www.pearsonpte.com Becoming a PTE Academic Approved Test Centre
1. Physical Requirements All test centres must have the following facilities: Registration room Administrator PC Waiting area Lockers Test delivery room Workstation PCs Partitions Chairs Server room Locked room storing the file server The biometric kit should be stored on the Administrator s desk Administrator must have access to a printer and scanner The Logitech camera must be stored on the Administrator s desk A chair must be used to seat test takers when capturing their photograph The Administrator s PC will be used to monitor test takers via CCTV footage Registration Room The waiting area must have one locker for every workstation in the testing room The external building must have company signage making the building easily identifiable Internal signage directing test takers to the registration and testing room Bathrooms must be located near to the testing room Bathrooms Server Room The server must be stored in a locked room Desks must measure 1.2 metres wide The waiting area must have one chair for every workstation in the testing room Partitions must measure 1.5 metres in height Testing Room P 1 Desk chairs must be comfortable and height-adjustable A microphone must be placed in the centre of the room CCTV cameras are installed in the testing room and the registration room The building must have parking spaces and/or access to public transport
2. Technical Specifications Processor RAM Hard Drive Operating System Video Adapter Display Mouse & Keyboard DVD-ROM Audio Card USB Network Connection Internet Connection Windows compatible Intel or AMD dual or multi-core processor. The Intel Atom line and AMD Neo line of processors are not permitted 2GB NTFS Format with at least 40 GB available space Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise (32 bit) with NTFS file system required or Windows XP Professional (32 bit) with Service Pack 3, NTFS file system required. Windows Vista and any 64 bit versions of Windows are not currently supported. Virtual machine and thin client environments (e.g. VMware, Virtual PC, VirtualBox, Parallels, HP, Wyse, etc.) strictly prohibited True colour (32 bit). 1024 x 768 pixels. 128 MB Video. RAM Video adapter must support DirectX 9c or higher 17 inch or larger (CRT or flat panel) Mouse, English QWERTY Keyboard Administrator PC Drive Required Windows audio compatible Minimum of 5 ports required for mouse, keyboard, admissions camera, palm vein, and signature pad. May need additional port for scanner Network Interface Card (1). Ethernet card 100 mbps between workstation and switch with internet access. Cabling Ethernet/CAT 5E or better /RJ45. Wireless network connections not permitted Broadband (DSL, cable or LAN/WAN) required. Minimum 512kbps upload. Total bandwidth must support 25 kbps Down/10 kbps Up for each Delivery workstation Browser Internet Explorer 7.0 or 8.0 Printer Laser 600 dpi with Postscript support, accessible from Administration and Delivery workstations Scanner Flatbed colour scanner Anti-Virus Software installed, enabled and regularly updated 2
Processor RAM Hard Drive Operating System Video Adapter Display Mouse & Keyboard DVD-ROM Audio Card USB Network Connection Internet Connection Workstation PC Windows compatible Intel or AMD dual or multi-core processor. The Intel Atom line and AMD Neo line of processors are not permitted 2GB NTFS Format with at least 60 GB available space Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise (32 bit) with NTFS file system required or Windows XP Professional (32 bit) with Service Pack 3, NTFS file system required. Windows Vista and any 64 bit versions of Windows are not currently supported. Virtual machine and thin client environments (e.g. VMware, Virtual PC, VirtualBox, Parallels, HP, Wyse, etc.) strictly prohibited True colour (32 bit). 1024 x 768 pixels. 128 MB Video. RAM Video adapter must support DirectX 9c or higher 17 inch or larger (CRT or flat panel) Mouse, English QWERTY Keyboard Drive required Windows audio compatible 3 ports required for mouse, keyboard and headset Network Interface Card (1). Ethernet card 100 mbps between workstation and switch with internet access. Cabling Ethernet/CAT 5E or better /RJ45. Wireless network connections not permitted Broadband (DSL, cable or LAN/WAN) required. Minimum 512kbps upload. Total bandwidth must support 25 kbps Down/10 kbps Up for each Delivery workstation Browser Internet Explorer 7.0 or 8.0 Anti-Virus Software installed, enabled and regularly updated 3
Server Processor RAM Hard Drive Operating System Additional Software Components DVD-ROM Network Connections Power Supply System Backup Anti-Virus Windows compatible Intel or AMD dual or multi-core processor. The Intel Atom line and AMD Neo line of processors are not permitted 2GB 60 GB available space Windows Server 2008 (more than 20 Windows 7 or 9 Windows XP workstations), 32 bit only, NTFS file system, with latest supported Service Pack or Windows 2003 Server (more than 20 Windows 7 or 9 Windows XP workstations), 32 bit only, NTFS file system, with latest supported Service Pack Windows or Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise (1-20 workstations), 32 bit, NTFS file system required. Virtual machine and thin client environments (e.g., VMware, Virtual PC, VirtualBox, Parallels, HP, Wyse, etc.) strictly prohibited Microsoft.NET Framework Version 2.0 with Service Pack 1 (x86) Drive required Network Interface Card Ethernet card 1 GB full 100 mbps from server to switch, wireless networking not permitted, cabling Ethernet / CAT 5E or better /RJ45. Novell NetWare not supported UPS recommended Performed daily Software installed, enabled and regularly updated 4
Pearson Security Kit The Security Kit must be purchased through Pearson and cannot be sourced independently. Security Camera DVR E-Pad Palm Vein Bio Camera Workstation Kit EZ Dome camera, EZ Dome camera cable, EZ Dome camera power supply DVR GX780 imaged Pearson EZ Watch cards-4 channel E-pad VP9801 Palm Vein cable, Pearson Palm Vein hand guide, Palm Vein sensor Logitech Quick Cam Pro9000 Headset, HW121N, Canada, US Kit, AVS, DVR, Microphone, instruct/set-up PTE-A media installer, PTE-A media installer v7 5
3. Staffing Requirements Test Centre Administrator Administrators are responsible for registering and invigilating test takers on test day. At least two staff must be trained and certified as Test Administrators, however, only one Administrator will need to be present during testing at any one time. IT Technician The Test Centre must have access to a member of their IT team for the following: Installation of Pearson Testing Kit including networking cameras to a DVR Set-up and networking of all workstations to one server Installation of Pearson test software onto all workstations and the Administrator PC Installing and implementing new software releases Working with VUE Support Services on resolution of technical issues Monitoring the functionality of all hardware components 6
4. Upfront Costs The Test Centre is responsible for all costs associated with both the fit out and the procurement of necessary technical equipment. The Test Centre will need to source the following: Desks PCs Chairs Server Partitions Internet The list below sets out each piece of equipment required and the indicative price. Note: these prices are subject to change. 7 Number of Workstations 6 Workstations 8 Workstations 10 Workstations Equipment Qty Unit Total Qty Unit Total Qty Unit Total EZ DOME Camera 6 $59 $354 8 $59 $472 10 $59 $590 EZ DOME Camera Cable 6 $32 $192 8 $32 $256 10 $32 $320 EZ DOME Camera power supply 6 $5 $30 8 $5 $40 10 $5 $50 DVR GX780 (imaged) 1 $669 $669 1 $669 $669 1 $669 $669 EZ-Watch cards 1 $685 $685 1 $1,325 $1,325 1 $1,325 $1,325 E-Pad VP9801 1 $115 $115 1 $115 $115 1 $115 $115 Palm-Vein cable 1 $5 $5 1 $5 $5 1 $5 $5 Palm-Vein hand guide 1 $17 $17 1 $17 $17 1 $17 $17 Palm-Vein sensor 1 $256 $256 1 $256 $256 1 $256 $256 Palm-Vein kit 1 $23 $23 1 $23 $23 1 $23 $23 Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 2 $90 $180 2 $90 $180 2 $90 $180 Headset 7 $89 $623 9 $89 $801 11 $89 $979 Kit, AVS, DVR, microphone 1 $92 $92 1 $92 $92 1 $92 $92 Instruct/ Setup media 1 $3 $3 1 $3 $3 1 $3 $3 PTE-A Media Installer V7 1 $3 $3 1 $3 $3 1 $3 $3 $3,247 $4,257 $4,627
5. Time Frames Test Centre Evaluation Statement of Intent 2 weeks Contracts 2 weeks Please note: These times frames are indicative only. They do not take into account any undue delays at the end of the test centre and assume that the test centre has the ability to call on staffing and other resources as required. Building Works IT Hardware IT Infrastructure Physical Specifications Assessment Approval 2 weeks Software Install Media Install Systems Test Training Pre- Activation Live Testing Security Kit Install Launch Event 3 weeks 3 months 8