Who are we?
Bureau ICE is a Dutch organisation and the specialist in testing and examination. We have a broad expertise in the development of all varieties of tests and exams. We can develop any test.
The tests and exams we make are tailored to the customer's wishes. We also develop our own products, which clients can buy from us. But we also help clients who wish to learn for themselves how to make good tests and exams. Sometimes we do this with regard to policy and help out with questions such as: when do I use a certain test, which test should I use and what do I do with the result? Or: how can I make sure that the Inspectorate for Education is satisfied with our tests and exams? But just as often we support at the concrete level of the individual teacher: How can I make a test which exactly tells me what my pupils know? Or: how can I make an exam which the examination board approves of?
In short, our team can assist you with all issues related to testing and examination. We are relatively small (45 employees), but this also makes us flexible, quick and available on call. We operate from the premises of our building in Culemborg, The Netherlands, but also on location with our clients. We have done so for the past 20 years and with great pleasure.
What is our aim?
We always work on innovative and pragmatic solutions, and on the development of the skills and competences of our clients. Our aim is to make ourselves 'redundant': we want to transfer our knowledge and skills onto our clients and teach them how to make good tests and exams themselves.
What do we do?
All of our consultants are specialised in everything which relates to testing and examination. Many of them have a linguistic background. The reason for this is that we are very active in the discipline Dutch as a Second Language. We are the institution to turn to for issues concerning language and language policy.
What do we do for our customers?
- We give presentations, workshops and trainings on many topics relating to our expertise
- We coach testing development programmes for teachers
- We advise and support the management of schools and organisations with their testing-and language policy
- We develop testing products which are ordered by customers, or for ourselves
- We support schools and other organisations with the implementation of testing products in their own daily practice
Who are our clients?
Among our clients are Ministries, companies, vocational training centres, secondary schools, elementary schools, universities, municipalities and publishers. We serve all of them with our services and products.
For the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences we develop the State exams Dutch as a Second Language (Reading and Writing components), which we have been doing since 1991. From the very beginning of multicultural integration in the Netherlands, the Dutch state has actively involved Bureau ICE in the testing component of integration. In the first stage, we have developed various tests measuring language proficiency and knowledge of society. Currently, we are project leader of the Dutch integration exam.
For the intake of people integrating via integration programmes, we have developed our own testing products. Municipalities and other institutions providing integration programmes are using these tests on a very large scale.
Another product we have developed is our web based testing battery, called the TOA. The TOA holds over 200 (language) tests, for the languages English, German and Dutch. It is very easy to measure language proficiency with the TOA, for the following skills: reading, listening, writing, speaking and general proficiency. What is so special and pioneering about these tests is that they measure language proficiency according to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the European standard in language ability. The TOA gives you a fast and clear-cut answer about someone's language level. We have recently fully renewed the TOA to give it a modern look and feel.
Vocational training centres mainly use our training and support in testing and examination issues in relation to the supervision by the Inspectorate for Education. In this way, we have become market leader in competency based testing and examining in Dutch vocational education.
ICE CARRIBBEAN
Bureau ICE also has a branch on Curacao, the Netherlands Antilles. As in the Netherlands, we carry out projects relating to our expertise in language policy, testing and examination and competency based learning and assessment.
At the request of the Inspectorate of Education in the Netherlands Antilles, ICE Caribbean has developed a monitoring framework geared to competency based learning. We also have a language testing centre on Curacao where language proficiency and skills are measured.
BUREAU STERK
Bureau STERK is a new organisation aligned to Bureau ICE. Bureau STERK specialises in measuring and developing the skills and talents of people who are (still) outside the employment process and of those who participate in the labour market.
Bureau STERK is an expert in making visible the qualities which employees need in order to be able to make a contribution to a company or institution. Bureau STERK has special attention for low-skilled workers, immigrants and the elderly. Bureau STERK can contribute to good recruitment and selection, ensure the selection of the right people, avoid a waste of talent and enhance the internal flow of personnel.
