This section provides information on accessing the e-assessment system for school administrators and teacher, and the e-assessment platform for students.
Uploading of images may be slower on certain devices when there are several applications or programs running in the background during the assessment.
It is recommended that any applications or programs that are not needed to complete the assessment be closed before the student begins.
School Administrator and Teacher Access to the E-Assessment System
School administrators and teachers can access the e-assessment system by going to the EQAO website and using the login feature in the upper-right corner of the webpage.
Student Access to the E-Assessment Platform
Students can access the online assessment in two ways, Lockdown Access or Direct/Alternative Access. These differ in level of security. The Direct/Alternative Access method requires more supervision of students when administering the test.
To review the options for accessing the e-assessment platform, refer to the sections below.
Lockdown Access (SEB and Kiosk)
If your school wishes to use an enhanced lockdown option, the Safe Exam Browser (SEB) or Kiosk application can be used.
The SEB and Kiosk methods
- provide the strongest assessment security, as they lock down all functions of the device.
- require time and staff resources to download the application and configure and safe-list third-party software.
- limit the third-party software that can be used.
Choose the SEB if using Windows devices, Macs or iPads.
Choose the Kiosk application if using Chromebooks or Android devices.
The installation and validation of the SEB software or Kiosk application on the testing devices should be the responsibility of your school or your school board IT representative. The SEB-configuration file has been made available to the technical specialist for the school to be downloaded or pushed onto these devices.
Note: Version 3.4.0 of the SEB must be installed for Windows, and version 3.1 must be installed for Macs and iPads. The previous SEB version must be uninstalled from all devices.
Enabling the Lockdown Browser
Teachers will need to enter the four-digit SEB Password or the six-digit Kiosk Password on each device in order to provide students with access to the login screen. This password can be found in the Technical Readiness checklist. The school administrator must provide this password to all teachers. Students will log into the e-assessment platform using the access code provided by their teacher and their OEN number after the lockdown browser is enabled.
Note: If a student has an assistive-technology accommodation checked off in the Accommodations and Alternative Version section of the student information page and requires particular accessibility software that is not compatible with the SEB or the Kiosk application, the student may have to access the assessment by using alternative access.
Alternative Access
The alternative access option allows any student who requires assistive technology which is not compatible with the SEB or the Kiosk application to access the assessment directly from the EQAO website. This option is only available to students for whom the school administrator has checked this off in the e-assessment system in the Accommodations and Special Versions section. This method to access the assessment from the EQAO website is the same as the Direct Access option. If the entire class is using Direct Access, Alternative Access is not required.
Direct Access
This access should be used only in cases where third-party applications (e.g., scientific or graphic calculators, manipulatives) are not compatible with the SEB or Kiosk mode. Through this option, all students in the school will be able to access the assessment directly by logging in through the EQAO login page.
The Direct Access option
- requires no software installation.
- allows for the use of third-party software (e.g., graphing calculator or graphing applications).
- does not lock down the device (however, when the student navigates away from the assessment screen, the system alerts the teacher).
- allows students to continue with the assessment after they navigate away, with less intervention from the teacher.
If they perform an action that is not permitted (e.g., navigating away from or minimizing the page of the assessment they are completing), the teacher will receive a notification and can choose to pause the student or, if there is a legitimate reason for the student’s action, allow the student to continue with the assessment.
To allow all students in the school to access the assessment directly the school administrator must select this option on the Technical Readiness checklist.
Navigating Away from the Assessment
When a student who is using direct access navigates away from an assessment screen or minimizes a page while in an assessment, an icon will appear next to the student’s name on the invigilation page of the teacher platform as a notification that the student has navigated away from the assessment. The teacher will investigate and can dismiss the notification if the student has navigated away for a legitimate reason (for example, an online manipulative the student normally uses or an accommodation the student requires). If the student has navigated away from the assessment for a non-legitimate reason, the teacher can use the Report an Issue button to report the issue to be investigated by EQAO.
Supported Devices
Windows devices, Macs, Chromebooks, iPads and Android tablets
Note: When accessing the assessment through this option on an iPad, the browser cannot be launched in full screen mode. This means students have easier access to other tabs, but teachers will still receive notifications when students navigate away from the assessment.
Supported Browsers
Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari
Student Login Process
Teachers can advise students to follow the steps below in order to log in.
- Launch the browser and open the EQAO website: www.eqao.com.
- Select Login in the upper-right corner of the web page.
- On the login page, click Login under the Students section.
4. Enter the access code and the OEN that your teacher provides, and then click Sign In.