Q: How do we create Secure User Areas?
A: This is dependent on your IT infrastructure within your centre. If your centre uses Windows, special exam logons for each candidate can be created. These would use group policy set ups that disable internet access and enable access to secure disk space for read/write of files.
In other infrastructures, such as Mac or ChromeBook, the precise approach will need to be designed to provide the required security as well as the required functionality for the candidate(s). If you have specific concerns or questions, please contact us and we will endeavour to provide support - however the IT infrastructure and its management is a centre responsibility.
Back to top
|
Q: What are the requirements for each Secure User Area?
A: Each Secure User Area should have read, write & run privileges and a storage space of at least 50mB. There should be no access to the internet available. Within each secure user area there needs to be a top-level folder named (as per the instructions in the Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE)):
CENTRENUMBER_CANDIDATENUMBER_SURNAME_FORENAME
and in this folder two folders created:
STUDENT CODING - where the secure coding files and digital version of the Programming Language Subset (PLS) will be placed on the day of the exam
COMPLETED CODING - where the candidate saves their work
Candidates should also only be able to access their own Secure User Area and not anyone else's.
Back to top
|
Q: Can I check that all the Secure User Areas have been set up correctly ahead of the exam?
A: Yes - you can check the secure coding files and that the digital version of the Programming Language Subset (PLS) are present in each Secure User Area and that the correct folders have been created but you must not open the secure coding files. You should also ensure that the restrictions designed to be in place are working correctly (e.g. no internet, no access to open shared folders in your centre). You should also ensure that all applications are installed and functioning correctly, and the read/write privileges are in place - everything except the existence of the exam secure coding files can be tested in advance of the exam and this is strongly recommended.
|
Are we able to have back up accounts set up that candidates can use on exam day if theirs does not work?
A: Yes - you can create back up user exam accounts - although most centres would have automated scripts to create accounts. It may be that a less automated setup would leave the opportunity open for individual setups to not have been thoroughly tested or set up. It is advised that sufficient testing should be done ahead of the exam in order to avoid the need for the use of a spare exam user account.
|
Q: What are the requirements of the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) being used?
A: The Integrated Development Environment (IDE) being used should be one that candidates are familiar with using and should show line numbers. The collaborative functionality needs to be disabled. The IDE must also be clear of any previous work and enable candidates to create, amend, run and test/debug code.
|
Q: How do I disable the collaborative functionality within the Integrated Development Environment (IDE)?
A: This depends upon the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that you have chosen to use to teach your candidates. For most commonly used IDEs, if you run in an environment that has no internet connection - this will block any collaborative tools that would work normally when internet connection is available. If you have a specific IDE that you are concerned about contact us and we will try to help.
|
Q: Are we allowed to use the help that goes with our chosen Integrated Development Environment (IDE)? Some IDEs use online links for this - do you have any recommendations?
A: You cannot use any 'online' help as no access to the internet is allowed for this assessment. Some Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Thonny & PyCharm have extensive functionality that is available offline. If any help relies on an internet connection, then you would need to take this into account when preparing your candidates because the no internet connection is and always will be a fundamental and critical requirement to adhere to our exam regulations for this qualification.
|
Q: Are candidates allowed extensions enabled on their Integrated Development Environment (IDE) (for example, to auto-complete terms, colourize nested brackets or format their code) or would this be considered an unfair advantage?
A: Yes - all the 'local' help functionality of your Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is available including autocomplete & colourisation.
|
Q: Is there a comprehensive list of all the executable files that candidates should be able to launch?
A: No - this will depend on your local setup at your centre. The reason that the IT Technician checklist includes working with the subject teacher is so that the subject teacher can exercise all the requirements of the candidates and ensure that nothing is missing. Testing of this is beneficial in advance of the exam.
|
Q: How do I share the secure coding files once I have downloaded them with the IT technician on the day of the exam so they can move the files to the Secure User Areas?
A: This will depend on your infrastructure and IT resources at your centre, but the coding files must be shared securely and not via email.
|
Q: There is a policy in place at my centre which prevents files being written directly to the local disk of the machines that the candidates will be using. Can we provide labelled USB memory sticks instead of creating partitions on the local drive? The USBs would be unique to each candidate, labelled and contain both the folders required for the onscreen examination.
A: There is no 'requirement' from Pearson that candidate files are saved to the local disk of the machines your candidates will be using. If this policy is a requirement within your centre, as long as security regarding the USBs and secure material stored on them is maintained it will be your centre's decision. If there were to be an exception to this policy, such as in the case of delivering an onscreen assessment, we would advise that the saved files are maintained on a remote secure drive as most roaming profiles are. Your internal process for maintaining security of the candidates' work will depend upon your individual infrastructure and IT expertise.
|
Q: Can a secure USB drive be used for the distribution and collection of files?
A: Your internal process for maintaining security of the candidates' work will depend upon your centre's infrastructure and IT expertise. The use of USBs could be an option but only if this is a requirement for your centre. If security of the USBs can be maintained at all times, it will be your decision.
|
Q: Can I open and view the secure coding files, once downloaded, to check them ahead of placing them in the 'STUDENT CODING' folder?
A: The approved person(s) in the centre need to access the secure coding files in order to place them into the candidate secure user area - but candidates must not be permitted any access to the secure folder/files until the start of the exam session. The contents of the secure download must be placed in the ‘STUDENT CODING’ folder, there is no reason to look at the contents.
|
Q: Can there be a backup folder containing the original coding files placed on the desktop for candidates in case they overwrite the original coding files in the 'STUDENT CODING' folder, and they need to access a fresh copy?
A: Yes - it is your decision if you want to create a further folder called 'ORIGINAL' or something equivalent into which you can place a copy of the seed-code files, this does not advantage any candidate and does not compromise the assessment in any way - the reason we proposed a simple two folder approach was to avoid any confusion. Whatever works best in this regard can be adopted as your approach.
|
Q: Can we copy the seed files to the 'COMPLETED CODING' folder and rename them then let the candidates work from the 'COMPLETED CODING' folder?
A: Yes - this does not in any way compromise the security of the assessment or the validity of the assessment. If your candidates are prepared in this way and expect this when they take the exam, then this is an acceptable set-up.
|
Q: Do we need to pause any network activity during the exam, such as update rollouts?
A: As the computers that candidates are using should not have access to the internet, this should not be possible. If there is anything scheduled that might impact the performance of the computers, this should be, where possible, suspended until after the exam.
|
Q: Is there anything we need to allow in our network/firewalls to allow for this exam to run correctly or to access the materials that are required?
A: No - as the computers should be running internally, no firewall issues would be expected. Any intranet or internal network processes that may affect the computers should be suspended if possible.
|
This is the second of five FAQ articles for GCSE Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02). Please use the link below to navigate to the next article in the series:
Next Article: GCSE Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): Preparing For The Examination - Invigilation & Exam Room Setup/Exam Materials
Previous Article: GCSE Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): Preparing For The Examination - Guidance, Support Materials & Forms
Back to GCSE (9-1) Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): FAQ Index
|
