This FAQ is designed for organisations who run assessments. If you are an exam candidate, please visit the candidate FAQ here instead.
How secure is the
data?
TestReach works with educational institutions, professional
bodies and corporations in highly regulated industries who
require a top level of security from their technology
suppliers. Our SaaS solution complies with ISO, SAS, SSAE
and ISAE standards and rigorous data-protection laws. All
data is held within the EU and so is subject to EU data
protection and processing laws. There is a comprehensive
security model that ensures only those with sufficient
security permissions can access set functionality and
screens. All data is encrypted using 128-bit encryption and
SSL. Exams are being run on TestReach that have been
accredited by various bodies including OFQUAL and the SQA.
Can TestReach
integrate with our existing systems?
Testreach can seamlessly fit into your existing technical
environment. We can easily integrate with your LMS, CRM or
Association Management System, so that candidates are
automatically enrolled into the correct exams and results
are pushed into a system of record.
What happens if
you update the system?
If the functionality of the system is updated, this is
immediately available as TestReach is a SaaS cloud-based
solution – so you do not ever need product upgrades.
TestReach is very easy to use whether writing questions,
setting marking rules or reviewing reports. If something is
updated, when you revisit that area of the site, you will
automatically be shown some help text telling you about the
new features.
How do you charge
for TestReach?
Unlike other software vendors, we don’t charge up-front site
license fees or set-up fees. We have a simple pay-per-test
system so you only pay for what you need. You can easily try
out TestReach for any number of tests.
Are accredited
exams being run on TestReach?
TestReach is working with organisations running remotely
invigilated exams for qualifications that are accredited by
organisations such as OFQUAL and the SQA.
How does TestReach
authenticate candidates?
If the candidate is using the TestReach system at an online
test centre without remote invigilation, the local
invigilator will assign a Test PIN Code that must be entered
before the exam can be accessed. When the exam is remotely
invigilated, the candidate has to present their agreed level
of ID to the camera, and this is verified by the supervisor.
There are also options to use advanced technologies such as
facial recognition and biometric scanning.
Can TestReach be
used for third party candidate management?
If you work with training partners, business customers or
affiliate organisations, who provide multiple candidates
that take your exams, then there are a range of features
within TestReach that specifically support this structure.
You can allow each of these organisations restricted access
to their own portal, where they can enrol and edit their own
candidate details and view their own dashboards, plus you
can also allocate each organisation a specific amount of
test licenses. This decentralisation of administration
significantly reduces the overheads of managing exams in a
tiered model.
What languages can
TestReach support?
TestReach can support assessments in any language including
double-byte character sets such as Russian and Chinese.
How long does it
take to roll-out TestReach?
Depending on the project you select, you can get up and
running within a couple of weeks. For high-stake exams, we
can support you to ensure your communications and processes
are streamlined and intuitive for candidates, authors,
markers and examination boards.
How can you be
sure candidates will not cheat?
If you are using remote invigilation, our trained
supervisors monitor candidates using video, audio and remote
screen-share. At the start of the session the supervisor
goes through a comprehensive process to secure the
candidate’s test environment and validate the identity of
the candidate. Exam conditions are very secure, as
candidates are monitored a lot more closely and the ratio of
candidates to supervisors is much lower than in a test
centre environment, plus all activity is recorded for later
review.
What type of
reports will I be able to access?
Your TestReach site has examination dashboards that are
updated in real-time. You can see results, answers given,
question performance, effectiveness of distractors, etc.,
and all the data you need is quickly and easily available,
giving you the insights you need to improve the quality of
future assessments.
We have lots of
different exam writers and markers, how do we control access
to the system?
With the huge number of exam authors and markers involved in
some exams, it is important that your online examination
solution can manage controlled access for different
individuals, so that sensitive data is properly protected.
You may choose to have an overall administrator with full
access, but others may only have access to certain parts of
the exam creation or marking modules for a specific exam.
What do I have to
do to start running remotely invigilated tests?
Remotely invigilated exams are very straightforward to roll
out. You set up your tests and enrol your candidates (this
may be an automated process through integration), then
TestReach looks after the rest. Automatic notifications are
sent to candidates, supervisor sessions are scheduled, our
supervisors monitor the tests at the scheduled time and you
can keep track of everything as it happens with our
real-time dashboards. It is a simple and easy process.
How do I access my
reports after an exam?
Each customer portal has exam dashboards that are updated in
real-time, so you can quickly and easily find out all the
information you need to comprehensively manage your online
tests. This includes details relating to pass rates and
candidates results and statistical information on the
effectiveness of your questions and exams.
Can a certificate
be generated for candidates?
TestReach can automatically generate pdf certificates with
your own corporate graphics for those who successfully pass
any test created within TestReach. This enables a sense of
achievement and reward.
Can the system be
designed with our corporate branding?
You will have your own corporate branded portal that can be
configured to meet your specific needs. Each candidate
logging into your portal will do so via your own customised
landing page, (or we can implement single sign on) which
will display your logo and colour schemes. In addition, you
can create templated tests with specific styles and
branding, so that all tests created for a specific division,
or of a particular type, follow the same standards.
How quickly can I
see test results?
Test and candidate results are updated and displayed on a
range of graphical dashboards. Reports are designed to give
you immediate insights into you team’s performance are
updated in real-time, so you can quickly and easily find out
the information you need to comprehensively manage your
online tests.
Can TestReach be
used by our Training Partners or Affiliates?
There is a full hierarchical structure within TestReach to
support training partners and affiliates. You can
decentralise user administration to third party
organisations or other parts of your company, whilst
maintaining full security and control around your tests. You
can allow third parties to set up and enrol their own
candidates in your tests, and you can limit the number of
enrolments they can make, in line with for example the
number of enrolments they have paid for. There is also
comprehensive reporting, so you can clearly see data
relating to each partner organisation and keep a track of
enrolments. This functionality can significantly reduce the
overheads in managing third party organisations or a
distributed team.
If I have to
moderate results for a group, is that possible?
The extensive marking and moderation functionality in
TestReach includes the ability to moderate results for an
individual as well as across a whole group if required.
Moderation and the manipulation of results is very
straightforward, with multiple graphical dashboards that
simplify the process. The marking also includes rubrics,
double-marking, facility for marker to record notes, script
annotation, routing of scripts, sections of papers and
questions to one or more markers and anonymised marking.