PAEA will soon launch its next-generation exam platform and welcome two new Assessment partners, BTL Surpass and Alpine Testing Solutions. The innovative platform will provide an intuitive interface that can be navigated easily and will transform the exam experience for students and faculty.
As we near the transition, the PAEA Assessment Team will share a variety of resources to guide our members through the process. This webpage is designed to offer PAEA members a center for finding answers to commonly asked questions, dates and deadlines, key to-dos, and more.
The Next Generation PAEA Assessment Platform
PAEA is transitioning to a new platform to enhance the student test taker and member experience. To make the transition as seamless as possible, we are developing resources to guide members as they get ready to move to our new innovative platform. This infographic gives members an idea of what to expect from the new platform. There will be multiple points of user engagement which include the Assessment Shop, the Assessment Hub, and the Surpass Platform. Each component has a different purpose, yet they work synergistically with one another. We will continue to update the transition page with new information as it becomes available to make sure our members are well prepared when the new platform is launched.
Transition Timeline
In July 2022, PAEA Assessment announced a delay in the launch of our next-generation exam platform. We would like to update our members on our progress towards launching the new PAEA Assessment platform.
For now, exam users will continue to schedule and administer exams through ExamDriver and all current features and capabilities will remain the same. We will keep you updated with more information as it becomes available, and we thank you for your patience and support as we look ahead to this exciting transition.
New Master License Agreement
PAEA recently completed a comprehensive risk assessment. As a result of that process, PAEA is implementing a new program-level agreement to use its assessments. That means, to access the new platform, all PAEA Assessment user programs must sign the new Master License Agreement (MLA). Please note that PAEA is not accepting any revisions or addendums.
The vast majority of member programs have already accepted the MLA by our requested deadline. PAEA is still accepting agreements and asks that you prioritize its completion. If you need to send the agreement through legal review first, you can share the PDF version available here. If you have assumed the role of Program Director after April 20, 2022, please reach out to our team at Exams@PAEAonline.org so we can redirect the agreement to you.
An Important Update on the PAEA End of Rotation™ Exams Proctoring Policies
PAEA will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the PAEA End of Rotation exams in 2023! The success of this exam program is a result of the dedication of our outstanding volunteer Exam Development Board members along with the support of over 250 loyal programs who administer over 70,000 End of Rotation exams a year. As we approach this important milestone, we wanted to share an important End of Rotation exam administration policy change. When PAEA launches its next-generation exam platform we will waive the requirement for a live in-person or live remote proctor for the End of Rotation exams.
This was a thoughtful decision backed by evidence and program feedback:
- Data Based. PAEA has been carefully examining the data and trends in student test taker scores since we waived End of Rotation proctoring policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 23, 2020. During this time of waived proctoring policies some programs have administered the exams in-person and proctored, some have administered the exams remotely with a variety of live remote proctoring and monitoring solutions, and some have administered the exams remotely and unproctored. Despite the variety of administration approaches used by programs, we have found that student test takers’ scores have remained stable over time, and we can say with confidence that the End of Rotation exams have remained secure and the exam scores have remained valid.
- Considers Expense. Remote proctoring can be expensive, sometimes adding significant additional cost to programs. Waiving our End of Rotation exam proctoring policies will result in a cost savings for many programs that have been incurring an additional cost to work with third party remote proctoring services.
- Acknowledges PAEA’s Values. PAEA’s Core Values include Justice, Equity, and Inclusion. We are monitoring the larger public and legal conversations about live remote proctoring, including assertations that it can be an invasive and unjust practice and at this time we cannot require members to use remote proctoring services that may not align with our core values.
Our primary goals in launching the next-generation exam platform are offering improved flexibility and ongoing security for our exam programs. We also want to offer modern features and increased convenience for programs. We believe this decision supports these goals.
What this means for each of our exam programs:
- PACKRAT® has been available, since its inception, to be delivered unproctored or proctored (live or remote). Of note, analysis of PACKRAT scores over time has also demonstrated that proctoring had no impact on student test taker scores (Rizzolo, D. et al. Impacts of Variations in PACKRAT Administrations. JPAE, 2019.). The same proctoring options for PACKRAT will continue in the new platform HOWEVER we will add a requirement that the exam be administered with a lockdown browser that is part of the new platform.
- The PAEA End of Rotation™ exams can currently be administered unproctored or proctored (live or remote) due to waived proctoring polices. When PAEA launches the new platform, we will permanently waive the requirement for a live in-person or live remote proctor for the End of Rotation exams. We will ADD the requirement that the exams be administered with a lockdown browser that is part of the new platform.
- The PAEA End of Curriculum™ exam must be proctored in-person, and the use of remote proctors is strictly prohibited. This policy will remain in place going forward in the new platform due to the high stakes nature of this exam. We will also CONTINUE to require the use of a lockdown browser that is part of the new platform.
PAEA is sensitive that, given this new announcement, programs need time to review and consider their own practices and policies. The ultimate choice to administer both PACKRAT and the PAEA End of Rotation exams either in-person or remote, with or without proctors, is a program-level decision. Programs should feel confident that regardless of the decision they make, the exams remain secure and the scores valid. PAEA will continue, as has been our practice, to be vigilant in monitoring exam security.
While PAEA will not require proctoring for remote administrations for PACKRAT and End of Rotation exams, programs who wish to continue to use third party remote proctoring solutions for these exams in the new platform may continue to do so. The new system will allow for easier integration with a variety of remote proctoring services.