GSARA How to Run a Remote Testing Session as a VE

Welcome the candidate and introduce the VEs present.

Before we begin, some additional reminders:

  1. Ensure you have your government-issued photo ID available.

  2. Ensure you are 100% focused during the entire exam session.

  3. Any distractions or anomalies may result in the exam being voided at the sole discretion of the VE Team. Anomalies include, but are not limited to:

    • Notable distractions by you, such as eyes not remaining on the exam and/or wandering around the room, or any noises.

    • You're appearing to reference or use unauthorized materials (e.g., looking at a cell phone, even just the lock screen, changing windows on a computer, etc.)

    • Another person entering the exam space (on camera, physically, or audibly).

    • You're getting up or leaving the room during the exam.

  4. Once you start the exam, the Volunteer Examiners will turn off their audio and video so as not to distract you – but we’ll be listening and watching. Please leave your audio and video on. Please let us know if you need anything. When you are ready for grading, click the “grade exam” button and confirm you are ready.

  • Make sure to answer all the questions: Only correct answers add points; incorrect answers don’t subtract, so it’s best to guess rather than leave an answer blank. Good luck with the exam

  • If the candidate has multiple devices, admit the computer first, then the phone. Instruct the candidate to join with video only, not audio, on the phone. This is not always possible because devices in the waiting room may not be identifiable by candidate name or device type.

Photo ID

  • Is a government-issued ID acceptable to all VEs?

    • 360-degree tour of your room to ensure there is nothing visible that could assist you during the exam. Please slowly rotate your camera so we can see all 4 walls from your sitting perspective, as well as your desktop area.

  • Is the 360 tour of the testing environment acceptable to all VEs?

    • Share the entire desktop screen by clicking on the green “Share Screen” link at the bottom center of your Zoom window. Select “Desktop 1,” “Screen 1,” or similar from the list of screen share options, then click the Share button in the lower right corner of the window.

    • Close any programs or applications except Zoom, a browser (Chrome or Firefox preferred), and optionally a calculator app.

  • Do you want to use an onscreen calculator?

    • If so, launch it, position it on screen, then clear the memory so we can verify that nothing is stored to assist you.

    • In the URL (address bar), enter “Exam.Tools” then press enter.

    • Enter the session identifier in the first line (GSARA)

    • Enter your PIN in the second line (Session Pin)

    • Click “Join Session” [one of the VEs will need to approve this by clicking on the red icon near the candidate’s PIN in the Exam Tools window, and then clicking Approve]

Check accuracy of all personal information

  • If yes, click “Start Exam” [one of the VEs will need to approve this by clicking on

  • the red icon near the candidate’s PIN in the Exam Tools window, and then clicking

  • Approve]

  • Exam instructions:

    • This is not a timed exam, so work through it at your own pace.

    • Notice that the upper-right corner of the black bar lists the number of questions on your exam.

    • This number will count down as you answer questions.

    • When all questions are answered, you will see a “Grade Exam” button.

    • Click this button when you are ready for us to grade your exam, but don’t feel rushed. You are free to go back and review your answers prior to clicking the “Grade Exam” button.

  • To navigate the exam,

  • Use your mouse or touchpad to scroll to each question and answer, or use your keyboard to select answers “A, B, C, or D” for each question. The program will automatically advance to the next question.

  • You are free to answer questions in any order, and you are free to review your answers and to change the answer to any question by clicking on a different answer.

  • If you skip a question, its question number will appear on the left side of the black bar so all you need to do is click on it to automatically jump back to that question.

  • If you have a question with a diagram, click the diagram to expand it; click it again to return it to its original size so you can answer the question.

  • You are free to minimize the Zoom Window so our images don’t distract you.

  • We will mute ourselves and turn off our cameras to avoid distracting you, but you should keep your microphone unmuted.

  • We will be observing your video and audio during your exam. If you have any technical issues, we will assist you. Simply talk, and one or more of us will unmute to help.

  • Do you have any questions? If not, you may begin.

  • [When the candidate completes the exam, one of the VEs will need to grade the exam by clicking on the red icon near the candidate’s PIN, entering their password, and then clicking Approve.]

PASSING GRADE:

  • Did you study for the next level exam?

  • If “yes,” would you like to take the exam today?

  • If “no,” we need to move on to signing the forms before we can submit your license information to ARRL and FCC.

  • Click on the “Finish & Sign forms” button to end the exam and proceed to signing the documents.

  • Review the information on these forms to ensure accuracy.

  • There are 2 forms you will be signing: the form “605” and the “CSCE.”

  • Click on the Form 605. This is your application to take your exam today. Check your personal information for accuracy, then click close.

  • Click on the Form CSCE. This is your Certificate of Successful Completion of Exam. It will include 3 VE signatures certifying that you took and passed your exam.

  • The red “Draft” will be removed after we have signed and Paul has processed it for sending to you. If that all looks good, you can click on the “Close” button.

  • Next, after reading the bulleted items above the signature box; you’ll need to create a digital signature in the box with your mouse or touchpad.

  • Click “sign documents” when done

  • Click “Finish session.”

  • Click “Log Out”

  • Stop Screen Sharing at the top of the Zoom window.

  • What will happen now is, 3 VEs will sign the forms [done in Exam Tools by clicking on the icon with the pen – Note that this requires the VE password]. We will email you the completed CSCE and submit the forms to ARRL for processing. In most cases, you will have your license by the next business day.

  • If the candidate is in the Main Room: Click the red “Leave Meeting” button to leave the meeting [on all devices].

  • Breakout Room: Click the blue “Leave Room” button, then choose “Leave Meeting” [on all devices].

  • FAILING GRADE:

    • Encourage the candidate to study for the exam at hamstudy.org. Explain the difference between Study Mode and Practice Exams. [Study Mode will ensure that the candidate sees every question in the question pool, and is drilled more frequently on questions that they have difficulty with. Practice Exams contain random questions from the question pool, and there is no guarantee that the candidate will see every question.]

    • [Note that 3 VEs must sign the forms even if the candidate fails the exam.]