This article explains what test session are and describes how to add them, as well as naming conventions and relevant deadlines. The article describes session set up for in-centre as well as for remote test delivery of the General and Business variants of the test.
If you want to set up a session for the Schools variant of the Cambridge English Skills Test, please follow the steps in this article.
Please click on the headings below.
What are Sessions?
A brief summary of what "Sessions" means for the Cambridge English Skills
Test
In the Cambridge English Test Portal (Metrica), Cambridge English Skills Tests are arranged into sessions.
Each session should be set to a maximum of 90 days and has unlimited capacity. After the 90 days have lapsed the session will move into the Complete folder.
Candidate results are provided instantly for Reading and Listening, and after 48 hours for the Speaking and Writing components.
Please also see details on large sessions below.
Naming your session in Metrica
We recommend you use a naming convention when you create your sessions for ease of reference on the session management screen. The session name will display to candidates when they login. Please remember that your invigilators will also need to find the sessions that they are invigilating.
We recommend:
- Short Venue Details
- Skills Test/Skills Test Business
- The date in the format DD MM YYYY
- Whether it is a morning (AM) or afternoon session (PM).
- Whether the test is delivered in-centre or remote
For Example: TLC Skills Test Business 30 04 25 PM or TLC Skills Test 01 06 25 Remote
When naming the session please ensure you do not include the name of a candidate, your name or the name of the invigilator.
How to add a session
The steps to follow to add a new session in Metrica
1. Log into the Cambridge English Test Portal, Metrica.
2. Click Sessions. The session list opens.
3. Click Add Session.
4. Complete the Basic Settings:
- Select the Group from the available options. You will only see products you are eligible for.
- If you are an Institution you can create the session for your Client or set the session up for your own Institution. Select either A Client and select the Client Name from the options or My Institution.
- Add the test Venue where candidates will be sitting the test. For remote sessions you can create and use a venue called "Remote". We recommend that Venues are created before you set up the Session.
- The Invigilation Method will default to EST/EST For School. This applies whether the session is for remote or in-centre testing.
- Select the Session Size. If you know that a test venue can only accommodate a certain number of candidates then you can specify the capacity here, otherwise click Unlimited capacity.
5. Set the Start Date and time for the session. The End Date and time will be completed automatically. For the Cambridge English Skills Test the session window is 90 days.
Session timings are determined by the institution’s or client's configured time zone in Metrica and start and end times reflect local time.
It is not possible to assign different time zones to venues. Where a venue is in a different time zone from the institution or client of the institution, the session start and end times will still reflect the institution’s or client's local time.
Daylight Savings changes are automatically managed by Metrica.
6. Add Test Components.
Click on the blue link.
All four components will be shown. The Test Slot Time defaults to the Session start time for all components.
You can now
- remove one or more Test Components
- amend the Test Slot Time
If you have removed any Test Components by mistake, simply click on the blue link to revert back to all four components.
7. Add the Session Name. Please do not include punctuation in the name, such as an apostrophe or brackets as these are not accepted by Metrica and can cause an issue in launching the test.
8. Select a whether results are released to candidates via their Metrica account by choosing the appropriate option in the Advanced Settings.
9. Click Create Session. The session will now appear in the session list.
Once you have created sessions you can start making entries.
Instructions for making entries can be found here.
Large Sessions
Please check this guidance if you plan on running Speaking and/or Writing
sessions with more than 499 candidates
Please check the table below for guidance on running a large Speaking and/or Writing session.
These volumes can be for one test day or alternatively a combined total over consecutive days. Giving us advanced notice allows us to assign examiners for marking to your Speaking and Writing sessions. The Writing and Speaking tests will be 100% examiner marked at launch. We will review this guidance as we establish auto-marking with the aim to reduce these timeframes.
| Candidate volume | Notice needed | Results released in * |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 499 | None | 2 Days (48 hours) |
| 500-1,499 | 7 days | 10 Days |
| 1,500-2,999 | 14 days | 15 Days |
| 3,000+ | Please contact us | |
*On occasions where large sessions have been requested by more than one institution or testing volume is very high for the same test dates, results releases may take longer than advertised. In these cases, the MLT Delivery Team will advise.
To inform us or to request support for a large speaking session then please contact us at: MLTDeliveryTeam@cambridgeenglish.org
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