How do I use the Surpass online system?

This guidance applies to Essential Digital Skills qualifications and our multiple-choice online qualifications.

Please note – Instructions on how to register candidates and book online external assessments using the QuartzWeb system is provided in separate guidance

Logging in to Surpass (Administrator and Invigilator)

When an Administrator account is created an email will be issued containing a username and a link to the ‘Change Password’ screen:

Example email from Surpass with log in details

  1. Click link
  2. Create and confirm a password
    • This must contain a minimum of 8 characters, a number, at least one upper case and one lower case letter, and a special character
  3. Create a security question and answer
    • The security question must be within 15 to 80 characters and the answer must be between 3 to 80 characters
  4. Once the password and security question has been created and entered, the Surpass Home Page will be displayed

Surpass Home Screen

  1. Use and bookmark this link – https://gateway.surpass.com to access the log in page in future

Obtaining log-in details for candidates and printing the Invigilation Pack (Administrator)

Please note – Candidates will require a key code to access the assessment.  To produce key codes, an invigilation pack will be required

  1. Select ‘Test Administration’ from the menu bar Surpass menu bar
  2. Select ‘Schedule’ from the drop-down list Surpass schedule button
    • All Columns are sortable and can be filtered
  3. Select Group by session or Show each candidate (bottom left of page) to add/remove columns in view  Surpass group by session or show each candidate buttons
  4. Highlight rows required for candidates to be included in the invigilation pack (press ctrl or shift to multiselect)
  5. Click Print Invigilation Pack  Surpass print invigilation pack button

 

Warning – Do not select the ‘Remove PIN’ or ‘Void’ buttons as all learners MUST use a PIN to access the assessment.  Your learners results may be at risk if these selections are processed.

 

  1. Select – Create Invigilation Pack using selected tests  Surpass create invigilation pack using selected tests button
  2. Select One Keycode or Multiple Keycodes per page  Surpass print invigilation pack options page
  3. Click – Finish
  4. A PDF document will download

On the day of the test (Invigilator)

  1. Prepare the examination room
  2. Ensure the Invigilation pack has been provided by the Administrator
  3. Enter any reasonable adjustments – See Entering Reasonable Adjustments below
  4. Advise Candidates of their individual key codes
  5. Complete the Attendance Register
  6. Once ready to proceed – advise candidates of the pin code to start the test

IMPORTANT:

Please ensure candidates double check the details on the screen to ensure the learner information is accurate before confirming identity and proceeding with the examination. Failure to sit the correct examination will result in a maladministration/malpractice investigation.

  • Complete the Invigilation Report

Starting the Assessment (Invigilator)

  • Invigilator to advise Candidates to enter individual key code into SecureClient and to follow onscreen instructions
  • Invigilator announces PIN for all candidates which is found in the second column  Surpass PIN example
    • Note the first column can be filtered
  • After announcing the PIN select ‘In Progress’ button to list all candidates currently taking the assessment  Surpass In Progress button
  • The symbols will change according to the status of the test (examples are provided below)

Surpass test status symbols

In the event of an emergency (Invigilator)

  1. The assessment may be paused by highlighting and selecting Individuals or selecting ‘Select All in Page’  Surpass select all in page button
    • Note – if candidates carry over to more than one page, you will need to select all candidates on every page
  2. Click Pause  Surpass pause button
    • Note – Candidates will receive a pop up notification to advise the exam has been paused
  3. To resume the test – Select individuals or select all in page as above
  4. Click Resume  Surpass resume button