Surpass pre-release webinar for 12.31

The Surpass team hosted the 12.31 pre-release webinar, on Tuesday 15 November.

Ari Flavell from the Surpass team and host Ben Brady explained the new features and updates in the 12.31 release, including the exciting Advanced Essay mode, alongside usability and accessibility improvements for Surpass users.

Watch the recording here, and read on for an overview of the key features that were discussed.

Key features

Item Authoring

• The Advanced Essay item now allows for bespoke layout and formatting of questions.
• Media file types (e.g. video) can now be added to items as a shared resource between multiple questions.
• All Item key notes are now in the right-hand panels, for a better user experience.
• The Azeri language has been added to Surpass, bringing the total number of languages supported to 63.

Tasks

• Test administrators can now add feedback to packaged computer-marked tests, for improved user experience.

Usability enhancements

• The Notepad tool joins an expanding panel of candidate tools (such as callipers and calculator) and allows test-takers to make notes during the exam without being marked on these.

Accessibility improvements

• Ongoing accessibility improvements are helping to improve the test experience for everyone. 

Webinar discussions

You can skip to these timecodes on the video to watch each topic.

2m 52: About the development of the Advanced Essay item type

4m 52: Demonstration of the Advanced Essay item type

8m 32: Media file types can be added as a shared resource

11m 38: Item settings in right-hand panel

15m 44: The Notepad tool

Questions

Is the Notepad able to be moved around the screen, like the calculator?

Yes, it can.

Which item types is the Notepad available for?

The Notepad is available with any item that allows you to add a tool.

Can you change the name of Notepad?

Yes, you can do this.

Can you amend the toolbar available to the student in the Notepad?

No, all formatting options are available to candidates in Notepad.

Can we add screenshots to the Notepad?

This isn’t currently possible, as images aren’t supported in this tool.

Does the Notepad allow marks to be allocated to the learner for their working out?

Not in terms of computer marking, but for human marking a mark could be manually added on if desired.

Does each item in the test have a new (blank) notepad, or would they be able to see their notes from question 1 when they open the notepad in question 2?

Each item has a new notepad, as it’s added to the item individually, as with other tools. Notes won’t transfer as it ‘belongs’ to the item, unlike item sets which can share media.

Can you copy and paste in Notepad?

You can copy and paste text and numbers within the Notepad, and also copy and paste onto it from other tools, such as the calculator.