EXHIBIT 23.1








                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



         We consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8  pertaining to the NCS/VUE 1994 Employee Stock Option Plan
of National Computer Systems,  Inc. and subsidiaries,  of our report dated March
3, 1996 with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  National
Computer Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries  incorporated by reference in its Annual
Report  on Form  10-K  for the  year  ended  January  31,  1996  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission



                                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 15, 1997