Surpass (SecureClient) Guide

CPA EVALUATIONS | CANDIDATES 19-0955
Table of Contents
1 Welcome to Surpass (SecureClient) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Minimum Computer requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1 Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2.2 Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2.3 Importance of Proper Screen Resolution and Screen Scaling . . . . . . . . 4 2.4 Ensuring you can connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3 Installing the SecureClient software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4 Validation Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.1 Performing the Validation Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 5 How is the SecureClient Spreadsheet different from Excel? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 6 How do I determine the primary language on my laptop? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1
1 Welcome to Surpass (SecureClient)
Surpass (SecureClient) is an application that provides a secure environment on a candidate’s computer to allow the candidate to take a CPA Canada examination.
This application allows for candidate responses to be securely stored and uploaded into the Surpass Examination Administration system both during the examination and when the examination is finished.
Note: If you are using a computer provided by your employer, please consult your IT Staff to ensure that the software can be installed and will work in your employer’s environment.
3
2 Minimum Computer requirements
2 .1 Hardware • Processor: 1.80GHz or faster x86-compatible processor • RAM: 1GB • HDD: 1GB of free space • Video: Single display • Screen resolution between 1024x768 and 1600x900
(with screen scaling set to 100%) • Graphics card with at least 128 MB of memory • Capable of connecting to a 5 GHz (dual-band) Wifi network
Note: Under no circumstances will a candidate be allowed to use a Mac/Apple laptop (even if the device is using partitioned drives, or has “Boot Camp” installed), any iOS devices or laptops/tablets with detachable keyboards (such as the Microsoft Surface line of tablets) or any netbooks (devices that require the Internet to fully function). If you have any questions or concerns about whether your device falls into any of these categories please contact your provincial/regional CPA body. Currently, there are compatibility issues with Surface laptops – It is not recommended that you use a Surface laptop.
2 .2 Software • Supported Operating Systems
— Windows 7 (32bit or 64bit) — Windows 8.1 (32bit or 64bit) — Windows 10 (32bit or 64bit)
• Internet Explorer 10 to 11 • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
4 Surpass (SecureClient) Guide
It should be expressly noted that a laptop with a Windows operating system in English or French must be used, pre-loaded with the examination software. If an operating system is in any language other than English or French, IT proctors will not be able to assist candidates with troubleshooting computer issues.
2 .3 Importance of Proper Screen Resolution and Screen Scaling
As per the minimum specifications noted in Section 2.1, the screen resolution required to successfully run the SecureClient software is between 1024 x 768 and 1600 x 900.
The SecureClient software runs a Minimum Specification Diagnostic Test upon startup. If the screen resolution is lower than the minimum specifications required, a warning screen will appear prompting you to resolve the issue (fixing the screen resolution) before starting the examination.
This warning message will not prevent the use of the software and you will be able to proceed to the login. You are strongly discouraged from using a screen resolution lower than the minimum specifications as it may render parts of the examination unviewable.
Some laptops have their display scale set to above 100%. In some cases of scaling above 100% your mouse may become unusable (tab and keyboard actions may still work). It is strongly recommended that you ensure that the screen resolution is between 1024x768 and 1600x900 and the scaling of your display is set to 100% before installing the software .
2 .4 Ensuring you can connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi It is highly recommended that your laptop be able to connect to a 5GHz wireless band. To check this on your laptop, follow the instructions below:
1. Press the “Windows” key on your keyboard or click the “Start” button on your desktop to load the Start screen.
2. Enter “cmd” without quotations marks into the Search prompt and then click the “Command Prompt” icon on the search results under the Apps heading.
5Chapter 2 | Minimum Computer requirements
3. Enter the following command into the Command Prompt and press “Enter” to execute it when you’re finished: netsh wlan show drivers
4. You must enter the command exactly as shown before pressing “Enter” in order for the command to work properly. When the command executes, the Command Prompt analyzes your computer’s Wi-FI networking capabilities and displays a report.
5. Locate the line in the report labeled “Radio types supported.” If the line lists “802.11a” or “802.11n” then your computer’s wireless card supports the 5GHz band.
If your laptop does not support a 5GHz band then we strongly recommend you purchase a Wi-Fi dongle which will adapt your laptop to allow it to connect to a 5GHz Wi-Fi.
7
3 Installing the SecureClient software
To install the software, you must have administrator rights. User-level rights will allow you to use the software once it has been installed.
If your employer owns your computer, you must secure employer approval and/or assistance to install SecureClient, in accordance with your employer’s policies .
1. Uninstall previous versions of the software.
2. Once you have downloaded the software, double-click the installation package icon on your desktop. The system may ask you to confirm the changes to your system and will take a moment to verify the contents of the setup package.
Once the verification is complete, the Welcome to the SecureClient Installation Wizard appears.
9Chapter 3 | Installing the SecureClient software
3. Click the Next button to continue. The Destination Folder screen appears.
4. You should keep the default location and click Next. The files are installed successfully and the Completing the InstallAware Wizard for SecureClient appears.
5. To close the Wizard, click Finish. A SecureClient icon now appears on your desktop and you are now ready to run the examination software.
6. Double-click the SecureClient icon to start the software. SecureClient will check for updates. This can take several minutes.
11Chapter 4 | Validation Examination
4 Validation Examination
4 .1 Performing a Validation Examination In order to take a CPA examination and to make sure the software works properly on your computer, you must test the software by performing a Validation Examination at the beginning of each semester in which you are registered.
Your provincial/regional CPA body will send you a unique keycode within three weeks of the start of each semester to use when performing a Validation Examination. Once you have received the email with your keycode follow the steps below:
1. Launch the software by clicking the SecureClient icon on your desktop. SecureClient will automatically check for updates to the software. This may take some time.
Enter the Keycode provided to you by your regional CPA body.
2. Click OK. The Confirmation Details screen appears.
3. If the examination information (Arrow A) is correct (Note: The Examination Name will change each semester but will always contain the word “Validation”), click Confirm (Arrow B) to proceed. The Agree to Terms screen appears.
4. To continue with the examination, you must accept the CPA code of conduct. Click Yes, I accept. Then click Confirm. A warning screen appears.
5. Enter the PIN CPA123. The Validation Examination will proceed.
6. Complete the questions to familiarize yourself with SecureClient and ensure all the features work properly on your computer.
7. To finish the Validation Examination, click Finish Test (Arrow A) in the top right corner. The Confirm Finish screen appears.
8. Click Finish. A second Confirm Finish screen appears.
9. Click Finish. The examination will conclude and the software will close. Your examination response has automatically saved and uploaded. Note: Once you click Finish you cannot get back into the examination .
If you experience any issues while performing the validation examination, refer to the SecureClient Validation Examination - Common Issues guide.
5 How is the SecureClient Spreadsheet different from Excel?
You will find that some features from those that you would typically see in Microsoft Excel have been either changed or been removed for security purposes. We recommend you familiarize yourself with those differences when doing your validation exam. Below are some differences you should be aware of.
1. AUTOSUM Function The AUTOSUM function within SecureClient does not highlight the likely range to create a final number. You need to use your mouse / track pad to highlight the range you wish to generate a sum for and then click Enter.
2. SORT Function The SORT function within SecureClient does not allow you to specify a range of columns. To SORT within SecureClient you must:
a) Create a table of data. b) Highlight the data in the table. c) Click the “Format As Table” option within the Navigation Bar. d) Specify the type of Table appearance required. e) Click OK.
At this point the data range is now considered a sortable table within SecureClient, and you can properly SORT multiple columns of data.
3. Equal Sign Within SecureClient, the arrow keys will not allow you to specify a range to calculate. Once you create “=SUM”, you need to use your mouse/trackpad to highlight a range to calculate.
4. Dollar Sign ($) Within SecureClient, if you wish to format a range of data as Canadian dollars, you have to:
a) Highlight the range of data you wish to format. b) Right-click the highlighted range and click on “Format Cells”. c) Choose the CURRENCY option under Category. d) In the SYMBOL field, click the dropdown menu and choose
“$FRENCH (CANADA)” or “$ENGLISH (CANADA)”. e) Click OK.
5. “PLUS” and “MINUS” Within SecureClient, the “=” sign is not automatically added. You must use the “=” sign to start any formula or calculation.
6. Format Painter
There is no format painter tool in SecureClient. You need to use the format function.
7. Alt-Tab function The Alt-Tab function does not work if you want to navigate between programs (word processor, spreadsheet and reference material).
21
6 How do I determine the primary language on my laptop?
In order to determine your primary language, perform the following steps:
1. From your desktop, click the Windows icon and then click the Options icon.
The Windows Settings screen appears.
23Chapter 6 | How do I determine the primary language on my laptop?
2. From the Windows Settings screen, click Time & Language. The Date & time screen appears.
3. Click Regions & language. This will bring up the Region & language screen.
25Chapter 6 | How do I determine the primary language on my laptop?

Documents

Surpass (SecureClient) Guide