Classroom Testing

Pearson VUE Authorized Centers have the flexibility of offering exams at sites other than a fixed testing center.
v Overview (page 2) v Facilities requirements (page 3) v Testing system installation and setup (page 4) v Registration and scheduling (page 6) v Exam administration (page 7) v After the testing event or session (page 9)

-1-

Overview
v 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 RegManPlus on another workstation so that Site Manager will be available for admitting candidates. The following sections outline the requirements for implementing classroom testing. Please read this information carefully to help ensure your testing center is in compliance with the contractual requirements concerning the testing center environment, professionalism of center personnel, testing center procedures and security of exams in a classroom environment.

-2-

Facilities requirements
The requirements for classroom testing site are the same as for a fixed testing 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 classroom testing:
v Hardware and software Classroom testing site must comply with the

minimum requirements outlined on www.pearsonvue.com/pvtc. For example, all workstations must meet the listed specifications, Internet connectivity is required and a printer must be accessible to all workstations.
v Space
l

Two separate areas are necessary: one area for exam registration, scheduling, candidate admission and sign-out, and a separate room for exam delivery. 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.

v Testing room
l

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

v Exam delivery workstations

l

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 three feet (1.2 meters) between exam delivery workstations.

l l

-3-

Testing system installation and setup

The necessary Pearson VUE Testing System applications must be installed at the classroom site using the standard setup and installation procedures described in the Pearson VUE Testing Center Agreement and guide. Listed below are some important points about installing and setting up the testing system in a classroom environment.
v 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 System requirements on www.pearsonvue.com/pvtc . Before delivering exams, be sure that the date and time are set correctly on each workstation.
v Installation and testing.
l l l

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. 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 RegMan-Plus on another workstation and use that workstation for scheduling appointments and admitting candidates. RegMan-Plus allows you to link to the Registration Manager and Site Manager applications on your administration workstation from another workstation on the network. If you are providing services at a large event, such as a conference, you may want to install RegMan-Plus on several workstations so multiple administrators can schedule and admit candidates. Assets Manager, each delivery workstation must be set up as an asset. 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

l l

-4-

the rules when you want to make the workstations available for scheduling appointments.

-5-

Registration and scheduling

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 testing 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). If you are using the Pearson VUE Application Wrapper Service, exams will download automatically after registrations are made. If you are not using the Wrapper Service, exams must be downloaded by running the Remote Maintenance Agent (RMA) manually.
v 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.
v 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).

-6-

Exam administration
Administrators in classroom testing situations must follow the same Pearson VUE exam delivery procedures that fixed centers follow. Requirements are summarized below.
v 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.
v Materials The classroom must have copies of the Pearson VUE

Policies & Procedures Guide, the Pearson VUE 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.)
v Schedule Before each testing session, administrators should

familiarize themselves with the testing schedule via the VSS Web site or through Site Manager.
v Candidate check-in procedures Check-in procedures are exactly

the same as for normal testing center exams. The steps listed in Admissions Manager must be followed to admit each candidate. Two forms of ID are 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.
v Personal belongings Personal items such as hats, coats, briefcases

and cell phones must be secured and out of the candidates reach during the exam as described in Facilities requirements on www.pearsonvue/pvtc. Do not store bags or purses in unsecured areas.
v Seating candidates If space allows, seat candidates in alternate

seats and rows.

v 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.
v 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.

-7-

v 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.

-8-

After the testing event or session

Listed below are procedures you need to follow at the end of the classroom testing session.
v Transfer exam results If you have the Pearson VUE Application

Wrapper service running, exam results will automatically upload to the Pearson VUE database. If not, you must manually run RMA to ensure that results are sent to Pearson VUE in a timely manner. A daily backup should also be run at this time. If you are not using the VUE Application Wrapper service, now is a good time to start! Exams and exam results will upload and download automatically, and you will always have the latest software upgrades.
v Verify results upload To verify the exam results upload, log in to the

VSS Web site (http://vss.vue.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.
v 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 in classrooms.
v Close applications Close Registration Manager and Site Manager on

all workstations running the applications. Log out of Delivery Manager on all delivery workstations and turn off each workstation.
v 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:
l

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, log in to Site Manager, click the Assets icon on the left, and click the Connect button. Double click the Assets icon so that you can see the list of assets. Select a workstation asset and click Delete. Repeat this process until only the number of delivery workstation assets used in your fixed testing center is shown. Contact VSS if you need help.

-9-