Technical support
To be able to run BULATS Online on your computer the following technical specifications need to be met. Details of these specifications can be found in the documents below:
| Step 1 | Diagnostic Tool | Run the automatic Diagnostic Tool and it will indicate if your computer has the correct technical specifications to run the test |
| Technical Specifications | This document shows what these technical specifications are in more detail in step 1 | |
| Step 2 | Configuring Internet Explorer - BULATS Online | This is a list of the specifications which need to be met to run the test |
| Step 3 | BULATS Bandwidth Checker | Run the automatic Bandwidth Checker and it will indicate if your computer has enough bandwidth to run the test |
| Step 4 | Candidate Test Link | This is a link directly to the test site once you are ready to take the BULATS Online test. |
Further Assistance
| General FAQs | This links to the frequently asked general BULATS questions. |
Administration
| User Guide for Agents | The 'User Guide for Agents' provides guidance on how to use the administrative functions as an Agent and is available in the Members' area. |
Computer Test - CD-ROM
Technical Information
The BULATS Computer test can either be installed on standalone workstations or on a network. A dongle, a device used to prevent software piracy which sits in the parallel port on a workstation/server, is necessary to run a BULATS test. The dongle contains both licences and test counts. The test counts govern the number of tests that can be taken in each test language, the licences govern how many tests can be run on a network at any one time. When ordering tests it is necessary to specify the number of counts and licences require.
Counts can be updated simply by emailing Cambridge ESOL the dongle number and the number of counts required in each test language.
The BULATS software comes with a detailed User Manual with instructions for both Standalone and Network installations. Technical support is also available from local Agents and dedicated Technical support at Cambridge ESOL.
Minimum System Requirements- Pentium II 300 MHz or equivalent PC with a minimum of 128MB RAM
- Microsoft Windows 98 (Second Edition) or NT SP4 and above
- Sound Blaster/Windows compatible sound
- CD-ROM drive, minimum 24x speed
- VDU resolution of 800 x 600 with 64K colours
- mouse or other pointing device
- 10MB free temporary hard disk space on each local workstation
- 32 bit network server running Windows OS (network install)
- minimum 100mbps network speed for multi-user environment (10mbps recommended for max. 10 users on a network)
- printer
- parallel port for a dongle on each workstation when doing a standalone installation. For a network installation, at least one workstation on the network should have a parallel port, to which the dongle will be attached. The dongle can also be attached to a server as long as that server is accessible and not remote
- 750MB free disk space is required to store a CD image (custom and network installations).
The specifications of the workstations should be at least the same as the preferred requirements described above. Note that the BULATS Computer Test is a Windows based application and will not run on Unix and Linux.
The software can be run from the CD drive (with at least 24 x transfer rate), local hard drive, or if networked, from the server hard disk.
Protocols Supported
TCP/IP
Net BEUI
IPX/SPX