Bulats Quick Start Guide 2i4vc

BULATS Online Quick Start Guide Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Operation....................................................................................................................... 2 The BULATS Portal .............................................................................................. 3 Technical Setup, Training and , FAQs .....................................................................4 Useful links ............................................................................................................... 4 Additional services agents can offer ...................................................................................5 Definitions of terminology...................................................................................................5

Introduction BULATS Online is a web-based application for testing the language skills of students, employees and prospective employees.

Tests

Technical information The tests can be taken at almost any PC with an internet connection, however we do advise that, during testing, the more bandwidth available the better. (See https://.cambridgeenglish.org/hc/en-gb/articles/218304783-Technicalrequirements-for-BULATS for technical requirements.)

There are three types of test: Online Reading and Listening Test

Listening, Reading & Language Knowledge

Approximately 60 minutes

Test Websites

Online Speaking Test

Speaking

12 minutes

The BULATS Online system has two websites:

Online Writing Test

Writing

45 minutes

The Reading and Listening test is adaptive, which means that the test responds directly to the candidate’s responses: if the candidate gets questions right, the test gets more difficult, if they get questions wrong, it gets easier until the correct level for the candidate is found. This also means that each BULATS test is unique. The Reading and Listening test is marked automatically and results are available immediately. For the Speaking and Writing tests, the candidate responds to onscreen prompts and does not interact with an examiner. The tests are marked by examiners that are employed by the BULATS agent. Results are available as soon as tests have been marked.

•

The istration website, used by agents, test s and examiners: https://.bulatsonline.org

•

The Candidate Test website, used by candidates: https://www.bulatsonline.org

1

Operation Step One The BULATS agent will be made aware that there are candidates ready to take BULATS. Depending on their needs the candidate may take just one test mode or any combination of the three.

BULATS Candidate wants to take a test and approaches Agent/Indirect customer

Step Two Ordering tests and generating tokens takes seconds. It is a two stage process. First tests are ordered. When the tests are needed a token needs to be generated from the test. This allows the test to be taken. Agents need to be aware that tests are ordered by mode and by language and that tokens can be generated only for the tests that have been ordered (for example if English Speaking tests have been ordered, only English Speaking tokens can be generated) Tokens can be routed to a particular customer or test if required.

Step Three The test is responsible for ensuring that the computer where the candidate will sit the test is set up correctly following the technical steps on the BULATS website. They also need to check the supervisor options that can be accessed through the portal are as required (these include result viewing and printing options, use of a timer etc) and are also responsible for distributing test tokens to candidates, managing test invigilators and ensuring that the room where the tests are being taken is suitable.

Agent/Indirect Customer orders test and generates token from the Portal

Test sets up test for candidate by completing technical steps found on the site and checks supervisor options in the Portal Test enters test token into test site and ensures candidate is happy to start the test. Test begins and candidate is monitored by an invigilator.

Step Four If the candidate has taken the Reading and Listening test, their results are available immediately through the portal. If they have taken the Speaking and/or Writing test then the agent will need to employ an examiner to mark the tests. Results will be made available as soon as the examiner has marked the test(s).

On completion of the Reading and Listening test, results are available immediately, for Speaking and/ or Writing Agent/Indirect Customer allocates Test(s) to an examiner to mark before results can be printed.

2

The BULATS Portal The portal is used to manage all BULATS test istration, from ordering tests through to printing candidate results Functionality on this top menu is used to perform basic functions and to instructions for how to use the system.

Used for searching and adding the Agent’s customers as well as adding or deleting Test s

Tests must be ordered for each test mode separately. Tokens cannot be generated unless tests have been ordered first. Candidate Test Report Forms and group reports are printed here. These functions are used to check the amount of tests ordered and tokens generated by the agent and their Customers.

{ {

Agents must nominate examiners to be trained and certified if they want to offer Online Speaking and Writing tests. These functions are used to allocate completed Speaking and Writing tests to examiners.

{ 3

Technical Setup, Training and , FAQ’s Technical Setup

Useful links The main BULATS website can be found here You can log on to Fronter here: https://fronter.com/cambridge

In order for BULATS Online to run properly, the technical steps found here must be completed on every PC where the test will be run and before every test session.

The BULATS Portal can be found here: https://.bulatsonline.org

A demo of all three online test modes can be found here.

The BULATS Test site can be found here: https://www.bulatsonline.org

Training and All new Agents can request training on how to use the portal via the Cambridge English Helpdesk. Further training and – in the form of help videos and guided presentations, s and istrative information can be found by consulting the BULATS Agent Toolkit at: www.fronter.com/cambridge (you will be sent your details when you become an agent)

FAQ’s

The ESOL Helpdesk For any queries relating to BULATS please the Cambridge English Helpdesk. Issues you may wish to raise with the Helpdesk are: •

Changing your details

•

Questions about test istration

•

Questions ing the portal

•

Technical assistance

FAQ’s covering all aspects of BULATS can be found here. [email protected] Telephone: +44 1223 553997

4

Additional services agents can offer

Definitions of terminology

In addition to offering BULATS tests, BULATS agents can apply to offer the following services. Agents wishing to offer these services must sign up to additional and conditions outside of their BULATS Agreement. More details can be sought by ing your local Cambridge ESOL Office or the ESOL helpdesk.

BULATS Agent – Has overall responsibility for ordering tests, managing the test istration process and employing staff to ensure that test istration runs smoothly and to the required standards. Agents can order tests for themselves, or their customers directly from Cambridge ESOL.

Benchmarking

BULATS Indirect Customer – A customer of a BULATS Agent. Indirect customers order tests from the BULATS Agent and can ister them themselves.

BULATS Benchmarking uses a set of tools to establish the required level of language ability for any jobs, and then uses BULATS tests to assess the language proficiency of employees. Because the system is so flexible and easy to use, it can be tailored to meet the needs of any organisation, and can be delivered on any scale.

Certificated BULATS Currently used for UKBA visa applications, certificated BULATS is a service whereby candidates sit all three test modes on the same day under strict exam conditions. Their results can then be used to produce a certificate by Cambridge ESOL which can then be used for Visa Applications.

BULATS Test – responsible for ensuring the tests are set up correctly (using supervisor options to add a time limit, ability of candidate to see their results after the test etc) and distributing test tokens to test candidates. Online Test – Agents order Reading and Listening, Speaking and Writing test through the portal. Online Test Token – A test token activates the test making it live so that a candidate can take a test. A test token is a string of letters and numbers entered into the test site by the candidate/test . Portal – An online resource where the test management process is undertaken. Test Portal – An online resource where the tests are taken by candidates. Fronter – An online learning management system where the BULATS Agent Toolkit can be accessed. BULATS Agent Toolkit – Stored on the LMS Fronter, the BULATS Agent Toolkit provides help, and training in all aspects of istering BULATS.

©UCLES 2018

5