Digital Functional Skills: Digital FS Portal, Pearson Assessor Dashboard (PAD) and Data Files - Test Walkthrough

The assessment has two sections:

• Section A is a knowledge check with 10 multiple-choice questions. Candidate responses here are uploaded to Pearson for grading when the assessment is over.
• Section B is a task that requires candidates to make changes to the associated set of Data Files for the assessment. These completed Data Files must be uploaded for each candidate to Pearson via the Digital FS secure portal and accessed via Edexcel Online.

Full details on the structure of the assessment can be found in the specification.

Candidates should be familiarised with the structure and nature of the assessment by completing the SAMs (located under Sample assessment material) and Practice Papers (located under Onscreen tests) available on our website before sitting a live assessment.

The following guidance must be read in conjunction with the Digital Functional Skills Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) document. This is supplementary guidance that provides additional information and support for some key areas when delivering Digital Functional Skills Tests. 

You must first be logged into Edexcel Online in order to access the Digital Functional Skills secure portal.

To sign in, please go to Edexcel Online; you will be asked to enter your usual Edexcel Online credentials, and once you click sign in, a verification code will be sent to the Pearson Authenticator app. 
For further information, including downloading the app to your mobile device and using it to complete the sign-in process. Please see Pearson Portal Authenticator for details.

To access the Digital FS Portal through Edexcel Online, you will need to have been given additional user privileges by an authorised member of staff at your centre.

Centre Administrators can add this feature in Edexcel Online to new and existing users of the system by ensuring 'Onscreen Booking Only' and 'Access to run On demand paper based tests' are selected below 'Edit User Access Profile', for example: 

For support accessing Edexcel Online or managing user account options, please see the Edexcel Online (EOL) Accounts Support Index.

1. Log in to Edexcel Online. Select 'BTEC & Functional Skills' from the drop-down menu:
 
2. From the left-hand side of the screen, select 'Onscreen and On Demand Testing'.
From the sub-menu select 'FS Digital Portal':

3. This will direct you to the FS Digital Portal. If you have tests booked at multiple sites, you can view these by clicking the icon with 2 arrows:
  
4. From the home page, click on the drop-down Menu and select 'Orders FS Digital':

5. The following screen will appear. Enter your booking details in the appropriate fields to search for available test bookings. For specific booking details you can search by Order Number, Exam date, First name, Last name or Learner registration. 

Please note: we have added extra search criteria here based on the candidate 'First Name', 'Last Name', 'Learner Registration', and 'Paper Version' to make it easier to locate the correct test information.

You can also search for all available bookings within a time period using the Exam date 'From' and Exam date 'To' entry fields: 

6. Click on the required 'Order No' to view more details and to download the Data Files.

The Export button at the bottom of this list allows you to download an offline Excel sheet with this information to use for ease of administration, for example, recording the Order No and Learner number required to run the test for each candidate, please see Step 4 in Running the Onscreen Test via Pearson Assessor Dashboard (PAD) for more information.

IMPORTANT: you can only download test materials up to 24 hours before the scheduled time. Outside of this window the following options will not be available.

7. Click 'Download test paper(s)':

8. Click on the paper code reference at the bottom and select 'Ok' to accept the declaration:

The Data File will then download as a zip file.

Once you have downloaded the Data Files you will need to set up an assessment folder for each candidate to access the files during the assessment. Please see the next section for full instructions on how to set up the Data Files correctly.

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1. Create an assessment folder for each candidate or your centre's server using the following naming convention:

CandidateName_RegistrationNumber_CentreNumber, for example,

2. Then go to your downloads, locate and extract the Data Files into the candidate's assessment folder. Please note: the Data Files must be extracted from the zip file to allow learners to save their documents.
   

   Expand for a step-by-step on how to extract the Data Files.

   1. Locate the data files, then to extract the files, right-click on the data file folder, go to Extract All.  

     

   2. A new window will open up prompting you to select where to save the extracted files. Click Browse to navigate to the candidate’s assessment folder. 

      

   3. Once you have selected the location to extract the files, click Extract.  
      
      Tick the box Show extracted files when complete to check the files have saved to the correct location.
       
      A new window will appear, allowing you to check that the correct files are showing for the candidate. 
       
       
    

3. Before running any assessments, you should check that the Data Files are accessible. The Data Files contain an HTML Document which must be opened in the web browser to complete the interactive form.

   To do so, make sure the Data Files are available in the local file storage of the assessment computer and are accessible via Documents/File Explorer. In the example below the HTML Document is called WORK EXPERIENCE and the icon shows that it is set to open in Microsoft Edge. 

        
   Please note: the HTML Document will look different depending on which browser is set to default, e.g. using a Chrome browser will look like this:
      
   Important: If you try to use an online file platform, such as OneDrive, to open the .html file, then by default this will open within the file platform itself, and you will see the following error message. The Data Files must be opened from local storage to prevent this. 

     
   You will also see the above error message if JavaScript is not enabled within your chosen web browser. To enable JavaScript on different web browsers, please refer to the following article How to Turn On Javascript. 
   

4. Prepare a testing email account to be used during the assessment for each candidate.
   This account should not be used for anything other than testing purposes and must be wiped completely between assessments. Testing email accounts may be re-used at a later date only if they have been completely wiped of all evidence of assessments. Candidates must not use their own email accounts for the assessments.

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1. To locate the learner details for the onscreen test, log in to the Pearson Assessor Dashboard (PAD) using your 'User name' and 'Password'.
   
   If you already deliver onscreen tests, you can use your existing login credentials.
   To set up login credentials for your centre, please visit the Pearson Onscreen Platform webpage.
   
2. Select the 'FS Digital Bookings' tab to bring up all available bookings:
   

3. Click the arrow to the left of the relevant order. This will expand the learner's booking:
    
4. The expanded booking shows the Order No and Learner number, these details are needed to log into the FS Digital Test Player.
   You will need to make a note of these numbers and store them securely so that only exam staff and test administrators can access them.
    
5. To start the test, click on the FS Digital Test Player icon, this should be downloaded and set up on the desktop on each computer:
            
6. Enter the 'Learner Number' and 'Order Number' for each candidate to begin the test. For troubleshooting specific issues, please see: Digital Functional Skills: Test Player Troubleshooting.
   
   Please note: you must follow the seating plan correctly when entering learner details to ensure the correct level and version of the test is taken.
    

Please note:

• • a strong and stable internet connection is required for the entirety of the assessment
  • the test player must not be closed during the assessment; if it is closed, it can not be reopened, and the test will have to be re-booked.

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• The test player must not be closed at any point during the assessment. If a learner closes the test player, the test cannot be recovered. The player only allows for continuation if there is a loss of internet connection or if the test is paused. However, in both cases, the test player must not be closed. If this happens, then the test must be rebooked.
• Technical support should be available during the test, and the invigilator must be able to summon help without leaving the exam room if any of the following occur:
  • If the system is not up and running successfully at the scheduled start time, the assessment should be delayed by no more than 15 minutes for the problem to be resolved. After this time, the on-screen assessment should be rescheduled when the fault has been rectified and the system tested. 
  • If there are technical difficulties with individual computers or the whole centre system during the assessment, and if the failure cannot be rectified within 30 minutes, the on-screen assessment should be abandoned. A further set of on-screen assessments should be scheduled when the fault has been rectified and the system tested. 

For troubleshooting specific issues, please see: Digital Functional Skills: Test Player Troubleshooting

1. Locate the assessment folder for the candidate and check it is named correctly. The naming convention is as follows: CandidateName_RegistrationNumber_CentreNumber

2. Right-click on the folder.

3. Scroll down to Send to then click on 'Compressed (zipped) folder':

A compressed zipped folder (copy of the original folder) will appear. An example is shown below:

4. Log into Edexcel Online to access the FS Digital Portal. Select 'BTEC & Functional Skills' from the drop-down menu:

5. From the left-hand side of the screen, select 'Onscreen and On Demand Testing'.

From the sub-menu, select 'FS Digital Portal':

6. From the home page, click on the drop-down Menu and select 'Orders FS Digital':

7. The following screen will appear. Enter your booking details in the appropriate fields to search for available test bookings. For specific booking details you can search by Order Number, Exam date, First name, Last name or Learner registration. 

Please note: we have added extra search criteria here based on the candidate 'First Name', 'Last Name', 'Learner Registration', and 'Paper Version' to make it easier to upload the required test materials.

You can also search for all available bookings within a time period using the Exam date 'From' and Exam date 'To' entry fields:

8. Click on the 'Order No' you want to upload the learner’s folder to:
   

9. The Order details will appear. From the left-hand side of the screen, click 'Submit exam materials' to access the upload screen:
 
10. To upload materials, click on the paperclip icon on the right-hand side of the screen:
 
11. This will open a new popup window. Click on 'Select', then browse to the zipped (compressed) folder that contains the learner’s test:
 
12. Click OK / Open to upload the chosen folder.

Once the folder is uploaded successfully, a shortened version of the file name will be shown, and a red cross will appear on the right-hand side:

  
If an incorrect folder has been uploaded, click on the red cross to remove the folder and then repeat steps 11 - 12 to upload a new folder.

 
13. When the correct file has been uploaded, Click 'Submit':

 
You will then be returned to the order screen. The paperclip icon has now been replaced by a zip file icon to show that a file has been uploaded:
 
14. When you have uploaded all the learner work, click 'Submit' at the bottom of the order details screen to submit the order for marking:

 
15. This will open a pop-up for you to confirm the submission. Click 'Submit' again to send the learner's work for marking:

16. For confirmation, click on 'Order Details' from the left-hand menu options. You will see a record has been added at the bottom stating 'Exam materials have been submitted' and when this took place: 

To submit work for multiple learners, repeat steps 7 to 15.

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If a candidate is absent from the assessment, then they need to be marked as absent on the Pearson Assessor Dashboard (PAD), see the steps below on how to do this. Please do not upload any data files for absent candidates as this is unnecessary and may delay your ability to rebook the candidate for assessment.  

1. Log in to the Pearson Assessor Dashboard (PAD) using your User name and Password:

 
2. Select the 'FS Digital Bookings' tab to bring up all available bookings:

 3. Click the arrow to the left of the relevant order. This will expand the learner's booking:

4. Check the Order No. and Learner Number are correct. Then select the learner by clicking into the circle to the left of the Product name:

 
5. With the correct learner selected, click 'Mark as Absent' at the bottom of the page:
 
6. If there are more learners to mark absent, repeat steps 3 to 5.

7. You can now close the portal.

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Click the image below to access the demonstration.