Candidate Guidelines Online
Exams with live Invigilation
A step-by-step Guide on how to take a LanguageCert
Online Exam
Windows
February 2022
Version 4.0
Public
© 2017 PeopleCert | All rights reserved
Process: Quality Management & Excellence | ID No: ….ver01.0 / 28.12.17 Page 1 of 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 5
2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................. 5
3 EXAM PREPARATION .................................................................................................................... 6
4 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................... 8
5 EXAM SHIELD INSTALLATION .................................................................................................... 10
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 2 of 18
Document Revision History
Version Date Description of Change
4.0 03/02/2022 Minor update in paragraph 5
3.0 28/01/2022 1st revision in 2022
2.0 29/11/2021 Updates in paragraph 5
1.8 01/03/2021 2nd revision in 2021
1.7 17/02/2021 Revision2021
1.6 20/11/2020 Minor updates in paragraph 2
1.5 28/08/2020 Revision 2020
1.4 25/11/2019 2nd revision in 2019
1.3 17/07/2019 Minor updates in paragraph 3
1.2 17/06/2019 Minor content corrections
1.1 13/05/2019 Revision after Pilot version
1.0 13/03/2019 Initial version-Pilot
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 3 of 18
About LanguageCert
LanguageCert is an Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisation responsible for the development and award of language
qualifications. LanguageCert’s mission is to offer high quality language qualifications that are truly fit-for-purpose for the
markets/candidates they serve.
LanguageCert International ESOL Qualifications (Entry level, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, corresponding to CEFR levels A1
to C2) are regulated by Ofqual.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 4 of 18
1 Introduction
This document provides you with important information regarding preparing for and taking an Online Proctored exam.
Please ensure you read the information thoroughly before your exam day. If you require any clarifications and/or support,
please contact our Customer Service Team at [email protected]
2 System Requirements
Ensure that your computer meets the following system requirements:
• Windows® 11, Windows® 10 (Windows 10S is not supported), Windows® 8.1, Windows® 8.
• Note: The Microsoft Store version is only available to Windows 10 version 17763 or later.
• Internet Explorer version 10 or greater.
• Dual-core 2.4GHz CPU or faster with 4GB of RAM (recommended).
• Active Full-Time/Broadband internet connection of at least 4Mbps.
• 16-bit monitor (at least 15”) with screen resolution 1024 x 768 or higher.
• Keyboard and mouse or another pointing device (keyboard set to the language of the exam).
• A web camera (embedded or external – no mobile phone). Make sure you can rotate your camera when asked by
the Proctor.
• Wired headsets with microphone.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 5 of 18
3 Exam Preparation
Your Identification Document (ID):
On the day of your exam your Proctor will verify your ID. You are responsible for ensuring the ID used to register and take
your exam is valid and acceptable. On your exam day if you do not present valid and acceptable ID, or the First/Middle
Name(s) and Last Name of your ID does not exactly match the name you used to register for your exam, you will not be
allowed to test and will not be entitled to a refund. You will, however, be able to re-book your exam following the
standard exam booking process. Your ID must:
• Be current and valid – ID containing dates that have expired are not allowed.
• Be an original, not a photocopy.
• Include a recognisable photo of you.
• Match the information you gave when you booked your online exam.
• Be a government-issued national/state/province identity card that is recognised by the country in which you are a
citizen or permanent resident.
• Contain your Birthdate/Year.
• Contain your First/Middle Name(s) and Last Name in English (Latin) characters1.
Please note that electronic IDs will not be accepted.
Candidate below 16 years old
Candidates below 16 years old must be supported by a Legal Guardian during the exam on-boarding process. Please note:
The Legal Guardian must provide their consent for the exam to be recorded, as per LanguageCert Privacy Policy and
Terms of Use. They will also need to provide their ID, as per the ID requirements.
Using an ID document NOT Written in English-language Letters (Latin Characters)
If the ID you are using to register for your online exam is an acceptable ID document but NOT written in English-language
letters (Latin Characters), on the day of your exam your online Proctor will check and validate that the:
• ID you are presenting is valid, acceptable and matches the ID details you registered with.
• First/Middle Name(s) and Last Name that you registered with in English-language letters (Latin Characters) is an
accurate translation of your native language ID document. The details must be an exact match. If you used a
‘preferred name’ (e.g., a name you prefer to be known by) to register for your exam that does not exactly match the
ID details you registered with, this will not be accepted.
Before the exam, you must:
• Ensure your mobile/cell-phone number, including country code, is completed in your Candidate Profile.
• Disable any Virtualization Software such as VMware, Virtual PC, Virtual Box or Sandbox during the exam. For exam
security reasons, the ExamShield cannot run through any virtualization software. You should also close any
applications that might affect the exam process, such as web browsers, chat, desktop, sharing and mail client
applications.
1
ID documents not written in English-language (Latin Characters) will only be accepted if you have booked your exam selecting a
Proctor in your native language. Please refer to PeopleCert’s ID Policy for full detail.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 6 of 18
• Ensure you have read, understood, and fully prepared your exam environment to meet the Security requirements
described in Section 3 of this document.
• Ensure you have read and followed the Exam Shield Instructions detailed in Section 4 of this document. Please
note:
o If you are using a corporate device and/or do not have administration rights to the device, please consult your
IT department before the installation of the ExamShield software.
o If you experience difficulties in installing or executing ExamShield, please add ExamShield to your Antivirus and
Firewall whitelist and repeat the installation steps. You should consult your Antivirus/Firewall vendor on how to
do this. Kindly note that administration rights to the device will be required.
o Corporate networks and/or VPN access may impact service delivery of the exam. You are advised to consult your
IT department.
o If you try to use an older version of ExamShield, that is already installed in your computer, an error will appear
prompting you to update to the latest version.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 7 of 18
4 Security Requirements
When preparing for the exam, you must ensure:
• You have the same, valid photo ID you used to register and book your exam.
• You have another form of photo ID available, in case additional ID verification is required.
• Your mobile/cell-phone remains switched on but is set to silent. The device must be placed out of reach, so you need
to move away from your chair to access it.
• You do not have access to any unauthorised items, including unauthorised:
o Notes, manuals, whiteboards etc.
o Technology. This includes additional headphones, screen(s), monitor(s), keyboard(s), camera(s), projector(s) or
projected images/words.
• You are prepared to complete the exam on your own, without any assistance from a third party.
• The room you use to take your exam meets the following criteria:
o There is only one doorway for access in and out of the room.
o The room is private, and you can be sure you will be alone for the entire exam.
o There is no background noise.
o The walls and desk/tables(s) are clear of all unnecessary and/or unauthorised items (e.g., posters, post-it notes,
papers and books).
▪ Where note paper, or other resources are allowed, you can and should have this available on your desk for
your exam onboarding. You must show these authorised items to the Proctor, on request, so they can
ensure there is nothing on them that could provide an unfair advantage.
o No screens are visible, other than the screen which is being used to take the exam.
o There is adequate light to ensure the Proctor can see you clearly throughout the exam. Light should not be
directed towards the webcam.
• The computer/laptop and technology you are using for your exam meet the following criteria:
o Cameras are clear and free from obstruction.
o You can rotate your webcam 360-degrees, low and high, to show all areas of the room, including under the
desk, the desk surface and any other areas that may pose a risk to exam security.
o There are no secondary monitors, smart accessories and/or devices connected or accessible.
o There is one pair of wired headphones connected for the onboarding, listening and speaking parts of the exam.
o The screen and webcam are positioned so that you and the doorway of the room are fully visible to the Proctor
through the webcam.
o You are sat comfortably and can maintain the same position, in full view of the Proctor, throughout the exam.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 8 of 18
Security Checks
During the exam onboarding your Proctor will complete a range of security checks. The Proctor will not start the exam
until they are satisfied exam regulations can be met. These may include (note, this is not an exhaustive list):
• Full verification of your identity, including taking of a Test Day photograph and showing your ID via the webcam.
• A full 360-degree scan of your room, including detailed views of under the desk and above/below/inside areas of the
room that may pose a risk to exam security.
• Displaying of your computer monitor with your mobile/cell phone or a mirror.
• Requests to move or remove items that may pose a security risk.
• Candidate security checks such as:
o A close-up view of your sleeves, eyeglasses, ears and/or hair. Please note that you may be asked to remove any
scarf, hat, turban, kippah, hijab etc. If you require a female Proctor to carry out this security check, you must
contact us via
[email protected] before your exam day so that we can ensure a female Proctor
is available.
Your Proctor may also repeat security checks during the exam as necessary. This may be because the Proctor has observed
something that could compromise the security or integrity of the exam. You must comply with all security check requests
in a reasonable and timely manner.
Your exam session will be recorded for quality and security purposes and these recordings are retained in line with our
Privacy Policy which can be found here: https://www.languagecert.org/en/about-us/legal/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-
use
How we deal with non-compliance:
For minor non-compliance your Proctor will notify you of the infringement and immediate action required. If you do not
take timely action, or there is a significant risk to the exam integrity, your exam will be suspended, and the session
terminated. Your exam may also be sent for post-exam security review. Depending on the nature of the review and its
outcomes there may be:
• A delay in the release of your results, pending satisfactory conclusion of the review.
• A requirement to re-sit the exam under the correct exam conditions.
• Annulment of exam results.
• Deactivation of your LanguageCert Profile.
The actions/sanctions applied following a post-exam security review will be proportionate to the non-compliance
identified and in accordance with LanguageCert’s Sanctions Policy. We will keep you informed of the progress and final
outcomes of the review. Where review and investigation are required, these will be completed in accordance with our
Malpractice and Maladministration Policy. Should a candidate disagree with the final outcome of a review and/or
investigation, they can appeal LanguageCert’s decision by following the process outlined in our Appeals Policy.
All LanguageCert Policies can be found on our website: https://www.languagecert.org/en/about-us/legal/policies-and-
procedures
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 9 of 18
5 Exam Shield Installation
Up to 1 Hour prior to the exam
Step 1: Install the ExamShield
• Close all applications running in your computer.
• Disable any Virtualization Software.
Click on the link included in the LanguageCert
registration email and login to your LanguageCert
profile.
On the overview tab, click to “Download” and select
either “Microsoft Store” version or “Windows Client”
version.
Note: If the “Download” option is not activated, make
sure that you click on “Check in” first.
Option A: “Microsoft Store” version
Click “Get” to download and install ExamShield
Click “Launch” to run ExamShield.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 10 of 18
Click “Run ExamShield”
Option B: “Windows Client” version
“Accept and Install Windows OS client” to set up the
ExamShield application.
Click Save/Run ExamShieldLauncher.exe. The
installation should start automatically and may take a
few minutes to complete.
Once installation is completed, the ExamShield
window will appear.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 11 of 18
Option A and Option B:
Please log in using the username and password of your
LanguageCert profile.
If you used a Facebook, LinkedIn or Google sign-in to
register to your profile, please click on the relevant
icon to login.
If you would like to run ExamShield in another lan-
guage, please click on the flag in the bottom right cor-
ner of the screen.
You will see your closest scheduled exam and will need
to proceed with the “Check System” and take the
exam.
A countdown timer to your exam will appear under
your exam credentials.
The “Call” button will re-direct you to the phone
number that you can contact PeopleCert Customer
Support on.
The “Chat” button will re-direct you to the chat that
you can contact PeopleCert Customer Support on.
Click “CHECK SYSTEM” to confirm your system meets the Exam Shield requirements.
Do this at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled exam time, to avoid last minute technical issues.
Compatibility test consists of 4 parts which are:
• System integrity.
• Audio.
• Camera.
• Internet connection.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 12 of 18
10 Minutes prior to the exam
Step 2: Log into ExamShield
Login using the username and password of your
PeopleCert profile. If you used a Facebook, LinkedIn
or Google sign-in to register your profile, please click
on the relevant icon to login.
A pop-up message will notify you if any application
needs to be closed to continue with the exam.
Step 3: Self-onboarding
An intuitive wizard will guide you to connect to your
Proctor and start your exam.
1. Accept NDA
After reading the Non-Disclosure Agreement and
Terms of Use, click on “Next” to accept them and
proceed with the test.
Click on “End Exam” if you do not accept the terms
and wish to end the test. You cannot continue with
the test unless you accept the terms of use.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 13 of 18
2. Read exam instructions
Read the information carefully before you proceed
to the next step. Make sure you scroll the bar down,
to read the rest of the instructions.
3. View Exam Tutorial
A quick tutorial will help you familiarise with the
exam environment. You will learn how to:
✓ Navigate questions.
✓ Flag a question.
✓ End an exam.
✓ Zoom in or zoom out.
✓ How to refresh and login in case of a
network disconnection
✓ Communicate with your Proctor through
chat.
To navigate through the tutorial, please use the
orange arrows at the right and left side of the grey
area.
4. Check exam rules
Check all the rules confirming that you have read and
approved all of them (ensure you scroll down with
the bar).
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 14 of 18
5. Scan your ID
You can either upload your ID Document or take a
picture of it, so that PeopleCert can verify your
personal information.
Select “BROWSE” to upload a picture of your ID.
Select “CAPTURE” to take a snapshot of your ID.
Make sure you get a clear and readable snapshot.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 15 of 18
In case of “CAPTURE”, you can accept the picture,
retry to take another one or cancel it.
If you are not satisfied by the clarity of the
snapshots, proceed with your best shot and your
Proctor will assist you once connected.
6. Connect to Proctor
Once you complete the above steps, click “LET’S GO”
to connect with your Proctor.
Once logged in, the following control panel will open:
Many2Many control panel on the right, indicating
you have successfully joined the session. You can
minimise the control panel by clicking on the red
arrow button.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 16 of 18
Step 4: Your online Proctor joins the session
Please Note: For the Speaking exam, the Interlocutor will assume the role of the Proctor.
You will be instructed to:
• Check your audio and video performance.
• Complete the required security checks.
• Confirm your personal details. If any of the information is incorrect, please inform your online Proctor.
• Have your picture taken. This picture will appear on your Statement of Results, for universities and other
stakeholders to confirm your identity.
• Your online Proctor will let you know when you are set to begin your exam!
Click Next to continue only when prompted by your Proctor.
Please note:
• An Online Proctor will be monitoring live the overall exam and be available throughout your exam session in case
you need any help.
• You must have your microphone on throughout the session.
• In case of communication loss during the exam, the Online Proctor will stop the process. Once the connection is re-
established, you will be able to continue your exam using your remaining exam time.
© 2022 LanguageCert | All rights reserved
LanguageCert is a business name of PeopleCert Qualifications Ltd, UK company number 09620926
Process: Exam Management & Support
ECS_WI_39-2 Candidate Guidelines Online Exams with live Invigilation ver4.0 | 03/02/2022
Page 17 of 18
