| Date: |
30 Sep-14 Oct 2026 (Scheduled) |
Venue: |
Online
|
| Time: |
12:30 - 14:00
|
| Type: |
Online workshop series: Scheduled |
Fee: |
£265
(10% discount available for members) |
| Duration: |
4.5 hours (3x 90 min sessions) |
Credits: |
4.5 CPD accredited hours |
Book now
Bookings close 29 Sep 2026 at 11am (UK time)
Enrol before 5 Sep for our early bird price of £200.
Gain expert insight into the research, design and implementation of item banking, and learn how and why it can support good assessment practice.
Why choose this workshop?
Item banking is the process of creating, reviewing, and storing exam questions (known as items) in a central bank, ready to be selected and assembled into tests.
For assessment practitioners, item banking offers practical solutions to some of the most common challenges in assessment – such as scheduling pressures, maintaining item quality, and future-proofing test design.
Our three-part live online workshop series, Item Banking: theory, practice, and delivery, is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to implement item banking effectively in your own context.
Led by expert Margaret Cooze, the live sessions will give you a clear understanding of the principles and practices behind item banking.
Combining theory with hands-on application, the workshop series offers an overview of the item banking process. You’ll be shown how to set up an item bank, where it can be used in your organisation, and how to apply item banking practice, even if you are completely new to the concept.
Who should attend?
This workshop will be useful if you’re looking to improve the efficiency and quality of your tests development or if you’re interested in understanding how items are created, reviewed and managed in a central bank.
You’ll also find this workshop ideal if you’re looking for practical strategies for scheduling, quality assurance and item security. The workshop is also relevant for those tasked with putting item banking in place from a practical perspective.
If you’re new to item banking and want an overview of the process, guidance on how to set it up and insights on how it is being used by other organisations, this is an excellent starting point or refresher.
The session is open to anyone who would find it useful. Previous attendees have included:
- Assessment Managers
- Assessment Designers
- Assessment Delivery Designers and Managers
- Academic Coordinators
- Curriculum Leads
- Examiners and Assessors
- Operational Leads
Why choose The Assessment Network?
We’re trusted by over 1,000 organisations across 100 countries and are backed by world-class research from the University of Cambridge.
We proudly hold Dual Accreditation by the Professional Development Consortium, officially recognising us as a Provider of Training Excellence.
Upon successful completion of Item Banking: theory, practice, and delivery, you’ll be awarded a Certificate of Attendance from Cambridge University Press & Assessment as recognition of your learning.
Workshop outline
This workshop series is accredited with a Certificate of Attendance for continuing professional development (4.5 CPD hours). To be eligible, two live sessions must be attended.
These workshops will provide you with a comprehensive guide to item banking. You will learn about the principles and theory behind item banking, be provided with practical information and guidance, and have opportunities to consider how to apply these to your own context. By the end of the three weeks, you will be equipped with the relevant information you need to be able to implement item banking in your setting.
Workshop 1: 30 Sep 2026 | Principles and theory of item banking
30 Sep 2026 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Learn about the concept of item banking and the theories behind it by linking the principles of good assessment (e.g. validity, reliability and fairness) to your own context.
Workshop 2: 07 Oct 2026 | Exploiting item banking
07 Oct 2026 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Explore what is needed to ensure you develop an effective item bank with the tagging of items and documentation to support item writers. Investigate how item banking supports pretesting and start considering how to calculate what resources are needed to run an item bank efficiently.
Workshop 3: 14 Oct 2026 | Practicalities of delivering item banking
14 Oct 2026 | 12:30 - 14:00 (UK time)
Examine different system requirements for item banking, developing a checklist of factors for either developing your own system or selecting from those commercially available.
What our attendees say
The Item Banking Workshop series is an excellent choice if you want to gain a deeper understanding of how to build an item bank for easier exam paper construction."
Taha Mohamed, Learning and Assessment Consultant, Egypt
Key learning outcomes
By the end of the workshop series you’ll be able to:
- Apply key principles of item banking design, relating them to areas of validity and reliability
- Understand how item banking can support pre-testing and trialling of assessment material
- Develop a system for tagging items to support effective use of the item bank
- Reflect on your context and how to apply the content of the workshops to your situation
Workshop trainer
Margaret Cooze is a freelance language and assessment specialist. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and an MSc in English Language Teaching Management. She has taught in Guatemala, Japan and the UK with a particular interest in the teaching and assessment of writing.
Margaret has also worked for Cambridge University Press & Assessment managing the production of a range of assessments for language learners and teachers. She has also led on assessment reviews, benchmarking and comparability studies as well as supporting awarding bodies in gaining recognition for their assessments.
She is now involved in the design, development and production of assessment materials as well acting as moderator and Principal Examiner for English assessments for Cambridge International. Alongside this, Margaret has recently written for Cambridge University Press and also designs and delivers training on the principles of assessment, question paper content writing, the operational aspects of assessment systems and also language awareness for teachers with recent work in Sweden, Lesotho, Pakistan, Botswana, Eswatini, The Bahamas and Vietnam.
FAQs
What is Item Banking?
Item banking is the process of creating, reviewing, and storing exam questions (known as items) in a central bank, ready to be selected and assembled into tests.
Why train with The Assessment Network?
The Assessment Network at Cambridge is a global community of assessment professionals, committed to equipping practitioners with a clear understanding of core assessment principles and practices. Through accredited training, professional membership, and career development opportunities, we support individuals and organisations in becoming recognised, up-to-date assessment leaders.
We enable positive change by helping practitioners enhance the impact of assessment for learners, offering CPD courses, bespoke solutions, and professional recognition for every challenge and role. Trusted by over 1,000 organisations across 100 countries, and backed by world-class research from the University of Cambridge, we unite professionals who connect, share learning, and stand out as experts in their field.
How much does it cost?
Item banking: theory, practice and delivery costs £265 or you can receive a 10% discount on your booking as a Member.
I want to register my team, what’s the best way to do this?
If you’re looking to book five or more places on an upcoming workshop or workshop series, you can receive a group discount. Please get in touch for a quote.
How do I register?
If this workshop is currently available use the Book Now button to complete your registration on our booking platform. If the workshop is not available, you can register your interest.
How will I learn?
Live workshops are interactive, practical sessions offered online, either as standalone sessions or as part of a series.
Led by assessment experts, these sessions require live attendance, via our online learning site, providing opportunities for direct guidance and real-time answers to your questions. These practical explorations and discussions with your assessment peers will help transform your assessment practice.
Will I be able to discuss the workshop topic during the session?
You can engage regularly throughout the online workshops via chat boxes, breakout rooms, polls, and quizzes.
What level of English do I need to be able to complete the course?
The course is delivered in English so you are required to have sufficient competence in English to participate in the training. You should have English language competence comparable to Level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We recommend a minimum requirement of 5.5 on the International English Language Testing System. Further information may be obtained through the IELTS website.
My place on the workshop is now confirmed, what happens next?
Once you’ve completed your booking you’ll receive a confirmation email. Joining instructions for the workshop or series are normally sent after the booking deadline has passed.
What happens if I can't attend one of the sessions?
To receive certification for a workshop series, you can only miss one session.
You’ll be able watch a recording of this missed session, but please note breakout rooms will not be recorded, and attendance is strongly recommended whenever possible.
What kind of certification is available upon completion of the workshop?
You’ll be awarded a Certificate of Attendance from Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It is expected that participants will attend at least two out of three live sessions to be eligible for a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the series.
How many CPD learning hours is this accredited for?
This workshop series is accredited for 4.5 learning hours. You must meet the attendance requirements to be eligible to receive the learning hours.
The Assessment Network has been awarded Dual Accreditation by the Professional Development Consortium, meaning we are officially recognised as a Provider of Training Excellence, alongside being a trusted provider of fully CPD accredited assessment training activities.
The majority of our professional development courses are also CPD accredited. Accredited courses are clearly marked with the CPD hours available, and a full list can be found on the CPD Standards website.
Some newer workshops and courses may not yet be accredited by the CPD Standards Office. However, as an assured provider of training excellence, all our workshops meet the same rigorous standards as our accredited training.
What can I do with my learning hours?
At The Assessment Network, learning hours from completing professional development courses contribute directly toward earning awards that recognise your assessment expertise. There are two levels of awards, the Assessment Practitioner Award and the Advanced Assessment Practitioner Award.
How long will I have access to the recording/resources after the workshop ends?
Recordings, slides, and any extra resources will be available via the online learning site for 40 days for a standalone workshop or 90 days for a workshop series.
When is the next workshop running?
We aim to run our workshops at least once a year. If the workshop is not currently available to book, please use the register your interest page.
Meet your workshop trainer