Using Online Examinations

If you don't have a password yet, see How to register your school.

How to register

If you have used Schoolshape before (at an induction meeting, for instance) your school will already be registered. Go straight to Using Online Examinations.

If another teacher in your school is using Schoolshape, you should ask them to add you to the account.

To register a new school:

  1. Go to schoolshape.com/new
  2. Enter the details requested
  3. Tick 'I agree to the terms and conditions' and click 'Next'
  4. Click 'Examination Entry'
  5. Click one of the 'Place order' buttons, then
    1. To order examination entry only, choose all languages you will enter this year.
    2. To order the language lab and receive unlimited examination entries at no extra charge, select the number of teachers who will be using it this year.
    3. Click 'Place Order'
  6. In the 'Select Payment Method' screen the option, 'Instruct your bursar to settle the account' has already been ticked. Click 'Next'
  7. Fill in your bursar's email address and click 'Next'
  8. An email with your order details and payment instructions will be sent automatically to your bursar.  Click 'OK'
  9. When the order has been paid, you will receive notification by email, and you and your students will be able to access the language lab at lab.schoolshape.com.

 

How to conduct an examination

  1. Log in at lab.schoolshape.com and click 'Exams'.
  2. Select the exam you wish to enter from the drop-down list.
  3. Select the group of students you wish to enter from the drop-down list.
    If you have not yet entered students into the system, see these instructions
  4. Select a senior school (or 'self-moderated')  from the drop-down list. Click 'OK'
    To conduct the May 2017 CE exam, you will not be able to proceed until 15 May 2017.
  5. The 'Sound Check'  is now displayed.  Plug in a microphone and do a test recording:
    1. Click the round button 'record' and check that the recording cursor is moving.
    2. Speak for a few seconds and click the square button 'stop'. The recording is now saved.
    3. To check the recording, click the forward arrow-head 'play'
    4. If you wish to redo the recording, click 'record'. In the 'Are you sure...?' message, click 'OK'
    5. This recording should be CD quality at a clearly audible level. If not, see Adjusting your microphone level or ask your IT support to check this for you.
    6. Click 'Go to exam'.
  6. Select the first candidate on your list and record the examination as above.
  7. Either fill in your marks straight away, or continue your exams and return to mark later.
  8. Your recordings and marks will be automatically made acessible to the senior school moderators at the end of the CE Speaking Tests week.

 

 

How to conduct a mock/practice examination

  1. Log in at lab.schoolshape.com and click 'Exams'.
  2. Click 'Choose Exam' and select the Practice Exam you wish to conduct from the drop-down list.
  3. Click 'Choose group' and select a group of students from the drop-down list.  If you have not yet entered students into the system, see How to enter students
  4. The Sound Check screen will now be displayed.  Plug in a microphone and do a test recording:
    1. Click the round 'record' button and check that the recording cursor is moving.
    2. Speak for a few seconds, then click the square 'stop' button. The recording is now saved.
    3. To check the recording, click the forward arrow-head 'play'.
    4. If you wish to redo the recording, click the red button once more. 
    5. The recording should be CD quality at a clearly audible level.  If not, see How to adjust your microphone level or ask your IT support to check this for you.
    6. Click 'Go to exam'.
  5. Select any candidate on your list and record the examination as above.
  6. If you later wish to conduct another mock examination with the same group of students, follow steps 1-4.  Then, on the 'Conduct Exam' screen, click 'Start new exam'.  

 

 

How to adjust the microphone level

Recording on Schoolshape


Schoolshape recommends using a good microphone, such as the Logitech AK5370, which is available at low cost from online stores, such as Amazon.
It is essential to check that your computer recognises the microphone you intend to use for your examination.  Schoolshape stongly advises you to do test recordings until you are satisfied with the clarity of the playback.
NB Laptops often have built-in microphones which the computer will use by default, unless you make the necessary adjustments.  

We recommend you to optimise your Schoolshape recordings by increasing the microphone input volume both within Schoolshape and also in your computer operating system.

1. Setting the microphone level on your computer:

a. Using a PC, with the  Windows 7 Operating System

->  Start
->  Control Panel
->  'Hardware and Sound'
->  'Sound'
->  Select the 'Recording' tab
->  Select your microphone
->  Select the 'Levels' tab and drag the microphone volume slider to the level required.

b.  Using a PC, with the  Windows XP Operating System

->  Start
->  Control Panel
->  'Sounds, Speech + Audio Devices'
->  'Adjust the system volume'
->  Click on the 'Audio' tab
->  Under 'sound recording', select the correct microphone (eg. AK5370)
->  Click on the 'Volume' tab and drag the volume slider to the desired level 
->  Check that the 'mute' box is unticked

c.  Using an Apple Mac Computer

->  Click the apple symbol at the top left-hand corner of your screen
->  Select 'system preferences'
->  Click 'sound'
->  Select the microphone you have plugged into your computer
->  Drag the 'input volume' slider as far to the right as possible



2. Setting the microphone level within Schoolshape:

->   Right click anywhere in Schoolshape
->   Select 'settings' from the drop-down
->   Click on the microphone symbol
->   Increase the input volume by dragging the slider to the right

Recording Quality
Schoolshape has been specifically designed to produce high quality recordings. 
If your recording quality is unsatisfactory, please consider the following three areas:

1. Microphone tips
a Use a good quality microphone, plugged into the computer.  Ensure that it is fairly close to the student's mouth whilst recording.
b Check that you have selected the correct microphone by following the instructions above.  It is possible to plug in a good microphone, but not select it - so the recording is made through the computer's poor quality, built-in microphone! 
c It is well worth experimenting with different volume levels. (A high input level will help with the playback  volume, but may pick up unwanted background sound, for example)

2. Sound card 
If your computer is low priced or old, it may have poor integrated sound.  Try switching to a different machine.

3. Background Noise
Choose a quiet environment with no background hum or buzz.  Place the microphone away from the whirring of the computer fan or hard disk.

If hardware problems persist, please ask your IT support staff for help.

General Advice:
We strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the software by using it for a mock or practice examination. 
If this is not possible, please be sure to do some test recordings before the actual examination.


 

 

How to moderate an examination

  1. Log in at lab.schoolshape.com. 
    (To receive a new password, click 'Lost password?' or contact us).
  2. Click 'Exams'.  
  3. On the left of the moderation screen is a list of schools with the names of their candidates.
  4. Select any candidate and click the triangular button to play his/her recording.  You may pause or stop at any time during playback.
  5. In the timeline the small, round yellow cursor can be dragged to any position in the recording. 
  6. Below the player are the comments and marks awarded by the candidate's teacher.  Edit the marks, as required. The original marks will then appear in brackets.
  7. If you wish to make a general comment, click on the name of the school and type in the 'Moderator's Comment' box.
  8. If you wish to send feedback on an individual performance, type next to the headings: 'Quality of recording', 'Candidate's performance', 'Quality of marking', 'Examiner's contribution' and 'Additional comments'
  9. Click 'Finish' to save your moderation.  However, this will still be saved automatically.
  10. To move on to another candidate, either click on a name or click 'Next'.
  11. To check or redo any of your moderations, click on the candidate's name once more.

 

How to remove the installable version (no longer required)

Due to restrictions imposed by school networks, we have discontinued the installable version which has been replaced with a new online version.

To remove, click "Start -> Programs -> Schoolshape -> Uninstall" and follow on screen instructions.  When it has been removed, you can log in to check your exams and moderations or use the Schoolshape language lab on the web at lab.schoolshape.com.

How to renew your examination entry subscription

  1. From the Home screen, click 'Admin', then 'Subscription'
  2. Click 'Renew Subscription'
  3. Select either 'Online Examination Entry only' or ‘Language Lab’.  Examination entry is included free of charge with the Language Lab, representing better value for money, especially if you have a large number of candidates.
    1. 'Online Examination Entry only': click the button corresponding to the approximate number of candidates who will be taking the exams, and click 'Place Order'.
    2. 'Language Lab': adjust the end date to July 1st next year, and click 'Place Order'
  4. Follow onscreen instructions to send an invoice to your bursar or settle the account yourself.