Downloads
Here you can download the software you need to set up your school labs to participate in the ISAT DRC/CAL testing. CAL is the test delivery software that students will use to take the ISAT test and that you need to install in every computer that will be used for ISAT testing.
There are two ways to set up your labs for ISAT testing:
Case 1: CAL testing on-line. This is the easiest way to configure your lab to participate in the ISAT testing. In this case all you need to do is download and install the CAL software in each of the computers to be used for ISAT testing. Each end client system will directly interact with the CAL data center during a test session. Figure 1 shows how this scenario works.
Case 2: CAL testing on-line with Local Caching Server (LCS). In this scenario you will need to install CAL software in each computer to be used for ISAT testing (as indicated in case 1), and you will also need to install the LCS software in one of your school computers. Each CAL end client will also need to be configured to interact with the LCS. Figure 2 depicts how this scenario works.
Software Downloads:
CAL Version 5.0
LCS Version 4.2
View the ISAT System Requirements
Which setup will best suit my school's needs? For many schools case 1, the simple set up without the LCS works fine. But for some schools that have limited bandwidth and need to test large number of students simultaneously case 2, the LCS might be a good idea. For instance, our experience shows that a school with a T1 connection should be able to test up to 150 students simultaneously without a LCS.
If you are not sure if you need to install the LCS, you can set up your lab without the LCS and if your students experience some long delays while loading their tests, you can then install the LCS and configure the end clients to work with the LCS.