Pearson recommends proctor caching for all online tests. A caching computer downloads and stores test data, such as multimedia files or test questions, and then serves that data to individual test computers from within the local network. This enables faster test page loading times and more efficient test taking.

The tasks on this page identify the machine or machines to be used for caching. These tasks are a prerequisite to online testing, if proctor caching is to be used.

These setup tasks must be performed before test sessions are created. These tasks only need to be done one time per test administration, unless a change is required. If that happens, the initial settings you enter now can be changed at any later date.

Before you can create a TestNav configuration, if proctor caching is to be used:

Create TestNav Configuration

Perform this task before you create any test sessions.

To create TestNav configurations, follow these steps:

  1. From Setup > TestNav Configurations, open the task list and select Create / Edit TestNav Configurations and click Start.

  2. Select Create Configurations. Enter the details of any proctor caching computers that you will use to precache tests.

  3. Click CreateWhen creating test sessions, use the TestNav configuration.

Optionally, additional proctor caching computers can be added to the configuration. This is generally done in larger schools where testing may involve multiple grades and forms and larger numbers of concurrent testers. In cases like this, a second caching computer and the additional throughput it provides may be beneficial.

If you only perform the configuration step, test content is not yet downloaded and precached. Precaching is not performed automatically, but something you must perform manually.

Edit Previously Created TestNav Configuration

If needed, perform this task before you create any test sessions. 

Use the steps below to edit previously created configuration. 

  1. From Setup > TestNav Configurations, search to find configuration(s), or click the down arrow next to the Search button and select show all results. Select the configurations(s) you want to edit.

  2. Open the task list and select Create / Edit TestNav Configurations and click Start.

  3. Select  the TestNav configuration you want to edit. Details for an existing Precaching Computer associated with the organization are displayed. To add a Precaching Computer, click Add and enter details.  For more information about the Response File Backup Locations, see Configure Response File Backup Locations.

  4. Click Save

Related Information

If the TestNav connection is not successful, then check that:

  • The proctor caching computer is set up properly and running on your network.
  • You have entered the correct IP address and port. The default port is 4480.
  • The computer you are using to configure TestNav has Java installed and that the Java applet is allowed to run in your browser.