Your responsibilities
As a trainee on the STP, it is your responsibility to ensure you are prepared for the STP Final Year Assessment. Here we’ve provided technical information to get you ready to use the Qpercom system which the assessment be delivered on. These responsibilities include completing a diagnostic test of your access to the system on your chosen device before you sit the assessment.
What to expect from the assessment platform
The STP Final Year Assessment will be take place online in the Qpercom assessment platform. This is a purpose-built assessment system used across the NHS and academia for assessment of healthcare professionals.
Prior to the assessment you will receive guidance from the School about how to set up your account in the Qpercom platform. When you do so, you will generate a username and password for Qpercom. Please keep these safe.
You will need your username and password to log in to the Qpercom platform on the day of your assessment at: https://mdrs.qpercom.com/
Your assessment will take place entirely in the Qpercom platform. On the day of your assessment, once you have logged in you do not need to do anything further. You will be moved between pre-reading and stations automatically. When you have completed your assessment, you can log out.
This video walks you through what the experience of the Qpercom assessment platform will be like for you as a trainee as you move between pre-reading and stations.
Preparing to use the assessment platform
Before you sit the assessment, you need to choose the computer you will use to access the platform and the location you will log in from for the assessment.
Selecting a device to use for the assessment
You need to identify a device which you can use for the assessment which:
- is a laptop or desktop computer – you should not use a tablet or a phone
- has a continuous power supply – we do not recommend using a device running on battery power alone
- has a working camera and microphone
- has a minimum screen size of 10 inches/25.3cm
- runs on Windows 10 and higher or MacOS Catalina and higher
- has Chrome or another browser that follows W3C web standards installed. This includes: Safari, Firefox, Edge, Opera but not Internet Explorer
You may also want to have a second device identified and prepared as a contingency.
Choosing your location for the assessment
You need to identify a location to sit the assessment from where:
- there is a stable internet connection, ideally a wired ethernet connection where possible. We recommend you do not use a mobile hotspot or VPN
- you can be alone
- you won’t be disturbed or overheard, particularly by other trainees
- you can access the Qpercom assessment platform, through any firewalls in place
Qpercom has already been used extensively for the assessment of healthcare professionals in NHS Trusts and is generally accessible through Trust IT systems. You may need to consider this in selecting your location to sit your assessment from. If you wish to sit your assessment from your Trust, you will need to check the Qpercom website is accessible. This can be done when you complete the pre-assessment diagnostic test (outlined below). You will need to allow enough time to request access from your local IT or find an alternative location if you cannot access the Qpercom website from your Trust. In reality, this is likely to be rare. The School cannot support you to get access to Qpercom in your Trust.
Completing the Qpercom diagnostic test
You need to complete a diagnostic test in Qpercom before you sit the assessment.
You need to complete the technical test using the device and from the location you will use for the assessment. If, subsequently, you need to use a different device or location, you will need to repeat the test. If you log in from a new device or location Qpercom will prompt you to complete the test again when you first log in.
When you use Qpercom, including when completing the diagnostic test, close all other applications on the computer, particularly applications that use the camera and microphone.
The School will send you a prompt and a link to complete the diagnostic test several weeks before the date of your assessment.
If the diagnostic test identifies any issues with your computer or connectivity, you will be made aware of this in the diagnostic test report and provided with recommendations to resolve the issue. Once you have followed the recommendations, you can then complete the diagnostic test again.
Qpercom logs when diagnostic tests are completed and the outcome of each test. If you do not complete the diagnostic test successfully, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality of your connection in the assessment.
This video shows you how to complete the diagnostic test in Qpercom.
Checklist for preparing to use the platform
- You have identified a suitable device to use for the assessment.
- You have identified a suitable location to take the assessment from.
- You have completed the Qpercom diagnostic test from the device and location you will be using for the assessment.
Where to get help to use the platform before the assessment
If you need help while conducting the diagnostic test, you should click on the green Help button within the Qpercom platform.
If you have important questions prior to the assessment about using the Qpercom platform please raise a ticket with our Digital Servicedesk at england.nshcs.digital@nhs.net