Introduction

To use this web site successfully you should refer to the document The Web Site – A Guide for Schools. This publication was sent to head teachers of all schools in Scotland in early December 2003 as part of the information pack National Assessments 5-14: Introductory information for schools. If your school did not receive a copy please contact aifl@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

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I do not know my password

Please see page 3 of The Web Site – A Guide for Schools, which explains how to obtain a password. Note that only schools have access to download assessment materials.

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The assessments look strange on screen (but print out okay)

Check that you are using the appropriate layout to view the document.

If you are using a PC, open up the document in Word, go to the View menu and select Print Layout.

If you are using an Apple Mac, open up the document in Word, go to the View menu and select Page Layout.

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The text of the assessments appears jumbled and/or parts of the assessment (e.g. diagrams) are missing

The most likely cause is that the computer you are using does not meet the minimum specification with regard to your version of Microsoft Word.

If you are using a PC, you will need to use Word 2000 or higher to display the assessments correctly. To find out which version of Word you are using on your PC, open up Word, go to the Help menu and select About Microsoft Word.

If you are using an Apple Mac, you will need to use Word 2001 or higher to display the assessments correctly. To find out which version of Word you are using on your Apple Mac, open up Word, go to the Word menu and select About Word.

If you are unable to use a computer which meets the minimum specification, you should use the proxy system described on page 10 of The Web Site – A Guide for Schools to order hard copies of the assessments you require.

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Page breaks appear to be incorrect when the assessment is printed

Check that your printer has the default page size set to A4 and not Letter.

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There are content errors in the paper (i.e. errors which are not caused by technical/printing problems)

Please use the Feedback option to bring the error to our attention.

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I lose the connection to the web site before I have finished printing all the documents in an assessment package

The problem is likely to occur if you are using a slow printer (e.g. an inkjet printer). If you don’t have access to a faster printer (e.g. a laser printer), the best solution is to save all the files in the package to your hard disk, log out of the web site, and then print the documents offline at your leisure.

If you do lose your internet connection before you have finished downloading an assessment package, you should log back in to the system and click on the Previous assessments link in the Options menu. This will show you the assessments you have downloaded in the previous few days and will allow you to return to a particular assessment package and complete the downloading task. Do not go to Download assessment as this will generate a new assessment package.

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A message appears saying that I have tried to download the same level of assessment three times in a week

The system monitors how often you download assessments. If you attempt to download the same level of assessment three times within a single week you will see this message. Since assessments are intended to be downloaded only when a school has a group of pupils to assess, the system will assume that you are having technical problems if you attempt three downloads in the same week. Someone may phone you to assist with finding a solution to the problem.

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The system says there are no more assessments available at this level

There is a limit to the number of assessment packages available. It is possible that if you have attempted to download many assessment packages at the same level you will see this message. It is intended that schools will download assessments only when they have a group of pupils ready to be assessed.

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