Venue requirements
Please ascertain the following:
- adequate IT facilities, as specified by the College in IT requirements (below)
- suitable condition such as good lighting, quiet location, good ventilation, and enough space
IT requirements
With the growth of online exams and remote delivery it is good practice to regularly check and update personal devices and the install the latest software updates as soon as possible - this includes browser updates and operating systems.
Wi-Fi bandwidth is also important and should be sufficient to maintain a good connection for an extended period. Users accessing the system in the workplace will also need to check local firewalls and access to external websites; this is particularly relevant in hospital settings.
To ensure you have the best chance of a seamless assessment experience on exam day and reduce the likelihood of technical issues, it is very important you undertake these checks on the exact set-up you will use on exam day, i.e. test with the same:
- location
- Device
- equipment (earphones/headset/speakers/mic)
- internet connection
The following represents the general guidance and requirements.
The system runs on the Amazon Chime Server for video conferencing. Therefore, it is critical to check that you have the correct video and audio equipment and that these are appropriately set-up.
Complete the Chime Check with the same internet and device you would use on the exam day
- If you "pass" all the Chime Check components then there is nothing additional to do.
- If you "fail" any components, you should fix these in advance of the exam day.
Please screenshot the test result and include them in the form below.
Note: In advance of joining the exam, it is essential to ensure that you close all other applications that use audio and video connection e.g. Zoom, MS Teams to avoid camera / audio conflict.
- Laptop (Windows or MacOS) or Desktop PC with built-in or external camera, speaker/headset and microphone
- If using a laptop, ensure it is fully charged and connected to a power source
- Chromebooks, iPads, tablets and mobile phones do not meet the requirements
It's recommended to use the lastest operating system available to your device and have sufficient storage space.
Operating system
- Windows - minimum Windows 10
- MacOS - minimum 10.13
Hard drive storage space
- Minimum 20GB free space on Desktop/Laptop
RAM (Random Acccess Memory)
- Desktop and Laptop 4GB minimum
- Desktop and Laptop 8GB recommended
Click here to test internet speed for free.
- Use an Ethernet cable or stable WIFI connection
- You should not use a "Hotspot" connection unless Ethernet or WIFI drops out
- Minimum of 3.0Mbps download and upload speed
- Loaded latency no greater than 500ms
It's recommended to use the latest browser version available to your operating system. Supported browsers are:
- Google Chrome - Latest three versions
- Firefox - Latest three versions
- Microsoft Edge - Latest three versions
Please be familar with how to clear browser cache. You might be asked to do so on the exam day.