On July 6, the Pilot Unit Benchmarking Test for Coaching Organization Teachers' Professional Level Certification (the Pilot Unit Benchmarking Test), hosted by the Chinese Society of Education, kicked off in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an concurrently, and turned out to be a success. ATA provided full-range technical and operational services for the professional computer-based examination.

As a level certification test for teachers from coaching organizations, the Pilot Unit Benchmarking Test, hosted by the Chinese Society of Education, involves primary, intermediate, and advanced levels, with the process including: written test, class competition, certification-related question and answers and other activities. The pilot examination's written test at primary and intermediate levels was also held on computer for the first time.

Since ATA and the Chinese Society of Education commenced cooperation and launched the certification tests for coaching organizations' senior teachers in early May, ATA and the sponsor have engaged in close cooperation, making sufficient preparation for the primary and intermediary-level pilot unit benchmarking tests for coaching organization teachers' professional level certification, and contributing to the successful completion of the first computerized examination. 

In the course of the examinations, Mu Yadong, director of the Chinese Society of Education's Project Office, and Liu Ying, deputy director of the office, visited ATA's online test monitoring center and inspected the test status, highly praising ATA's organization, operation and performance as well as various support, services and logistical work.

Over the recent years, the rapid development of China's coaching industry has had an adverse impact on teachers' professional improvement and career development. The growing coaching teachers' group is in urgent need for a standard and authoritative evaluation system as well as an established channel for professional development.

In order to fill in the gaps in the professional standards for coaching organizations' teachers and provide guidance for their professional development, China Society of Education has, based on coaching organization teachers' occupational features, carried out research and formulated China's first authoritative Professional Standards for Coaching Organization Teachers (Primary and Middle Schools) (for trial implementation) and the Professional Level Assessment Standards for Coaching Organization Teachers (for trial implementation) (hereinafter referred to as "Standards"), which has passed the expert panel's reasoning and was issued to the general public on October 17, 2016. The Chinese Society of Education has, based on these two Standards, established the primary, intermediary and senior professional level assessment systems for coaching organization teachers, and carried out professional level certifications for coaching organization teachers.

The Chinese Society of Education has so far organized and conducted senior, intermediary and primary professional level certification tests for coaching organization teachers, providing foundation and support for the promotion and development of China's next-step professional standard and level certification for coaching organization teachers. ATA will also continue to provide more professional and higher-level testing technologies and services for the professional level certification tests for coaching organization teachers.