Precaching refers to downloading encrypted test content from the Pearson testing server to the proctor caching computer on your local network. Precaching is done using PearsonAccessnext with ProctorCache.

The following is the recommended list of browsers for precaching:

BrowsersOperating Systems
IE 11Windows 7
Firefox 50*Windows 7
Chrome 56Windows 7
Safari 9MAC OS 10.9

 * You cannot precache with Firefox 52, as Java plugin is not supported on Firefox 52. 

Depending upon the browser you are using, you can precache content with or without using the ProctorCache Java applet. 

You must either disable pop-up blocker or add an exception to allow pop-ups from your precaching URL.To add an exception, use the steps for your browser below:

  1. Click Firefox > Preferences... 
  2. Click Content and select the Block pop-up windows check boxThen, click Exceptions.

  3.  Your secure test website should appear in the Site column, and Allow should appear in the Status column.

    1. If you do not see your secure test website in the Site column with an Allow status, type your secure test website in to the Address of website field, and click Allow.

  4. Click Save Changes.

  1. Click Tools > Pop-Up Blocker. Pop up blocker is turned on.
  2. Select Pop-Up Blocker Settings and add your secure website into Exceptions.

  1. Click Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Privacy.
  2. Click Content Settings... under Pop-ups select Do not allow any site to show pop-ups and then click Manage exceptions.. and add your secure website.
  3. Click Done.

  1. From Safari menu, click Preferences > Security. Pop up blocker is turned on.
  2. Deselect Block pop-up windows. This will allow pop-ups.


 

Precaching can be done two ways: 

Precache Test Content by Test

To cache content by test, follow these steps:

  1. From Setup > Precache by Test, mark the boxes to select one or more tests from the list.

  2. Select one Precache Server from the list.

  3. Click Precache

Precache Test Content by the Selected Test Sessions

Perform this task after you create a test session(s).

To precache test content follow these steps:

  1. From Testing > Sessions, search to find test session(s) set up to use proctor caching or click the down arrow next to the Search button and select show all results. Select the session(s) you want to edit.

  2. Open the task list and select Precaching Test Content and click Start.

  3. Click Precache. You can also click View Status at any time to view caching status. If content is not appearing when precaching and there are no students in the session, add students to the test session and try again.

     

  4. An information page displays that caching is in progress and the parameters being used. At the same time, the ProctorCache application will open. From that application you can view caching progress. See Set Up and Use ProctorCache for directions.

    This screenshot shows that precaching has started.

    The ProctorCache page provides access to cache status. See Set Up and Use ProctorCache for more details.

View Available Tests Cached Content Status

To view available tests cached content status, follow these steps:

  1. From Testing > Sessions, search to find test session(s) that you want to view or refresh or click the down arrow next to the Search button to reveal and select the option to show all results. Select the session(s) you want to view or refresh.

  2. Open the task list and select Precaching Test Content and click Start.

  3. Click View Status. This will open the ProctorCache application in a new window. From that application you can refresh downloaded content for that test, reload the content, or purge content from the cache. See Set Up and Use ProctorCache for directions.

You can also refresh downloaded content for that test, reload the content, or purge content from the cache. 

Related Information

To learn how to refresh and reload cached content, see Set Up and Use ProctorCacheRefresh, Reload, and Purge ProctorCache.