Online Assessment Preparation
NICS tests are proctored. Proctoring means that your identity will be verified in advance of starting the tests and that you will be monitored via your webcam during the tests.
You will need a computer, a working webcam and a reliable internet connection.
You will need to use an up-to-date Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser on your PC. If you are using a Mac, you MUST use Chrome or Edge. Do NOT use Safari.
Do not use a tablet, phone or Chromebook.
Once you have accessed the assessment website you MUST do the following before you can take the live tests – and you need to do these things well in advance of taking the live tests. We recommend that you access the site and start the process straight away. All of these steps and the live assessments are completed on the same assessment website, which you will access using the link in your invitation email.
Once you log into the test platform you will be asked to complete the honesty and privacy statements, once complete you will be taken to the Main Menu page, from which you can complete all the steps below.
APTITUDE TEST PROCESS
• STEP 1: Check your webcam
• STEP 2: Verify your identity
• STEP 3: Study the Familiarisation material
• STEP 4: Take the live assessments
STEP 1: Check your webcam
NOTE – you will need a working webcam to enable the proctoring to take place.
The onus is on candidates to ensure they have access to a webcam, regretfully no alternatives are available.
Click the ‘Webcam test’ button. This will check if your webcam is working within the program. Also make sure that you are clearly visible and front on in the image and be aware that you need to remain clearly visible throughout the live assessment.
Do this well in advance of taking the live assessment and also do it immediately before taking the live assessment in case something has changed.
STEP 2: VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY
IMPORTANT: DO NOT SEND ANY PHOTOS OF YOURSELF OR YOUR ID BY EMAIL. YOU MUST DO THIS THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT WEBSITE.
Before starting the ID Verification process, you should click the yellow highlighted link at the top of the main menu page (‘ID Verification and Proctoring – instructions, common issues and resolutions.pdf’) and read the document. If you encounter a problem with your ID verification or starting a live test, please consult this document before emailing support.
NOTE – you cannot start the live tests unless your ID has been verified.
For this you will need to have a valid photo ID (Passports, driving licenses and electoral cards are acceptable photo IDs).
Using the webcam, you will need to take a webcam image of yourself and a webcam image of your photo ID (e.g. passport). You will be informed by email of the verification outcome using the email you provided at application.
We will check your ID and you will receive an email from admin@assessmentintelligencemail.com informing you of the outcome (but do check your junk/spam folder and do log on to check your ID verification status if you feel you are waiting too long).
You may be asked to re-take the photos and this is not uncommon, so please start the verification process early to ensure you have enough time to complete the process.
You can check your ID Verification Status by logging in. If you have not been notified within 24 hours of submitting images AND your online verification status is still showing as ‘Submitted waiting approval’, then you should email admin@assessmentintelligencemail.com including your Candidate Reference Number and ‘IRCxx’ in the subject line.
We advise you to submit your webcam images as soon as possible. You should have submitted your images for identity verification by 5pm on the date specified otherwise we cannot guarantee that the identity verification process will be completed in time for you to take the live tests before the final deadline.
NOTE – if the name on your photo ID will differ significantly from your name on your application, you MUST inform HR Connect by emailing Recruitment@ hrconnect.nigov.net including your Candidate Reference Number and ‘IRCxx’ in the subject line. Your email should explain the reason and include any supporting document (e.g., marriage certificate).
NOTE – you MUST complete the identity verification process online. Under no circumstances send any images by email unless we specifically request it.
Please note, it is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your images in good time.
STEP 3: STUDY THE FAMILIARISATION MATERIAL FOR THE ONLINE ASSESSMENT
There are familiarisation programmes for the assessment. It is ESSENTIAL that you use the online familiarisation material to check that your browser and the internet connection that you intend to take the live test on are compatible with the online tests.
Note that some network firewalls, e.g., on work networks may block access to the test site or prevent images from showing. You should not take the test on a computer that is remotely connected to a work network as the link may be unstable. It is ESSENTIAL that you access the familiarisation materials using the computer and internet connection that you intend to take the live test on well in advance of the tests.
The familiarisation material will give you a detailed description of the tests, include full instructions for completing the tests and provide example questions so that you know how to record your answers and navigate your way around the tests. You should be fully familiar with these things before taking the live tests in order to perform at your best.
STEP 4: TAKE THE LIVE ASSESSMENT
The live tests will be available from the opening date as long as you have submitted your images for ID Verification and they have been checked and approved.
For best results it is essential that candidates are completing the online assessment in a test-like environment without assistance. Any possible distractions should be turned off, for example mobile phones, TV, music. Concentration is needed throughout the assessments, so when completing each test, ensure other people are aware that they should not disturb you until you are finished. No responsibility can be accepted for any issues arising from where you choose to sit the tests.
• Where there is reasonable evidence of cheating candidates will be withdrawn from the competition.
• Before starting a live test, you should close all other browsers and browser tabs. You should not take the test on a computer that is remotely connected to a work network as the link may be unstable.
• The links to the live assessments will appear at the bottom of the page (below the Familiarisation links) from 9am on the opening date once your identity has been verified.
• Immediately before you click the start button to begin a live assessment, there will be an image of you at the bottom of the page. This should be a front-on view of you as you take the assessment. You need to make sure that you are clearly seen in this image before starting the assessment and that you will remain visible in the image during the assessment.
• During the assessment, you will see a small video stream from your webcam in the top left corner. Images from this stream will be monitored.
• We take great care with your webcam images and retain them for as short a time as possible. The image of your photo ID is deleted as soon as your identity has been verified.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
If you lose internet connection while in the live test, you should immediately close your browser.
You will be able to continue the test without losing time and your previous answers will have been saved (except possibly on the last page you were on before losing connection).
If you experience any other issue while taking the live test, you should immediately close your browser and email admin@assessmentintelligencemail.com including your Candidate Reference Number and ‘IRCxx’ in the subject line.
If you do need to close your browser or your computer crashes and restarts, you must start up a fresh browser and paste in the test link again.
If your browser starts up and reloads the test again automatically, you must close it down immediately and start from a fresh browser.
If your browser starts up and asks if you want to restore sessions or pages, you MUST decline.
FINAL DEADLINE
IMPORTANT – you must complete all of the live tests by 5pm on the closing date and we strongly advise that you complete them well in advance of the deadline. If you leave it towards the end of the assessment window and find you have a problem (e.g. with your computer or internet) you may not have time to resolve your problem and complete the tests before the deadline.
You should have submitted your images for identity verification by 5pm on the date requested otherwise we cannot guarantee that the identity verification process will be completed in time for you to take the live tests before the final deadline.
For further information on how we process this information, NICSHR’s Privacy Notice is available via the link:
NICSHR Privacy Notice - Online Assessments