PSI TCQR Stage 3 cheat sheet

Physical security baseline: secured, lockable storage for test materials; controlled entry to the testing room; sightlines from the proctor station to every candidate workstation; no candidate-visible screens or materials from another candidate.

Workstation configuration rule: disable or remove unauthorized software, block internet and email access unless the test design requires it, and confirm the secure browser or delivery client launches in locked mode before admitting candidates.

Prohibited items are held outside the testing room: phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorized aids. A candidate found with a prohibited device during testing is documented as a security irregularity, not merely a procedural note.

Electronic device rule: possession of a phone or wearable in the testing room, even if powered off, is a reportable event; the incident report records device type, location, time found, and whether it was powered on.

Room sweep protocol: before each administration, check workstations, restrooms, and common areas for posted notes, written material, and unattended devices; record the sweep time and the checker's name.

Continuous observation rule: the proctor must be able to see all candidates at all times; partitions or monitor placement that block line of sight require repositioning or an added proctor before testing begins.

Session integrity check: verify the correct test form, timing, and candidate count against the roster at start and at close; discrepancies are escalated before candidates are dismissed.

Break security: during scheduled breaks, candidates are monitored or the room is cleared and re-secured; unsupervised room access during a break is a reportable security gap.

Two-part identity rule: identity is confirmed by a government-issued photo ID plus a second confirmation step (signature match, confirmation of personal details from the registration record, or a biometric check where the program requires it).

Acceptable ID criteria: current, government-issued, photo-bearing, signature-bearing, and matching the registration name. Expired, photocopied, or name-mismatched IDs are not accepted without an approved exception.

Name mismatch rule: a minor variation (maiden name, hyphenation, transliteration) may be resolved with supporting documentation per program policy; an unresolved mismatch blocks admission and is escalated, not waived at the desk.

Admission sequence: check-in against the roster, ID verification, digital photograph where required, signature capture, prohibited-item collection, seating assignment, then release of the test session.

Roster reconciliation: the candidate must appear on the authorized roster for that test, date, and site; a walk-in or misrouted candidate is not admitted without an approved authorization path.

Late arrival and re-admission: late candidates are admitted only within the program's published window; a candidate who leaves the testing room mid-session is re-verified against ID and photo before re-entry.

Minor and special-accommodation candidates: verify guardian consent or accommodation approval against the authorization record before admission; the approval reference is recorded in the session log.

Identity fraud indicators: photo not matching the person, ID wear suggesting alteration, rehearsed personal details, or a second person waiting nearby. Document observations factually and escalate to the site manager.

Standardization rule: read the published script verbatim, follow the published timing, and apply the same conditions to every candidate; any deviation is recorded with time, cause, and affected candidates.

Timing control: the official clock governs start, breaks, and stop. If a timing error occurs, record the actual elapsed time and the amount of time lost or gained, and escalate for a scoring decision.

Irregularity categories: technical (workstation, network, delivery platform), environmental (noise, power, temperature, disruption), candidate conduct (prohibited items, talking, leaving without escort), and administrative (wrong form, wrong timing, roster error).

Technical failure procedure: pause the affected candidate where the platform supports it, document the error message and time, attempt the approved remedy, and escalate if the candidate cannot resume within the program's tolerance.

Disruption rule: for a fire alarm or evacuation, secure materials, stop the clock where possible, keep candidates supervised and separated, and record the interruption window for each affected candidate.

Misconduct response sequence: observe and document, do not argue with the candidate, allow completion unless safety or security requires removal, then submit the incident report with times and specifics.

Testing-environment rule: no coaching, prompting, or answering candidate questions about content; proctors respond only with scripted statements about procedure and timing.

Session close: confirm all sessions are submitted, count materials in and out, record irregularities, and complete the proctor log before leaving the site.

QA sampling rule: audits review a defined sample of sessions per period against the standard checklist, with sample size and selection method documented before the audit begins.

Audit evidence standard: findings must be supported by the proctor log, incident reports, roster, and system records; an unsupported observation is a recommendation, not a finding.

Finding classification: critical (security or integrity breach), major (repeated procedural failure), minor (isolated documentation gap). Classification drives the corrective-action deadline.

Corrective action loop: each finding gets an owner, a due date, and a verification step; closure requires evidence, not a statement that the issue was addressed.

Key compliance metrics: admission verification completion rate, incident reports filed within the required window, proctor-to-candidate ratio adherence, and closed corrective actions on time.

Trend review: aggregate findings by site, proctor, and irregularity type each cycle; a repeating pattern triggers a targeted audit rather than another single-session review.

Audit independence rule: the person who administered a session does not audit that session; self-review is documented as a conflict and reassigned.

Record retention: logs, incident reports, and audit files are retained for the program's stated period and stored where access is controlled and retrieval is traceable.

Reportable events include identity discrepancies, prohibited devices, candidate misconduct, technical failures affecting delivery, timing errors, security breaches, and any unauthorized access to test content.

Timeliness rule: security and integrity incidents are escalated to the site manager immediately and the written report is filed within the program's stated window; the verbal notification time is recorded.

Report content standard: who, what, when, where, how observed, actions taken, witnesses, and affected candidates. Facts and direct quotations only; no conclusions about intent or guilt.

Objective language rule: write "candidate placed a phone on the desk at 10:14" rather than "candidate cheated"; the scoring or eligibility decision belongs to the program, not the proctor.

Escalation ladder: proctor to site manager to program office or test security contact, with defined triggers for each step and a named backup when the first contact is unavailable.

Test-content exposure: suspected disclosure or unauthorized copying of secure materials is escalated immediately to the program's security contact and handled outside routine incident channels.

Evidence handling: preserve device, note, or material without altering it, record the chain of custody, and surrender it only to authorized program personnel.

Correction and addendum practice: errors in a filed report are corrected by a dated, signed addendum; the original report is retained unaltered.

Pre-assignment requirement: proctors complete program training on security, identity verification, administration procedure, and incident reporting, and the completion record is retained before independent assignment.

Ratio and supervision rule: the site maintains the program's proctor-to-candidate ratio, and a designated supervisor is on site or reachable for the full administration.

Conflict of interest: staff with a personal relationship to a candidate, or who have a financial interest in a candidate's result, are reassigned and the reassignment is documented.

Confidentiality obligation: staff do not discuss test content, candidate results, or incident details outside authorized channels; the obligation continues after the assignment ends.

Prohibited conduct for staff: coaching, answering content questions, altering records, admitting an unverified candidate, or accepting anything of value from a candidate.

Competency refresh: staff complete refresher training on the program's cycle and after any critical finding at their site; refresher completion is tracked with the same rigor as initial training.

Performance monitoring: supervisor observation of live sessions is documented against a checklist, with feedback given and follow-up scheduled for identified gaps.

Reporting duty: staff who observe a colleague breaching security or procedure report it through the escalation channel; retaliation for a good-faith report is itself a reportable conduct issue.