As if students, teachers and administrators didn’t have enough tests to worry about, another has been added to the list. Students around the country will be able to gauge their technology literacy with the ICT Literacy Assessment.

According to an article on MSNBC.com, “the test’s initials stand for “Information and Communication Technology,” and a version is already used by some colleges. The nonprofit Educational Testing Service plans to announce details of a new version that some high school and first- and second-year college students will begin taking this spring.”

The reason for the tests is to determine if students are able to make use of all the information accessible through the web and other technologies. Test-takers may be asked to query a database, compose an e-mail based on their research, or seek information on the Internet and decide how reliable it is.

While there are no students signing up to add more tests to their overcrowded plate, the ICT Literary Assessment is a good concept. It addresses a problem few schools have been able to tackle. For years now, colleges and universities have complained that students are savvy enough to judge materials found online. Whether it is separating fact from fiction, selecting credible sources for research or interpreting data collected, students have struggled technology literacy. The test might equip schools to better teach research methods in these technology-driven days.