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Online Assessment – System and Hardware Requirements

Surpass System Requirements

To deliver our online assessments we use BTL’s Surpass platform.

Update 5th August 2021
We have been advised by BTL that an update to SecureClient has been rolled out. Please ensure you take the necessary steps to undertake the upgrade to prevent any adverse effects when undertaking future assessments.

When opening SecureClient you will receive a prompt on how to carry out the upgrade.

Please check before running the update that your current version of SecureClient is at a minimum of version 12.24 to avoid any potential update issues. Should your current version be older please uninstall and reinstall SecureClient from scratch from Surpass Deliver Test page.

Should you experience any difficulties, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Important
With the impending removal of Flash Player, please download the Surpass Viewer software to continue to view the scheduling, invigilating, and marking screens without disruption. Guidance on how to install Surpass Viewer is linked below. Please be advised the candidate assessment experience is not affected.

Surpass Viewer Installation Guide and Overview

Accessing our assessments will differ depending on which qualification is being assessed.

Surpass HTML Delivery is used for those assessments where learners will need to be able to access information on the internet and complete tasks in other applications. This applies to our Essential Digital Skills qualifications (EDSQ).

Surpass SecureClient delivery is used for assessment where access to other software and the internet is not allowed, this will include all of our online multiple-choice assessments.

Please ensure you review the appropriate system requirements below, and that you select the correct delivery method when launching your assessment.

HTML Delivery (Browser Delivery)
Which qualifications are assessed using HTML Delivery?

HTML Delivery is used to run assessment directly in a web browser and enables candidates to access websites and use other software packages and applications during the assessment.

HTML Delivery is currently used to assess the following qualifications:

  • Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Essential Digital Skills
  • Gateway Qualifications Entry Level 3 in Essential Digital Skills (Entry 3)
What are the minimum requirements for using HTML Delivery?

To ensure you can successfully run online assessments using HTML Delivery on a desktop or laptop, please ensure that you are able to meet the following minimum technical requirements.

Hardware

Processor:

  • 33GHz CPU

RAM:

  • Please note, for assessments containing advanced question types (such as BTL’s office from BTL’s ContentProducer) this should be increased to 2GB.

Video:

  • Screen resolution of 1280×768.
  • Graphics card with at least 64MB of memory.

Please note, for assessments containing advanced question types (such as BTL’s office from BTL’s ContentProducer) this should be increased to 2GB

Peripherals:

  • Two button mouse
  • Keyboard
  • Audio capability and headphones may also be required for some assessments

Note: Screens should be scaled to 100% for administration and delivery. Macs are not fully supported when using any part of Surpass. Some features require a specific screen resolution for optimal usage, for more information please contact your BTL Account Manager.

Software

Surpass is supported in the latest version of the following internet browsers:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge

Note: Safari is not fully supported when using any part of Surpass, but you can still sit tests using HTML web delivery.

Windows:

Microsoft have now removed support for Windows 7. You can continue to use Surpass and SecureClient on machines running Windows 7, but please be aware that from 12.21 we will not fix any issues found as a specific result of using this operating system.

Bandwidth

  • 512Kbps
Can assessments be taken on a tablet?

Assessments using HTML Delivery can be taken on tablets although learners may find it easier to complete the assessment on a desktop/laptop.

To ensure you can successfully run HTML Delivery on a tablet, please ensure that you are able to meet the following minimum technical requirements.

Hardware

Recommended devices:

  • Apple: Minimum iPad Air 1st gen. and above, recommended iPad Air 2nd gen. and above
  • Android: Minimum Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and above, recommended Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 and above

Screen Resolution:

  • 1024 x 600

RAM:

  • Minimum 1GB

Peripherals:

  • Headphones (for tests with audio)

Software

The SurpassDelivery app, and launching Surpass HTML delivery using a tablet device, are supported using the following operating systems:

  • Apple: the two most recent iPadOS releases
  • Android: the two most recent Android releases

Bandwidth

A minimum 2Mbps for every 30 candidate tests sat simultaneously is recommended. Please use the ‘Advance Download’ functionality if you do not want candidates to have to wait for a test to download at the start of a test session.

Please note, the use of 3G cards may not guarantee a constant bandwidth and may fall short of the minimum requirements.

SecureClient
Which qualifications are assessed using SecureClient?

SecureClient is used to assess the following qualifications:

  • Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in British Values
  • Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Award in British Vales (Entry 3)
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Keeping Safe and Healthy in the Digital World
  • Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Award in Keeping Safe and Healthy in the Digital World (Entry 3)
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Mental Wellbeing
  • Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Award in Mental Wellbeing (Entry 3)
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Keeping Safe and Healthy
  • Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Award in Keeping Safe and Healthy (Entry 3)
  • Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Equality and Diversity
  • Gateway Qualification Entry Level Award in Equality and Diversity (Entry 3)
How do I install SecureClient?

SecureClient is likely to need to be installed by your IT department, please advise them to consult the following guidance:

How to Install SecureClient

What are the minimum requirements for using SecureClient?

To ensure you can successfully run online assessments in SecureClient, please ensure that you are able to meet the following minimum technical requirements.  Guidance showing how to install SecureClient is provided above.

Hardware

  • Processor 1.80GHz or faster x86-compatible processor
    Please Note: For enhanced assessments containing BTL Office or other advanced question types, we recommend that Celeron processors are avoided.
  • RAM 1GB
  • HDD Space 1GB of free space
  • Video Single display
  • Screen resolution of 1024×768 (1280×1024 for BTL test centre network suppliers)
  • Graphics card with at least 128 MB of memory
  • Two button mouse
  • Keyboard
  • Audio capability and headphones may be required for some assessments.

Software

  • Supported Operating Systems
    • Windows 7 (32bit or 64bit)
    • Windows 8.1 (32bit or 64bit)
    • Windows 10 (32bit or 64bit)
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
  • Internet Explorer 9 to 11
    Please Note: Browser must be capable of displaying PDF documents, i.e. Adobe Reader must be installed.
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
    Please note: There is no download for .NET Framework 2.0 or 3.5 for Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 (note .NET Framework 3.5 is backwards compatible with 2.0). Though this is included with later versions, it may not be automatically installed and may need to be enabled in the Control Panel. Instructions on how to do this are available on the Microsoft website.

Bandwidth

  • A centre connection of 2Mbps or greater for every 30 candidate tests being sat at the same time is recommended to ensure candidates are not affected by connection issues during test delivery.
  • Centres are advised to download the test in advance if you do not want candidates to have to wait for the test to download at the start of the session.
    Please note that the use of 3G cards may not guarantee a constant bandwidth and could therefore not meet the minimum requirements.