National 5 ESOL - Online resources - practice assessments
To access these practice tests go to the SOLAR website and access a heading called OpenAssess. (Flash is no longer allowed on browsers and these tests contain Flash software)
To be able to run these tests you will first have to install a piece of software called Surpass Viewer:
We have created a guide and installation instructions for Microsoft and Mac users. Other types of devices such as Chromebooks will not work with this software. (The installation may be different depending on whether you are using your own machine or one from a school, college or training provider.)
- FAQ help guide (125 KB)
- Installation guide for Microsoft users (212 KB)
- Installation guide for Mac users (234 KB)
*Please review both the installation guide and FAQ for full information.
Once you have the Surpass Viewer installed on your machine please go to the SOLAR website (on any browser)
Next select the level of the ESOL test that you want to use by clicking the "Please select a subject from the list"
Then select the assessment that you want to run from the list given by clicking "Please select an assessment from list"
Once you click "Create Assessment" the Viewer will open, you should accept the use of this and the test will run within the Viewer and not the browser.
Related Information
- Who is ESOL for? (29 KB)
- National 2 and National 3 ESOL units: quick guide to assessment arrangements
- National 5 and Higher ESOL scaling table (117 KB)
- CEFR levels of SQA ESOL qualifications
- SQA ESOL qualifications overview (659 KB)
- NQs - notification of changes to documents
- ESOL Higher National units
- PDA Introduction to Tutoring English to Speakers of Other Languages (ITESOL)
- PDA Applied Practitioner Studies in TESOL at SCQF level 10