IEA INSIDER 2025
Behind the Scenes: Coordinating Test Administrators in Germany
BY CATHERINE PFEIFER & ULRICH SIEVERS
“HELLO, THIS IS TINA TESTLEITER SPEAKING. I'M CURRENTLY AT A SCHOOL IN BERLIN, TESTING PISA, AND I’VE RUN INTO THE FOLLOWING ISSUE...”
That is how many of the calls to our Test Administrators’ Coordination team begin while a study is in the field. From 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., our hotline is open for test administrators across Germany. Whether it is technical glitches, script-related uncertainties, or logistical difficulties, we are here to provide answers, reassurance, and timely fixes. The early days of a test phase can be especially intense. After all, it is only once things are underway that we truly see which hiccups might arise. Sometimes, previously unknown technical quirks surface. Other times, it is a matter of interpreting procedures or materials. Experience helps, and after a few days, our team can usually respond on the spot.
But there are other daily challenges as well. Some are more routine, such as test administrators falling ill, missing materials, last-minute coordination with schools. In those moments, the key is to act fast, stay calm, and keep the lines of communication open. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK Long before any of these calls reach us, a great deal of preparation has already happened. It all begins with recruiting and contracting test administrators. For this, we rely heavily on our university network—a list of around 3,000 professors and tutors across Germany. We email them with a simple request: to share our job posting with students. Interested
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