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Secure User Areas & Exam Materials
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Q: Can candidates check and confirm that they can log in to their Secure User Area and locate the coding files & Programming Language Subset (PLS) in their folders at the start of the exam?
A: Yes, but this must be done under exam conditions, and they must not access/open the coding files or begin the assessment until the invigilator informs them that the exam has started.
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Q: The original coding file is no longer accessible for a candidate - can we drop the original coding file back into their Secure User Area?
A: Yes - if a candidate requires the original coding file, your IT Technician can place the original coding file into the candidate’s Secure User Area. The candidate should continue their examination where possible and return to the question once the file has been placed in their Secure User Area.
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Q: It's taken a long time to resolve the replacement of the original coding files for a candidate - are they allowed any extra time because of this?
A: Yes - should a candidate require additional time due to the impact of replacing the original coding files, then your invigilator should:
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control the restart,
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reset the timing, where necessary,
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ensure that the candidate(s) can re-access their previous responses (where this is technically feasible and permitted by the assessment).
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Q: What can the invigilator or IT Technician check if the candidate(s) cannot access the files before contacting Pearson?
A: A re-boot could fix everything, or the candidate could be moved to a backup computer. If time is required to get the computer back up and running, this time can be added on for that candidate. Your invigilator should:
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control the restart,
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reset the timing, where necessary,
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ensure that the candidate(s) can re-access their previous responses (where this is technically feasible and permitted by the assessment).
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Q: What do candidates name their solution files?
A: The question paper provides instructions on what file names to use for modified pieces of code.
The candidate(s) work should be saved in the 'COMPLETED CODING' folder.
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Q: If a candidate forgets to rename their solution files and just updates the seed files, will they still get marked?
A: The candidate will not be penalised for saving the files using an incorrect naming convention.
The files that are within the 'COMPLETED CODING' folder are the ones that will be marked.
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Q: Can the onscreen calculator be used if a candidate feels it necessary?
A: Yes – the onscreen calculator can be used.
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Q: Can candidates wear headphones / need headphones for this examination?
A: There is no requirement for a headset in this exam. Candidates should not be allowed headsets in the exam unless special access arrangements allow, such as noise cancelling headphones.
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Invigilation
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Q: Can the subject teacher be present in the room during the exam?
A: Under normal circumstances, a teacher, tutor or senior member of centre staff who teaches the subject being examined must not be an invigilator for an examination in that subject.
Should the subject teacher have to be called upon with regards their IT expertise in delivering this exam, we recommend that this is done on an 'as needed' basis and that the subject teacher is only to be asked if no other qualified member of staff is available. The subject teacher may only intervene to help diagnose the problem and suggest the corrective action to the IT technician only. They should then remove themselves from the exam room and remain on-call.
Pearson does not need to be informed if the subject teacher was present in the exam room with regards the scenarios described above.
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Q: How do we pause the exam should we need to due to unforeseen circumstances?
A: This is dependent upon the circumstances, if the room needs to be cleared, for example, then all candidates will need to remain together securely under supervision until they can return to the room and resume the assessment. If the exam was 'paused' for 15 minutes, then 15 minutes would be added to the end of the session. If a single computer crashes and it takes 5 minutes to reboot, the candidate would wait whilst the issue was resolved (where possible) and 5 minutes would then be added to their exam session.
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Q: We have just had: system crash/power cut/hardware/software failure - what do we do?
A: You can continue the session at a different workstation or at a later time for the candidate(s) while the difficulties are resolved. When re-starting the assessment, your invigilator should:
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control the restart,
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reset the timing, where necessary,
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ensure that the candidate(s) can re-access their previous responses (where this is technically feasible and permitted by the assessment)
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