Helpdesk Training Article
This article describes the different options of entering candidates to test sessions and also how to withdraw candidates. Entries can be made either in bulk or for a single candidate. This article is specifically for the Cambridge English Skills Test for Schools.
Once you have created your session you can add entries into the session in three different ways:
- Bulk Entry Import
- Single candidate Entry
- Search Existing Candidates.
Each method for adding entries is shown in detail in the sections below:
Adding Entries - Bulk Entry Import
The Bulk Entry Import feature allows you to import a file of candidate details into a session.
Choose this where you need to create many candidate entries.
1. Log into the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Click Sessions.
3. Locate the session you wish to import candidates into and click the Session Name.
4. Click on Add Entries
5. The Bulk Entry Import form will become available. You can download a template using the Download template link on the form, see blue link in the example below.
6. Only the Username is a mandatory parameter for bulk upload, although other parameters/fields can be selected from the list.
Please note for the Cambridge English Skills Test Schools variant, no Email addresses should be uploaded. An Email address is only required for the Cambridge English Skills Test General and Business 16+ variants.
7. To upload your file remember to check that it only contains the information you have selected under parameters. In the example above: Password, First name and Family name have been selected, in addition to the mandatory Username.
There should be no headings in the spreadsheet when preparing for upload.
You must refer to the tips provided, which contain important information on the format that the entry data for bulk upload must be inputted into the spreadsheet. Following these tips ensures the file will upload correctly.
If you want to upload the gender information you must use lower case letters (m, f, n or o).
Important: Make sure there are no extra spaces (white spaces) before, after, or between your entries.
8. Once you've created your file to import, navigate to Save As and select type CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*csv). This is particularly important if you are uploaded candidate names with diacritics.
9. At the bottom of the Bulk Entry Import form, click Select under the Upload file heading.
10. Navigate to the file you wish to upload, select it and click Open.
11. Once you've selected the file, click Upload.
12. A window will pop up advising the file has been uploaded. Click OK.
13. The candidate entries may not appear in Metrica immediately, depending on the number of candidates. It will upload in the background and a notification will pop up in the top bar in Metrica once the candidate entries have been imported. Once this notification appears, click on the Notification icon.
Whilst you are waiting for the upload notification, you can complete other tasks on the site, including uploading other Bulk Entry CSV files if needed.
14. You must confirm the candidate details before they appear in the session. To do this, click on review.
15. Check the details are correct, then click OK which will be at the bottom of the page.
If the details are not correct, click Cancel, then upload the file again with the correct details.
16. A window pops up informing you the upload is in progress. Click OK.
17. Whilst the upload is in progress, a screen will appear advising so. Once the above completes, another notification will appear at the top bar. Click on the Notification icon once it appears.
18. This notification will advise the import has been completed successfully. Click review.
19. The candidates now appear in the session.
If you did not upload passwords for your candidates Metrica will create them for you once your entries have been processed.
Select the candidates in the Session Entries list and click on Export Selected Data to create a csv file which will contain the auto-generated passwords.
You will have to repeat the process for each module your candidates will take, i.e., once each for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. You need to upload the same file to the corresponding session for that module.
Please do not enter the candidate into the same session more than once.
Once you have added your entries you will be ready to run the tests.
Adding Entries - Single Candidate Entries
Single Candidate Entry allows you to enter a candidates details directly into the system, one candidate at a time.
Choose this if:
- You have a small number of candidates
- You don't have the candidates' details in a CSV file ready to upload.
Don't choose this if:
- You have a large number of candidates.
You can manually enter a candidate's details directly into the system.
1. Log into the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Click Sessions.
3. Click on the name of the session.
4. Click Add Entries
5. Click the Single Candidate Entry tab and enter the candidate's details into the form.
All mandatory fields are denoted by a * red asterisk.
6. When all the details are added click Save.
7. The candidate will now show in the session with their username, the password that you have entered and institutional ID number.
You will have to repeat the process for each module (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking) the candidate will take.
Please do not enter the candidate into the same session more than once.
Adding Entries - Searching Existing Candidates
Where a candidate has sat a Cambridge English Skills Test with you previously they will have an existing account.
This means that you can add them directly into a session and it assures that their account is linked correctly for each Cambridge English Skills Test that they take.
Adding to the session via this method allows the candidate to take the test again using the same login.
Please do not enter the candidate into the same session more than once.
Where the candidate takes the test multiple times they will be able to select "My Best Score" from their results.
1. Log into the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Click Sessions.
3. Locate the session you wish to import candidate into and click the Session Name.
4. Click Add Entries.
5. Click Search Existing. Use the search bar at the top to search for a particular candidate if needed.
6. Click the tick box next to each candidate you wish to add to the session.
7. Click Save.
8. The candidate will now appear in the entries list for the session.
Login Information Report
The Login Information Report allows you to generate PDFs of individual candidates' login details, so you can hand these to the candidate on test day.
1. Navigate to Reports in the ribbon on the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Navigate to Results & Reports and select the EST Login Information Report.
3. Click on the blue link to open the report. Select the Test Venue and Session and click View Report. Alternatively, enter the Login to generate the report for a single candidate.
4. The login details pages will now be created.
5. Click on the disc symbol to export the report as a PDF. Then you can print the login details.
Invigilator Report
The Cambridge English Skills Test Invigilator Report provides a reporting functionality that allows you to provide candidate login details to Invigilators to inform candidates on the test day.
1. Navigate to Reports in the ribbon on the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Navigate to Results & Reports and select the EST Invigilator Report.
3. Click on the blue link to open the report. Enter the test date under Start Date and select the Session Name. Then click on View Report.
4. You will then be able to see the Candidate Name, Login information and Password. You can download the report, and save as required, to share with invigilators. Please remember to detail your institutional centre number.
Withdrawing Entries
To withdraw an entry follow the instructions below:
1. Log into the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Click on the Sessions tab
3. Click on the name of your session
4. Click in the check-boxes to select the entries you wish to withdraw from the session (Please note: Only candidate with the status Not attempted can be withdrawn). Click Withdraw
5. Click OK to confirm that you wish to withdraw the entries
When the Session list reloads the candidate(s) will have the status Withdrawn.
Please note: You do not need to click Save at the bottom of the page.
Once an entry has been withdrawn the test credit will become available again and can be used for a new entry.
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