Automated Skills Testing
· Typing Speed/Accuracy
· Word Processing Skills
· Filing
· Language Arts |
· Math
· Financial Skills
· Spreadsheets
· Databases |
Developed by
Professional Secretaries International®
The leading association and the certifying
body for the
secretarial profession, with over 40,000
members worldwide. |
WHAT IS THE OPAC® SYSTEM?
The OPAC System is the premiere PC and Office
Skills testing suite. With an array of over 30
exams, and the power to create your own tests,
The OPAC System is one of the most comprehensive
testing packages available.
The OPAC System is a flexible tool for both
the corporate and educational environments. Corporate
clients typically use The OPAC Software to test
job applicants, and also rely on the software
to assess the skill levels of their current employees.
Educational clients use the system to ensure
that students, both secondary and post-secondary,
have the necessary skills for today's technologically
demanding job environment.
The software tests for proficiency in all of
the major word processing, spreadsheet, and database
applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel,
and Access. Office skills tests include keyboarding,
proofreading, data entry, and transcription.
The OPAC System also offers a battery of tests
specifically designed for the legal and medical
environments. New tests are regularly added to
the software throughout the year, with clients
participating in our OPAC Plus premium customer
program receiving complimentary software upgrades
on a regular basis.
If you have the need to create your own tests,
you can turn to the powerful Test Writer feature,
which allows you to create tests in virtually
any subject. Test Writer has tremendous flexibility,
giving you the capability of adding sound, graphics,
and more to your custom exams.
The OPAC System is self-administering and self-scoring.
You can generate hard copies of test results,
and also save tests result on a PC or network
for reference. The software is available in both
single-user and multi-user configurations.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
| Automated -
Saves time as it requires only minimal
supervision. Automatic scoring provides
instant results and saves hours of staff
time.
Comprehensive -
Measures a wide range of essential
office skills providing a complete
and accurate evaluation of the candidate.
Easy-to-Use - On
screen instructions and Candidate Manual
guide the candidate through the tests.
Simplicity reduces test apprehension
and frustration. |
Flexible
Test Selection - Test Administrator
can choose individual tests or select
a group of tests to measure specific
skill areas.
Unlimited Testing -
No "per test" charge. One time license
fee allows for unlimited testing.
Validated - Studies
have shown the OPAC System tests to
be job related in most automated offices.
Lower your risk in hiring by using
a test that has been shown to minimize
adverse impact against protected groups
(copies of studies available). |
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM USING THE OPAC SYSTEM?
The OPAC System is designed for use in both the
educational and the employment testing environment.
Educational institutions may use the OPAC System
in the classroom as a pre/post test or final assessment
for office skills and computer applications.
With the OPAC System Validation Module, employers
can confidently use the OPAC System for their pre-employment
screening, training and promotional needs.
HOW WAS THE OPAC SYSTEM DEVELOPED AND VALIDATED?
The OPAC System was developed by IAAP (formerly
Professional Secretaries International) and is
distributed by the OPAC Testing Software division
of Biddle & Associates, Inc.
International Association of Administrative Professionals
is the leading association and certifying body
for the secretarial profession, with over 40,000
members worldwide. The OPAC System is based on
a two-year, nationwide study that determined
relevant skill testing areas, according to leading
business educators, managers, and secretaries.
Biddle & Associates, Inc. is a consulting
firm specializing in EEO/Affirmative Action,
with over 20 years experience. A comprehensive
validation study was conducted by Biddle & Associates
at a large federal employer. Over 300 job incumbents
representing 24 secretarial/clerical classifications
were evaluated. Four automated skills tests,
including the OPAC system, were included in the
study. The OPAC System was the only test to show
criterion-related validity in all dimensions
evaluated (Typing Speed/Accuracy, Wordprocessing
Level I skills and Word Processing Level II skills).
The OPAC System also demonstrated substantial
content validity to the jobs sampled.
This study shows that the OPAC System is very
useful as a "final" exam in educational courses
and as a hiring or promotional test. The study
demonstrated that OPAC tests are related to successful
job performance in a wide variety of clerical
classifications.
And now, with our Validation Module, employers
are able to conduct an automated, basic content
validation for individual OPAC System tests,
for particular job titles in their work environment.
OPAC'S AUTO
TEST FEATURE
Using the OPAC System's exclusive
AutoTest feature, the Test Administrator
may pre-determine specific units to
be taken by the candidate. The selected
test units can be assigned in any order.
When the candidate signs on, the tests
that were selected are displayed. Upon
completion of a test, the next unit
in the sequence will automatically
begin. Test results are displayed and
printed automatically.
SYSTEM CUSTOMIZATION
The OPAC System includes
user-friendly customization features
to meet your specific needs. You can
choose several options for your score
reporting, collection of candidate bio-demographics,
and maintenance of candidate data and
scores.
Test Writer
This innovative feature gives you the
power to create your own custom tests.
With Test Writer, The OPAC System gives
you the flexibility of creating tests
with a number of features:
- full text formatting
- graphic and symbol insertion
- sound and movie clip insertion
- multiple choice, true/false, and
fill-in-the-blank question formats
- item weighting
- sub-scale scoring
When you're finished developing your new
tests, you can validate them with the built-in
Validation Wizard. (See Validation Wizard
below). Just like all of The OPAC System's
tests, the custom tests you create with
Test Writer will be administered on screen
and automatically scored.
Click
here to see a sample of a Test Writer
screen.
Auto Test
The OPAC System's exclusive Auto Test
feature allows you to pre-select the
specific tests that you would like to
administer to any given candidate. You
can assign the tests in any order to
suit your specific testing needs, and
set timing limits as well.
When the candidate signs on, the tests
you have selected are displayed. Upon
completion of a test, the next test in
the sequence will automatically begin.
Test results are displayed and printed
automatically.
Click
here to see a sample of our Auto Test
screen.
Validation Wizard
It's important to verify the validity
of the tests used in your organization.
Valid tests will improve your recruitment
results, and can also help minimize your
exposure to hiring disputes. The OPAC
System's Validation Wizard gives you
the capability to run a content-validation
study on any OPAC test, as well as any
test you create with the Test Writer
feature. With the Validation Wizard,
you can complete a basic content-validity
survey and choose the most appropriate
cutoff scores.
Click
here to see a sample of our System
Customization screen. |
The OPAC
PACKAGE OPTIONS
The OPAC System consists
of 30 tests grouped by topic into a
package that is designed to assess
the various skills needed by today's
office employees. Most tests contain
alternating test versions and versions
with different degrees of difficulty.
The OPAC System is available in either
Multi-User or Single-User configurations.
Computer Applications Tests
- Windows 95 and higher
- Word-processing
- Spreadsheet
- Database
Keyboarding Tests
- Keyboarding
- 10-Key
- Data Entry
Clerical Skills Tests
- Transcription
- Alphabetic and Numeric Filing
- Minutes Composition
- Letter Formatting
- Proofreading
- Spelling
Financial Tests
- Bank Deposit
- Bank Reconciliation
- Petty Cash
- Math
Professional Tests
- Tests for Legal Knowledge and Skills
- Tests for Medical Knowledge and Skills
Custom Tests: Build
your own tests in OPAC using the Test
Writer feature. Your custom tests become
fully integrated into the OPAC System.
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE SERVICE
Annual Maintenance Service includes unlimited
telephone support and discounts on upgrades
for one year. The first year of annual
maintenance is included with the software.
DOWNLOAD
a FREE DEMO |
Hardware and Software Requirements:
- Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP/2003
or Windows NT 4.0 or higher
- Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher
- Pentium 133 Processor or higher
- 70 MB Hard Drive Space
- Windows 95/98/ME/NT 4.0 Users: 64 MB
RAM (128 MB Recommended)
- Windows 2000: 64 MB RAM (256 MB Recommended)
- Windows XP Users: 128 MB RAM (256 MB
Recommended)
- Super VGA Monitor with 16-bit Color
or higher, resolution of 640x480, 800x600,
or 1024x768
- CD-ROM drive for installation of the
OPAC System
- Sound Card (required for Spelling Test)
For computer applications testing, OPAC
works directly with word-processing,
spreadsheet, and database applications.
The OPAC System is compatible with various
popular software applications including
Microsoft Office (2003, 2000, and 97),
WordPerfect, and Lotus 1-2-3. External
software applications are not included
with The OPAC System.
If installing for network use, The
OPAC System is compatible with Microsoft
Windows NT/2000 as well as NOVELL® NetWare. |
Certification
Professional Secretaries International
is the certifying body for the secretarial
profession. Any person who passes the OPAC
exam(s) within the standards set by Professional
Secretaries International may apply for a certificate
from a designated Certification Center. OPAC
Certification Centers are Biddle & Associates
and the National Association of Secretarial
Services.
|
