Activities to Support the Key Skills IT Level 3 External Test

The IT key skills external tests at level 3 are based on the use of data files. These were designed by key skills IT teachers to help support students in developing the skills necessary for the external test. The activities provide opportunities for students to practice the process of importing files into appropriate software and carrying out level 3 tasks.

The following activities are available for downloading:

Data files for IT Activities

Data files will be needed by candidates using these activities. Centres should ensure that each data file is downloaded and stored locally in a form which is accessible to candidates using word (document) processing, database and/or spreadsheet software with which they are familiar.

Each candidate using the activities should be provided with access to the data files either as read-only files in a suitable directory (folder) structure on the centre's network or by means of a write-protected floppy disc or equivalent (eg a CD-ROM). Each data file must be named as it is on this site and the data files associated with each scenario should be stored together, preferably within a subdirectory with the scenario name. Each activity will use this name to identify the scenario on which it is based.

For the majority of centres it is expected that the downloaded data files will be stored automatically in a form which is suitable for candidates to use. Where the system and/or application software in a centre is unusual it may be necessary for the centre to convert the downloaded data files to a suitable form as outlined below.

Each data file may contain

• unstructured text (eg the content of a memo) - this should be stored locally in a form which allows candidates to insert (or import or copy) the text into a document in a word processor;

• structured text representing comma-separated data (eg for use in spreadsheets or database records; the first line in such files will usually contain column/field headings) - this should be stored locally in a form which allows candidates to insert (or import or copy) the data into a sheet in spreadsheet software or a table in database software;

• an image (eg a logo, a picture for a newsletter) - this should be stored locally in a form which allows candidates to insert (or import or copy) the image into a document in a word processor, a sheet in spreadsheet software or a report in database software.

Where it is not possible to download an image file or store it locally in a suitable form, the centre should identify an appropriate image (from clip art or another source, image detail not important) and create an equivalent data file for candidates to use.

For each file, click on the link to view the contents on screen, then select "Save As..." from the File menu, and specify the location where you wish to save the data file on your system. Alternatively right click (PC) or ctrl click (Mac), then choose the "Save Target As..." option.

Those familiar with using zip files (PC) or sit files (Mac) may instead prefer to download all the files together in one of these compressed forms. This will create the preferred subdirectory structure using the scenario names.

Note: do not attempt to download a data file by highlighting the contents on screen then using copy and paste. This may appear to work but will usually lose essential formatting characters such as line breaks in the data file.