TestingForSchools / CAT Testing - Did you suffer any problems?

[napsburypark]

Hi everyone!

 

We had a pretty full on week back last week and as per usual all the 200 new year 7 students were scheduled in for 2 full days of internet based testing. This was mainly using the testingforschools website to do their CAT tests plus others.

 

We had a number of issues where web pages did not load correctly, the next/previous buttons did not appear and also a 'Show all Content' security issue which we did not have last year.

We also suffered the usual issue of broken pairs of headphones / sound levels being turned down etc.

 

I just wanted to ask others what their experiences were like of these tests - do they always run super smoothly and did you experience any unexpected issues this year round?

If you have the time, I would also really appreciate knowing how you prepare for these exams - do you log the students in and plug in their headphones and test it all beforehand for every workstation... Or do you let the students/supervisors of the test do this? What are your practices?

 

Many Thanks!

[tj2419]

Hi

 

We just did 160 students in one go last Tuesday and a few more sessions this week. Our normal process is as follows:

 

1. Set up new accounts via import from CSV with each user having an individual password (Normally three letters long with their initials and house initial)

2. A day or two before we check a few random computers load the page ok and pass the compatibility test link on the homepage. (Flash etc)

3. On the day of an exam we go and log all the computers in with an exam login and open up the window and plug in the headphones just before students arrive.

4. Students come in and the member of staff advises them what to do etc.

5. When they have clicked the traffic light we ask all the students that they can hear the demo questions being read out so we can sort headphones before they start the real test.

6. Then leave them to it.

 

Runs pretty smoothly compared to some of the other electronic tests we do.

[ITGuyNW]

Sorry to drag up an old thread. Has anyone experienced an issue where the students goes to take the exam (presses the traffic light) but it fails to load and takes them back again?