Your school should have received an email on 08/04/2022 - to the school’s official email address. The email contains login credentials for accessing ERC DOTS, along with links to short videos to help you get started.
The sender’s address was noreply@qemailserver.com, please check your spam folder if you haven’t received it in your inbox.
If you did not receive this email, please email dots@erc.ie.
This short video shows you how to get started on using the new ERC DOTS system: https://youtu.be/2tarH5DLQTA
For teachers, the URL is:
(if you are new to ERC DOTS, please use the initial link in the original email you received containing your login details).
Please email dots@erc.ie if you are having difficulty accessing the system.
Send an email to tests@erc.ie quoting the order number and roll number and follow the instructions you receive.
All of our online tests must be purchased with a credit card.
All of our paper based materials can be paid for with a credit card OR by requesting an invoice.
If you wish to be invoiced, in step 4 of the ordering just click on “Make Payment” and select “ Pay by Invoice”.
Once your order is completed and confirmed you will receive an email confirmation of your order and an invoice for the order within a few days.
Users of the online ordering system are responsible for checking that their orders are correct.
If the status of your order is “Unfulfilled” in your DOTS Order Tracking screen, you can change or amend your order. Click on "Select Option" and select “Amend".
You can then either delete the unwanted item by clicking on the recycle bin icon or add additional items to your order by clicking on “Add Product”.
Please note this option is ONLY available is your order is unfulfilled.
Once your order is processed and shipped, your order can no longer be changed.
You should receive a confirmation on completion of the order. If you have not received the confirmation check your spam folder at the email address provided.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, please email tests@erc.ie.
Both forms are equivalent in terms of difficulty and schools can choose to administer either form or both in parallel. The items are different across both forms for all sub-tests except the spelling sub-test and both forms can be administered in parallel. One advantage of ordering both forms is to distribute both among a class group in order to minimise opportunities for copying. Another potential use of a second form of the assessment is for re-testing post-intervention with those with additional literacy support needs.
If you are new to the assessment, we recommend ordering one complete kit per school, which includes the annual licence for the scoring and reporting tool. As this kit includes the licence, it is not necessary to order more than one kit per school.
In addition to one complete kit, you may order any additional quantities of student booklets and teacher material required as separate items.
You should order one assessment booklet for each student you are planning to administer the test to. The quantity of teacher materials you may wish to order depends on how many teachers might be administering and/or marking the test. It would probably be best to have one administration manual for each teacher administering the test and one marking manual for each teacher marking the test along with a set of each of the stencils (needed for marking)/word reading lists (needed for administration).
As an example, if you have 150 first year students in your school and you expect to have five teachers involved in administering/marking the assessment, you could order the following (see also sample completed order form below):
1 x complete starter kit (enough materials for 30 students plus one set of teacher materials plus annual tool licence)
12 x packs blue booklets (60 booklets)
12 x packs yellow booklets (60 booklets)
4 x admin manuals
4 x marking manuals
4 x blue stencil/word reading list sets
4 x yellow stencils/word reading list sets
You need to complete our online order form here. This will be submitted directly to the Test Department and your order will be processed asap. Your invoice will follow 3-5 working days after you have received your test materials.
The order number is for ETB schools. These schools need to include an order number with their order. If ETB schools require a quotation that includes postage costs prior to creating a PO please let us know at tests@erc.ie.
The DPA should be signed by the principal or by a designated staff member.
It is fine to use any materials you have remaining from last year for administering the assessment in autumn 2021.
Last year we sent out administration manuals, marking guidance manuals, BLUE FORM scoring stencils, BLUE FORM word reading lists and BLUE FORM test booklets.
The materials are the same this year except that we have a NEW YELLOW FORM of the assessment available also. If you would like to purchase the yellow form of the assessment this year you would also need to purchase at least one set of the YELLOW FORM scoring stencils/word reading lists.
The same administration manual and marking guidance manual can be used for administering and marking both forms of the assessment.
Any school that received ppad-e materials last year that is planning to administer the test this year will need to purchase at a minimum the annual licence for the scoring and reporting tool.
Schools that have materials remaining from 2020 are unlikely to need to order a complete kit but rather to order items in the “additional items/separate items” section of the order form.
Below are two sample orders for schools that are planning to use the manuals and blue scoring stencils/word reading lists remaining from 2020 and who are ordering 100 test additional booklets. One order is for blue booklets only. The other order is for both blue and yellow booklets plus two sets of yellow scoring stencils/word reading lists. Both schools also need to order a scoring tool licence.