Appendix a Mobile and Classroom Testing A4

Version 1.5 Pearson VUE Confidential Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved. 800 837 8969

Mobile and Classroom Testing

This entire chapter is NOT applicable for PVTC Selects. For more information about the differences between a PVTC and PVTC Select, see About the Test Center Network in chapter 1.

This chapter provides the information you need to deliver exams at a mobile site or in a classroom setting.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Overview of Mobile and Classroom Testing ..................................... 2

Facilities Requirements for Mobile or Classroom Testing ................... 3

Installation and Setup for Mobile and Classroom Testing .................. 5

Registration and Scheduling at Mobile Sites and Classroom Settings .. 7

Exam Administration at Mobile Sites and Classroom Settings ............ 8

After the Mobile or Classroom Testing Event or Session.................. 10

Delivering Exams at Mobile Sites or Classroom Settings without Internet Access ........................................................................ 12

Overview of Mobile and Classroom Testing

This section is NOT applicable at PVTC Selects.

Pearson VUE Authorized Centers have the flexibility of offering exams at sites other than a fixed test centers:

Mobile testing - Mobile testing allows Pearson VUE Authorized Centers to take the test center to the candidate rather than have the candidate come to the test center. For example, a mobile site can be used to provide testing at a conference or at a clients location. As with fixed test centers, mobile testing sites can allow pre-registration, immediate registration (walk-ins) and retakes (depending on exam sponsor policies).

To set up a mobile site, you must contact Channel Sales at Pearson VUE to make arrangements. Pearson VUE will create a new site in the system that is completely separate from your fixed test center. The mobile site will have its own site ID and name, and registration and scheduling will not be available through the Candidate Web site or the Call Center (unless you request otherwise).

Classroom testing - Classroom testing is used to allow candidates to test immediately after taking a class. For example, your center might offer a training class at your site over several days and then have candidates take an exam on the last day of the class. Using classroom testing, you can allow candidates to take the exam right in the room used for the class. This lets you offer enhanced service to candidates and allows you to efficiently use workstation resources.

To set up a classroom site, all you need to do is add the necessary workstation assets through Site Manager. Depending on the location of your administration workstation, you may also need to install the Pearson VUE Workstation Installer on another workstation so that Admissions Manager will be available for admitting candidates. For more information on installation procedures, see the installation guide.

The following sections outline the requirements for implementing mobile or classroom testing. Please read this information carefully to help ensure your test center is in compliance with the contractual requirements concerning the test center environment, professionalism of center personnel, test center procedures and security of exams in a mobile or classroom environment.

A-2 Appendix A: Mobile and Classroom Testing Version 1.5 Pearson VUE Confidential

Facilities Requirements for Mobile or Classroom Testing


The requirements for a mobile or classroom testing site are the same as for a fixed test center. Because testing will take place in a space not usually used for certification testing, it is important to ensure that the testing environment is suitable for exam delivery. Listed below are things you need to consider when assessing whether or not a site is suitable for mobile or classroom testing:

Hardware and software - A mobile or classroom site must comply with the minimum requirements outlined in the installation guide. For example, all workstations must meet the listed specifications, Internet connectivity is required, and a printer must be accessible to all workstations.

Space

Two separate areas are necessary: one area for exam registration and scheduling and candidate admission and sign-out, and a separate room for exam delivery (Refer to your Pearson VUE Testing Center Agreement for more information).

You must provide an area for secure storage of candidate belongings. Personal items must be secured and out of candidate reach during exams.

Center-owned locked backpacks work well in these environments. Candidates know that their belongings are safe at their feet, but they cannot access them during the exam. Unlock the backpack after the erasable noteboard is returned.

Testing room

Ensure that the testing area is clean and well lit and at a comfortable temperature.

Remove any materials (such as wall charts and other reference materials) that could help candidates during the exam.

Make sure the testing room is quiet and distraction-free. Remove or turn off items such as telephones and printers that could disturb candidates while testing. Noise and distractions are common candidate complaints.

Pearson VUE Confidential Version 1.5 Appendix A: Mobile and Classroom Testing A-3

Post signs while candidates are testing to let other people know that exams are in progress.

Exam delivery workstations

Decide how many exam delivery workstations you need and be sure each one meets the specifications. Delivery workstation assets can be added or deleted at a moments notice through Site Manager.

All candidates must have adjustable, comfortable chairs and enough desk space to write on an erasable noteboard.

Unless there are walls or partitions between candidates, there must be at least four feet (1.2 meters) between exam delivery workstations.


Installation and Setup for Mobile and Classroom Testing


The necessary Pearson VUE Testing System applications must be installed at the mobile or classroom site using the standard setup and installation procedures described in the Pearson VUE Testing Center Agreement and the installation guide.

Listed below are some important points about installing and setting up the testing system in a mobile or classroom environment. If you need help, please contact VSS.

Installation scenarios - When installing at a mobile site, the testing system may be installed in one of two scenarios. The Workstations must also meet the requirements. For more information about the scenarios or requirements, refer to the installation guide.

Delivery workstations - All exam delivery workstations must be on the same network as the Pearson VUE administration workstation/server and must meet the requirements listed in the installation guide. Before delivering exams, be sure that the date and time are set correctly on each workstation.

Installation and testing - Follow the procedures in the installation guide to install the necessary testing system software.

A mobile site will need to install the entire testing system.

In a classroom setting, you will just need to install the Test Delivery Suite on the delivery workstations.

Be sure to take the TDFT exams on each delivery workstation after installation to ensure exam delivery is working properly. Refer to the installation guide for details.

Administration workstation - If your administration workstation is not located in an area that is convenient for checking in candidates, or if you prefer to keep the workstation in a more secure environment, you can install the Pearson VUE Workstation Installer on another workstation and use that workstation for scheduling appointments and admitting candidates. If you are providing services at a large event, such as a conference, you may want to install the Pearson VUE Workstation Installer on several workstations so multiple administrators can schedule and admit candidates. For more information, see the installation guide.


Site Manager information - At a mobile site, you will need to go into Site Manager and create the necessary usernames and passwords and also specify contact information on the Contacts tab. Be sure to create individual accounts for each user; sharing usernames and passwords is not permitted. Refer to Setting up User Accounts, Passwords, and Permissions (Personnel) in chapter 4 for details.

Assets - In Site Manager, each delivery workstation must be set up in the Workstations tab. Refer to chapter 4 for more information on how to set up workstations in Site Manager.

At a mobile site, you can adjust the workstation count at any time based on your needs. Since public candidates probably will not be scheduling appointments at the site, you do not need to be concerned about the workstations being consumed by public candidate appointments.

In a classroom setting, you need to manage your workstation assets carefully so that workstations are available to the appropriate candidates at the necessary time and the appointment times do not get consumed by public candidates.

You need to add workstation assets for the classroom workstations. If your center allows public registration, create rules to make the additional workstations unavailable at all other times except when the testing will occur. Then schedule appointments immediately so that public candidates registering through the Candidate Web site or Call Center do not consume the appointments.

If you do not offer classroom testing on a regular basis, you can delete the classroom workstation assets when they are no longer needed. If your site offers classroom testing on a regular basis, you can leave the assets in place but just set up the rules to make them available only when necessary. For example, if classroom testing occurs every Friday, create assets for the classroom workstations, set up rules to make them unavailable at all times and then adjust the rules when you want to make the workstations available for scheduling appointments.


Registration and Scheduling at Mobile Sites and Classroom Settings


You can allow candidates to register and schedule candidates in advance or can register and schedule them on the day of the event or class. As in a fixed test center, any combination of exams in any available languages from any exam sponsors can be delivered simultaneously.

To register and schedule candidates, you will need to have a workstation running Registration Manager and a connection to the VUE hub (via modem or a dedicated Internet connection). Refer to the installation guide for details on running Registration Manager on a workstation other than the administration workstation.

The Pearson VUE Application Wrapper Service will download exams automatically after registrations are made. However, if your site is located on a United States Federal and State facility or military installation, you must run RMA manually to download the exams. For more information, see Running RMA Manually at PVTC Government Centers in Appendix C.

To ensure candidate satisfaction, each administrator should practice exam registration, check-in, exam delivery and sign-out procedures before scheduling candidate appointments or delivering exams to candidates.

For classroom testing, immediately after a class, set up a time convenient for most of the students to test and have them register and schedule right away (to ensure that the appointment times are not consumed by public candidates, as noted on the previous page).

For mobile testing, schedule exam appointments at regular timed intervals (such as at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00 and so on) to minimize the distraction of candidates leaving and entering the room.


Exam Administration at Mobile Sites and Classroom Settings


Administrators at mobile test centers and in classrooms must follow the same Pearson VUE exam delivery procedures that fixed centers follow. Requirements are summarized below.

Administrator(s) - At least one Pearson VUE Certified Administrator must be present during testing hours to schedule appointments, admit candidates, sign candidates in and out of the testing room and continuously monitor all exams.

Two Pearson VUE Certified Administrators are recommended, one to handle registrations and to check candidates in and out of the testing area, and one to continuously monitor candidates as they take their exams. If more than 15 candidates are testing at one time, two Pearson VUE Certified Administrators are required.

Materials - The mobile site or classroom must have copies of the Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers Policies & Procedures Guide, the Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers Exam Sponsor Guide, Pearson VUE log sheets, and Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement. Erasable noteboards and pens must be available for all candidates. (Be sure you have the latest versions of all Pearson VUE documents, which are available on the VSS Web site.)

Schedule - Before each testing session, administrators should familiarize themselves with the testing schedule via the VSS Web site, Admissions Manager, or through Site Manager (Refer to Checking the Schedule in chapter 6).

Candidate check-in procedures - Check-in procedures are exactly the same as for normal test center exams. The steps listed in Admissions Manager must be followed to admit each candidate. Two forms of ID are normally required, the candidate must sign and return a copy of the Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement, a log sheet entry must be completed for each candidate and so on. Detailed procedures are provided in chapter 8.

Personal belongings - Personal items such as hats, coats, briefcases and cell phones must be secured and out of the candidates reach during the exam. Do not store bags or purses in unsecured areas. Refer to Storing Personal Belongings in chapter 8 for more information.


Seating candidates - If space allows, seat candidates in alternate seats and rows.

Starting exams - A Pearson VUE Certified Administrator must accompany the candidate into the testing room and log in to Delivery Manager. Before starting the exam, the administrator should verify with the candidate that the name of the exam shown on the screen is the one he or she intended to take.

Continuous exam monitoring - ALL exams must be monitored at all times by a Pearson VUE Certified Administrator. The administrator is required to ensure the integrity of the high-stakes testing environment by monitoring the candidates in real time, either in person or by video camera and monitor. The administrator must closely supervise candidates and report any candidate misconduct through an Incident Report.

Candidate sign-out procedures - After a candidate completes an exam, the administrator must have the candidate sign the log sheet. The administrator should indicate on the log sheet that the candidate returned the erasable noteboard and then give the candidate his or her score report.


After the Mobile or Classroom Testing Event or Session


Listed below are procedures you need to follow at the end of the mobile testing event or classroom testing session. If you are running a multi-day mobile testing event, perform the first five procedures at the end of each testing day.

Transfer exam results - Run RMA manually to ensure that results are sent to Pearson VUE in a timely manner. A daily backup should also be run at this time (Refer to Backing up the Pearson VUE Testing System in chapter 3).

Verify results upload - To verify the exam results upload, log in to the VSS Web site (http://vss.pearsonvue.com) and click the Reports button in the upper right corner of the page. Click the Exam Schedules link, click Todays Schedule and click Run Report. Check that the Delivered column contains a checkmark for each exam. If a checkmark does not appear in one or more of the boxes, run RMA manually, then re-run the report. If the boxes still are not checked for all exams, contact VSS for assistance.

Back up results - At a mobile testing site, copy the exam results and the database file on diskettes, a CD or other media for contingency backup. From the VUE Testing System folder on the administration workstation, back up the evt folder and the VSM.mdb file (located in the db folder).

Retain candidate paperwork - Your center must retain completed log sheets and signed Candidate Rules Agreements for one year. This applies to all exams, including exams delivered at mobile events and in classrooms.

Close applications - Close Registration Manager, Admissions Manager, and Site Manager on all workstations running the applications. Log out of Delivery Manager on all delivery workstations and turn off each workstation.

Uninstall delivery software and delete assets (classroom setting) - If you delivered exams in a classroom and classroom testing will not be used again within the next three months, you need to do the following:

Uninstall the Test Delivery Suite on each delivery workstation. To do this, open the Control Panel on each delivery workstation, select Add/Remove Programs and remove the VUE Test Delivery Suite.


Delete the delivery workstations assets. To do this, follow the procedures in Deleting a Workstation from chapter 4. Repeat the process until only the number of delivery workstations used in your fixed test center is shown. Contact VSS if you need help.

Uninstall the testing system (mobile site) - When a mobile testing event is completed, you must remove the Pearson VUE Testing System from any workstations that are being left at the site. Uninstall the software from the administration workstation, server and delivery workstations using the Add/Remove Programs utility from the Windows Control Panel.

When deleting testing system software at a mobile site, you are not required to contact VSS first. However, we recommend that you do so to ensure that everything is done correctly.


Delivering Exams at Mobile Sites or Classroom Settings without Internet Access


If your mobile site or classroom setting will have limited access or no connection to the internet during a testing session, you must follow the procedure in this section to deliver the exam(s) at your site. This process involves scheduling for and running a TDFT exam on one delivery workstation at the testing location and obtaining a multi-pass Authorization Code from VSS.

Prior to the day of testing:

1. Contact VSS and notify them about the lack of internet connection at your mobile site or classroom setting.

VSS will create an incident report about the situation.

2. Schedule a TDFT9: Test Driver Functionality Test - Flash Checker exam for the day that the testing session will occur.

You should be registering and scheduling this TDFT exam prior to the testing day. TIP: When you are registering candidate exams for the testing session, you should schedule this TDFT exam along with those exams.

Schedule the TDFT exam so that it will be delivered on the same day as the testing session, on one workstation at the testing location, and during a time before the testing session will occur.

Make sure to provide yourself with enough time on the day of the testing session to run the TDFT exam, obtain a multi-pass Authorization Code from VSS, and address any issues that may occur. Pearson VUE recommends scheduling and running the TDFT exam at least 2-3 hours before the testing session begins.

Registering and scheduling for a TDFT exam is the same process as registering and scheduling a candidate for an exam. You should register the exam for yourself under the VUE Testing client (see the image below).


Chapter 7 in this guide contains more information on how to register and schedule for an exam.

3. Make sure that RMA runs the evening before the testing day.

You may run RMA manually to prepare the TDFT, and then refresh the schedule in Admissions Manager to verify that the TDFT is prepared. For more information, see Running RMA Manually in chapter 3.

If the TDFT exam does not appear on the schedule in Admissions Manager after running RMA manually and refreshing the schedule, you must contact VSS for assistance immediately.

On the day of testing:

1. In Admissions Manager, admit yourself for the TDFT exam.

In order to launch the TDFT exam, the candidate (you) must be admitted following the admission steps in Admissions Manager. To do this, follow the instructions in chapter 8 for admitting a candidate.

2. After being admitted, log in to Delivery Manager on a delivery workstation and start the TDFT exam.

For more information on Delivery Manager, see chapter 9 in this guide.

After you click the Start button in Delivery Manager, an Authorization window will appear. You are required to input an Authorization Code in order to launch the exam.

3. Once the Authorization window appears, contact VSS in order to retrieve a multi-pass authorization code for the exam(s).

Please refer to Starting Exams on Delivery Manager with No Connection to the Hub. in chapter 9 for more information about Authorization Codes in Delivery Manager. You will need to provide VSS with the Challenge Key in the Authorization window in order to receive an Authorization Code.



Be sure to tell VSS how many exams (including the TDFT exam) you will be delivering that day. VSS will provide you with a multi-pass Authorization code that can be used for every exam that day.

4. Enter the Authorization Code into the box and click OK.

Delivery Manager will automatically launch the TDFT exam on the screen after clicking OK. If the TDFT exam does not launch, contact VSS immediately for assistance.

5. Follow the instructions on the screen to run the TDFT exam.

The TDFT9: Test Driver Functionality Test - Flash Checker exam is designed to check if your workstation meets the minimum flash requirements. However, the purpose of running the TDFT in these instructions is to obtain a multi-pass Authorization Code that will allow you to deliver the exams for the testing session. While taking the TDFT exam, you should click the NEXT button located on the lower right side of the Delivery Manager screen until you reach the end of the exam. Once you end the exam, Delivery Manager will bring you back to the login screen.

If you notice that your workstation does not meet the minimum flash requirements while running the TDFT exam, you should contact VSS after the testing session for more information about meeting the flash requirement.

6. When it is time to deliver the exams for the testing session, admit the candidate(s) and launch the exam(s).

If you entered a multi-pass Authorization Code in Step 4, you will not be required to enter the Authorization Code on any of the workstations, unless the number of authorizations runs out.

7. After the testing session is complete and all exams have been delivered, return to the administration workstation, connect the administration workstation to the internet (if it is not connected), and then run RMA manually.

For more information on how to run RMA manually, see Running RMA Manually in chapter 3.

Documents

Appendix a Mobile and Classroom Testing A4