licensable software products, including a comprehensive web-based authoring system, a light weight item writing tool, a secure test driver, an integrated online item writer management system with built in training modules, and a web-based test delivery platform.
About Summit Consulting Group
Based in Annapolis, Maryland, Summit Consulting Group, Inc. is a leader in the computer-based testing industry with a core focus on innovative technology solutions. Summit Consulting Group's team of well-seasoned professional technology consultants have provided invaluable software design, development, and implementation services for companies in the health care, education, information technology, and professional licensure industries. Summit Consulting Group actively participates in industry groups, including The Association of Test Publishers and The Performance Testing Council.
For more information visit: www.summitcgi.com or call 410-990-0167
About ACCA
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. We support our 147,000 members and 424,000 students in 170 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. We work through a network of over 80 offices and centres and more than 8,500 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through our public interest remit, we promote appropriate regulation of accounting and conduct relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence. Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. We believe that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. Our values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure that through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business. We seek to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating our qualifications and delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.