BQS User Guide For Digital Skills Test Centres

Transcription

1 BQS User Guide For Digital Skills Test Centres Feb 2015 v1.5

2 Contents 1. Getting Started Administration Automated Testing Website Software Requirements BQS Web Administration The Login screen BQS Web Administration Hierarchy Creating a Candidate Group Registering an Administrator Registering Candidates Exam Time Extension Candidate Search Allocating Exams to a Single Candidate Allocating Exams to Multiple Candidates Managing Exam Licences Reset a Declined Module Running a Test Session Prior to the Test Session Invigilation Loss of Connectivity Loss of Power or PC Crash Reports Previous Results System Reports Interacting with Reports For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 2 of 30

3 1. Getting Started The BCS Qualification System (BQS) is used for the provision of testing for the Digital Skills qualification. BQS, an examination system, comprises of two main elements: An administration website An automated testing website 1.1 Administration The BQS Web Administration is a website that can be accessed via any computer that has an internet connection and a supported browser installed. (see 1.3 software requirements) It is used for candidate administration, including tasks such as test allocation and running reports. See section 2 for details on how to use the BQS Web Administration. 1.2 Automated Testing Website The Digital Skills Test System is the website used to undertake automated exams. This can be accessed via any computer that has an internet connection and a supported browser installed. (see 1.3 software requirements) 1.3 Software Requirements Both the BQS Web Administration and the Digital Skills Test System can be accessed on any device that meets our software requirements. Please see the BQS Web Administration or the Digital Skills Test System for more up-to-date requirements. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 3 of 30

4 2. BQS Web Administration The BQS Web Administration is located at For a video demonstration of the Administration site, visit If you forget your login details contact support@activ-training.com. 2.1 The Login screen 1. Visit 2. Enter the username and password 3. Click Log In or press Enter. 2.2 BQS Web Administration Hierarchy The BQS Web Administration contains a hierarchy. This allows different candidates to be organised into separate groups. 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 4 of 30

5 Your centre will be setup with a basic hierarchy. Above is an example of how this may appear 3. Click on the top level visible in the hierarchy The administration account in use will be displayed on the right hand side of the window along with any other administrators/verifiers 2.3 Creating a Candidate Group Candidates can be grouped in various ways, e.g. tutor group, class etc. To create additional candidate groups: 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy 3. Select the second level from the bottom in the hierarchy When the level is selected, the pane on the right side of the screen will display the heading Test Centre Administrators. 4. To create a new candidate group, click Create 5. Fill in the Candidate Group ID and the Display Name For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 5 of 30

6 The Candidate Group ID must to be unique, so please use a selection of random characters and maybe your centre name to make this unique. The Display Name is what you see within the hierarchy. 6. Click on the Attributes tab 7. Tick the ACF Node box 8. Click OK when prompted by the confirmation screen 9. Click on the Package Assignment tab For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 6 of 30

7 10. Select the required packages Centres can either select all available packages, or restrict certain candidate groups to specific tests. 11. Click OK to create the candidate group Please bear in mind that the products and tests available to your centre depend on the qualifications that you have chosen to take using BQS. If you would like to add new products to your system please contact customer services: or 2.4 Registering an Administrator Administrator accounts can be created at any level except candidate group level. To allow administrators/verifiers full visibility of all candidate groups, create them at the top level in the hierarchy. 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the Hierarchy and select the relevant level from the list 3. Click New 4. This will open the Administrator Information tab, where all mandatory fields (shown in Bold) must be completed. For Support Tel: Page 7 of 30

8 5. Click the Permissions tab to assign permissions to the Administrator 6. Open the drop down list label User Role. Select one of the following: o o DS Full Permissions DS Invigilation only Each role contains a set of predefined permissions that are required for each position. A DS Invigilation only role can only verify/invigilate and queue exams. Select the DS Full Permissions' role for staff members that require all administrative permissions; including downloading candidates, allocating tests to candidates and creating groups. 7. Click OK to save the record 8. Confirm that the Administrator now appears within the Administrators area For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 8 of 30

9 2.5 Registering Candidates All candidate registrations take place on the BCS Approved Centre Forum (ACF) website. For assistance with this, please contact the BCS Client Support team on Please complete this step before continuing with the following sections Importing a Single Candidate Once you have registered a candidate on the ACF, you will need to import this candidate s data into the BQS Web Administration. The following shows you how to do this for a single candidate. 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 3. Click on the New button 4. Select BCS ID (or ULN) from the drop down list to search against either criterion 5. Enter the candidate s BCS ID (or ULN) and select the qualification that the candidate has been registered for from the Qualification Product Type drop down list. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 9 of 30

10 6. Click on Get Candidate to search against the data selected 7. If the candidate data is found on the ACF, the confirmation screen will show the data that has been added to your candidate group. The imported candidates will have their BCS ID as the username. Their password will be their BCS ID plus the first four digits of their date of birth. For example: Username: BCS Password: BCS The above shows that this user was born on the 1st February Importing Multiple Candidates You may import multiple candidates in one go as long as they are all registered for the same qualification. If you have candidates doing a mixture of qualifications, you should repeat the following procedure once for each qualification. 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 3. Select Get ACF Candidates from the drop down list and click on the Apply button For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 10 of 30

11 4. Select the relevant qualification from the Qualification Product drop down list. 5. Click on Get Candidates to search against the data selected 6. A candidate enrolment, confirmation screen will show the data that has been added to your candidate group. If any candidates already exist within the database, they will be highlighted in red in the candidate Enrolment Confirmation window. The imported candidates will have their BCS ID as the username. Their password will be their BCS ID plus the first four digits of their date of birth. For example: Username: BCS Password: BCS The above shows that this user was born on the 1st February. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 11 of 30

12 2.5.3 Adding a New Qualification to an Existing Candidate(s) This section will show you how to add qualifications to candidates already existing within BQS. 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 3. Select the candidate(s) that you want to update by placing a tick to the left of the candidate(s) in the candidate list. 4. Select Update ACF Candidate(s) from the drop down list and click on the Apply button 5. Select the qualification that the candidate has been registered for from the Qualification Product Type drop down list. 6. Click on Update Candidate to search against the data selected. 7. If the search criteria matches records found on the ACF, the confirmation screen will show the qualifications which have been added to the candidates For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 12 of 30

13 8. Click OK to complete the process and return to the candidate group. 2.6 Exam Time Extension Certain candidates may meet the BCS requirements to be allowed a time extension for their exams. Approval should first be sought from the BCS. Once acquired, the following process must be undertaken: 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 3. Locate the required candidate and open the record 4. Click on the Options tab 5. Tick the Person with Special Needs tick box 6. Use the Up and Down arrows to set the time extension to match that which the BCS have approved for this candidate For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 13 of 30

14 7. Click OK to save and close the candidate s record 2.7 Candidate Search The BQS Web Administration provides a search function to allow you to locate candidates easily. 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Click Candidate Search from the navigation bar Click in the Candidate Search box and enter the criteria by which you wish to search. You can search using one of the following: o o o o First Name Surname User ID BCS ID For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 14 of 30

15 o Qualification ID 3. The search results are displayed Once the candidate is located, you can undertake the following: o o o Click on the Edit button to open the candidate s record Click on Go to Lab button to go to the candidate s group Click on Go to Reports to see the test history of the candidate 2.8 Allocating Exams to a Single Candidate To allocate exams to an individual candidate undertake the following process: 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 3. Open the candidate record by clicking on the Edit link to the right of their name in the list 4. Click on the Test Allocation tab The Test Allocation tab contains a Test Allocation Hierarchy for each exam. Select the crosshairs to expand the hierarchy The top level is the Module level, the next level is the Exam Package Level and below this is the Stream level. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 15 of 30

16 5. Select the required Exam Package from that module and wait for the page to refresh The level selected will then appear highlighted in yellow. 6. Click the Check/Uncheck button and wait for the page to refresh 7. The Exam Package selected will appear with a + in the square brackets. 8. Click OK to confirm the test allocation Please note that exams can be allocated at different levels by expanding the hierarchy. This allows only specific units/modules to be queued up. Licences are not deducted until a candidate actually starts the actual exam. Therefore, it is fine to allocate all tests straight away. Special Note: Queuing at the top level (Exam level) will result in all modules being allocated to the candidate. After they have been taken, all exams are automatically reallocated until the candidate scores more than 75%. If exams are queued at the lowest level (Stream Level), the exam will only queue once and will need to be requeued for the candidate if they wish to have another attempt. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 16 of 30

17 2.9 Allocating Exams to Multiple Candidates 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant group from the list 3. Select the relevant candidates 4. Select Test Allocation from the drop down list and click on the Apply button. You will now see the Test Allocation Hierarchy. Please allocate exams in the same way as you would a single candidate (see section 2.8) 2.10 Managing Exam Licences You can use the BQS Web Administration to see how many licences you have remaining. To view the remaining licences, the following process must be undertaken: 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 3. Open any candidate record 4. Click on the Enrolment tab For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 17 of 30

18 The number of licences remaining can be seen in the bottom right hand corner Reset a Declined Module If a candidate declines to proceed with a test after reading the exam instructions, the module declined is removed from their queue. To reinstate this, the module must be reset in the BQS Web Administration. The following steps should be undertaken to reset the declined module: 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Locate and open the candidate record 3. Expand the hierarchy and select the relevant candidate group from the list 4. Identify the candidate record and click Edit 5. Click the Test Allocation tab and expand the allocation tree to show the declined module (in red) 6. Highlight the declined module and click the Reset Declined Module button. The page will refresh and the reset module will now be black. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 18 of 30

19 7. Click OK to save For Support Tel: Page 19 of 30

20 3. Running a Test Session For a video demonstration of an Exam Session, visit Prior to the Test Session The following details the actions that need to be completed, in order to carry out the testing session: 1. Check the identity of the candidate 2. Brief the candidate on the test procedures For more information on this, please see the BCS Operations Manual. 1. Visit 2. Enter the username and password for the candidate By default, candidates will have their BCS ID as the username. Their password will be their BCS ID plus the first four digits of their date of birth. For example: Username: BCS Password: BCS The above shows that this user was born on the 1st February. All passwords are case sensitive 3. Enter the Verifier s (Invigilator s) login details and click OK For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 20 of 30

21 4. Check the candidate details are correct (some of the fields can be edited at this point) For Support Tel: Page 21 of 30

22 3.2 Invigilation Invigilators are responsible for the monitoring and invigilation of tests under exam conditions. Should exam conditions be breached, the test must be aborted immediately by clicking exit. The details below outline the actions the candidate will execute to undertake the test. Invigilators are required to remain in the room throughout the test. 1. The Candidate Test Queue pane will be displayed along with the exam conditions The candidate must select which test they wish to sit and click Agree and Proceed. They may choose any test in the queue. If the candidate declines to proceed with the test, the test queue will reload without the declined test. The Invigilator will need to reset this declined module in the BQS Web Administration, please refer to section Click Proceed to continue As soon as the candidate chooses to proceed to the live test, a test licence will be deducted. The candidate is provided with their results, once they have completed a test. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 22 of 30

23 If there are more tests allocated to the candidate, the Candidate Test Queue pane will be displayed again and they may select another test if they wish to progress. A failed module will not be available to re-sit until the candidate next logs in. 3. If there are no more tests available, or the candidate has chosen to end the test session, exit the exam session by selecting the Logout button 3.3 Loss of Connectivity If internet connectivity is lost during a test, the candidate will need to close the webpage and re-launch the test once connectivity is restored. To ensure that the candidate s results are not lost, the Invigilator must complete the following steps as soon as connectivity is restored, and prior to any further testing on the exam PC. 1. Ensure that connectivity is restored 2. Visit 3. Instruct the candidate to login 4. Enter the Verifier s (Invigilator s) login details and click OK 5. The Candidate Test Queue pane will be displayed along with the test conditions For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 23 of 30

24 The test that could not be uploaded will appear in the list, listed in red If the test does not appear highlighted, please contact Support as soon as possible (see bottom of this page for contact details). 6. Select the highlighted test and select Continue The test should now load and resume from where it left off. Ask the candidate to continue the test until completion. 3.4 Loss of Power or PC Crash If a test is interrupted by loss of power or a technical fault, the test can be recovered/resumed as soon as the PC is back in working order. If a technical fault has resulted in the test not responding, the PC power button should be pressed and held in order to force the PC to restart. 1. Ensure that the PC operation is restored 2. Visit 3. Instruct the candidate to login 4. Enter the Verifier s (Invigilator s) login details and click OK. The Candidate Test Queue pane will be displayed along with the test conditions For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 24 of 30

25 The test that could not be uploaded will appear in the list, listed in red. 5. Select the highlighted test and select Continue The test should now load and resume from where it left off. Ask the candidate to continue the test until completion. If the test does not appear highlighted, please contact Support as soon as possible (see bottom of this page for contact details). For Support Tel: Page 25 of 30

26 4. Reports There are a number of reports available within the BQS Web Administration. These reports are split into two categories: Previous Results, which contain reports specific to candidates and the exam that they have taken, and System Reports which include all of the statistical analysis reports to monitor centre activity. All reports use the same toolbar and navigation system. Sections 4.1 and 4.2 deal with locating the correct report; Section 4.3 provides information on interacting with reports, including exporting into various formats. 4.1 Previous Results 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Click the Previous Results tab A list of candidates will be displayed. This list, and the lists available on the other tabs, can be sorted alphabetically. If there are a large number of candidates, the list will be spread across several pages. To see more candidates, click the next number (along the bottom). There are two types of reports available in the Previous Results section. Test Results Report Certification Progress Report Test Results Report This report provides detailed information relating to a specific exam. Click the required candidate from the list. The page will refresh and a list of candidate s results will appear in the right pane. To view a Test Results Report click on Show, this is located to the right of each result. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 26 of 30

27 The Test Results Report will open in a new window. This report can also be accessed by clicking on the Exams tab Certification Progress Report The Certification Progress Report provides details regarding candidates progression towards achieving a specific qualification. To access the Certification Progress Report, first follow the instructions outlined in the Previous Results section above. Click the Certification Progress tab. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 27 of 30

28 Clicking on a candidate will refresh the page and reveal a list of certification programmes, in the right pane. Click Show to open the Certification Progress Report. 4.2 System Reports 1. Login to the BQS Web Administration 2. Click Reports and from the drop down, click System Reports 3. The following window will be displayed 4. Select the type of report by clicking on the Report Type dropdown list Additional options are available for each report to allow Approved Centres to filter the contents of the reports with specific criteria 5. Click Generate to open the report in a new window or click the Cancel button to return For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 28 of 30

29 4.2.1 Reports Available in the System Reports Section There are five types of reports available in the System Reports section. Available Test List Test Schedule and Allocation Candidate List Testing Activity Audit Report Available Test List This report provides a list of exams and assessments available to an Approved Centre. For each exam or assessment, it indicates the time limit and minimum pass mark. The report can be filtered by location (Test Centre/candidate group name) and/or test type (Exam or Assessment) Test Schedule and Allocation This report provides a list of all exams and assessments that are allocated to candidates with a validity period set. This report can be filtered by location (Test Centre/candidate group name), test type (Exam or Assessment) and/or date Candidate List This report provides a list of candidates within a specific candidate group. It shows various details in relation to each candidate s registration. This report must be filtered by candidate group name and can also be filtered by programme (Digital Skills, Digital Skills Getting started) Testing Activity This report provides a list of all exams and assessments taken at a Centre. It contains details such as the result and the candidate s name. This report can be filtered by location (Test Centre/candidate group name), programme and/or date Audit Report The Audit Report is specifically formatted and generated for Audit purposes. This report provides a list of all exams and assessments that have been taken at a Centre. This report can be filtered by location (Test Centre/candidate group name), programme and date. 4.3 Interacting with Reports All reports share a common format. The image below illustrates the toolbar visible in all reports, with each button labelled. For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 29 of 30

30 The text below provides an explanation of each button illustrated above. 1. Search the report 2. Print the whole report 3. Print the current page only 4. Return to the first page 5. Go back one page 6. Dropdown box used to go straight to a specific page 7. Shows the total number of pages in the report 8. Go to the next page 9. Go to the last page 10. Export the report and save it to disk 11. Export the report but open it in a new browser window 12. Dropdown list to select the export format (see below) Export Format Reports can be exported in the following formats: PDF (can be viewed in Abode Acrobat Reader) XLS (can be viewed in MS Excel) RTF (can be viewed in MS Word) MHT (can be viewed in Internet Explorer) Text (can be viewed in Notepad) Image (PNG format) CSV (can be opened in MS Excel or Notepad) For Support Tel: support@activ-training.com Page 30 of 30