Share Best Practices
by creating a library of best practices in the field of performance testing available on the web site.
Our vision is simple: Be the only organization focusing entirely on testing by doing. We help our members
- Start and grow their testing programs
- Apply best practices in performance based testing
- Innovate their exams
- Avoid costly mistakes
- Save money
Our History
In 2002, David Foster, then CEO and president of Galton Technologies (currently president of Caveon), invited a cross section of IT certification industry representatives who were either already delivering or had indicated an interest in delivering performance tests to a two-day performance testing summit. The purpose of the meeting was to talk about ways to improve quality and increase validity of performance-based IT certification tests and thus to add value to certification tests throughout the industry.
Coming Together
On 14 and 15 March 2002, this invited group met in Park City, Utah. After identifying several areas that the group believed constituted barriers to developing good performance tests, they began brainstorming ideas to overcome the barriers and advocate widespread acceptance of demonstrably valid testing, including performance testing. During those two days, the group created a list of barriers spread across some 18 categories of test design, development and administration.
Define and Drive Research
that will address the major open issues of performance testing.
Develop Common Delivery Standards
for required resources, data transmission, and file formats.
Expand the Marketplace
allowing vendors and suppliers to showcase performance testing tools and services.
Provide Resources
that allow developers, item writers, and managers to learn from experts in the field of performance testing.
Identify, develop and support evaluation
of Performance Testing tools, metrics, and resources.
Define and Drive Research
that will address the major open issues of performance testing.
Encourage and support development
of a theoretical base for Performance Testing.
Expand the Marketplace
allowing vendors and suppliers to showcase performance testing tools and services.
Evangelize and educate stakeholders
in advantages, value, and appropriate use of Performance Testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most answers to common questions can be found below. If you do not find the answer to your question feel free to reach out.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. Does the growth of performance testing mean traditional tests will go away?
No. Performance testing adds a new layer of value, supplementing traditional cognitive tests. Multiple choice has its place and is not going away.
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Q. Will performance testing cannibalize the market for cognitive tests?
No. Adding performance testing creates a new market. Performance testing helps to differentiate and maintain competitive offerings. The two go together; for example, multiple choice tests can be a pre-requisite to performance tests.
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Q. If I offer a performance test will it lower the perceived value of my traditional tests?
No. Traditional tests can be positioned to track to and pre-qualify for performance tests. People will take both.
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Q. Why should I care about standards for performance testing?
For the same reason as for traditional tests: your customers deserve an independent measure of validity. Standards are already approved and as a professional it is to your advantage to be aware of them, even if you don’t have performance testing plans right now.
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Q. Why join the Performance Testing Council if we don’t have any plans to do performance testing?
Working with the Performance Testing Council gives you a way to evaluate performance testing on a much wider scale than you may have had access to previously. Supported by the experts and practitioners of performance testing, you can take a fresh look at newly available the possibilities.
Performance testing is growing, as the success of many PTC members demonstrates.
At the PTC summits – and in our Resource libraries – you can learn about successful performance testing implementations in a range of contexts. You owe it to yourself to find out about opportunities to increase the value of your programs that you may not have thought of yet.
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Q. OK, we believe performance testing provides a better performance measure, but can it scale?
Yes, it can! Test delivery has always been a major area of PTC innovation, for both standards and solutions. And with the reach of new cloud-based computing solutions, the reach of performance testing is growing rapidly.
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Q. Can performance testing be brought to market at competitive pricing?
This may surprise you, but yes it can. Major IT vendors have pushed the price of performance testing down to equal or less than the cost of traditional tests. PTC members share information on how they do it.
Board of Directors
The Performance Testing Council Board of Directors is elected by the membership and consists of seven members. The Executive Director is an Ex Officio member. The Board meets each month and at each Summit meeting.
Meet the current BoardMarketing and Communications
The charter of the Marketing and Communications committee is to promote performance testing to the corporate public and generate new memberships.
Design and Delivery
The charter for the Design and Delivery Committee is to build and share with our valued members a knowledge base of performance test design, content development process, and delivery of the performance tests, thus making the performance testing adoption easier.
View Design and Delivery ResourcesPsychometrics
The charter for the Psychometrics Committee is to investigate new measures for test and item evaluation and to plan and execute studies on performance test effectiveness.
View Psychometrics ResourcesGet Involved
We want to hear your ideas. There are many ways you can get involved today.
Share Your Accomplishments.
One of the delights of doing a tough job is sharing with others how you did it. There are plenty of people who would love to hear how you overcame obstacles to create your performance test. Tell us how you did it by presenting in one of our short webinars.
Send us a note
Come to an Event.
The PTC hosts numerous events throughout the year, from webinars to bi-annual Summits. Someone likely has already tackled the very issue you’re experiencing now. Come learn, share, and network with some of the best minds working in the field
See all events
Join Us Today.
Becoming a member of the Performance Testing Council provides valuable benefits that can elevate your testing strategies. Share performance testing resources, network with industry experts, and receive exclusive member discounts on upcoming Performance Testing Council events.
Go to application