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How can we help?

Our Digital Assessment Services Helpdesk is available Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
 
You'll find answers to common questions below. If you can't find what you need, there are several ways to contact us:
 
 
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a tab below to view each section.
Access request 
Q - How do I reset my SOLAR user account password?

 

A - You can reset your password uing the ‘Can’t access your account’ link on the SOLAR login page. If you experience any issues or need your security question reset, please contact your Centre SOLAR Co-ordinator.
Q - How do I set up a SOLAR user account for myself?

 

A - If your centre is already registered on SOLAR, your Centre SOLAR Co-ordinator can create an account for you. If you're not sure who that is, or if they're unable to register you, please contact us using the Digital Assessment Services Support Form.

 

If your centre isn't registered on SOLAR but is approved to deliver subjects listed on our List of Available Assessments, you can request access by completing the System Access Request form.
Candidate record 
Q - I'm trying to create a candidate on SOLAR and received the error message ‘Candidate with provided Candidate Ref already exists’.

 

A - This message may appear for a couple of reasons:

The candidate is linked to your centre but has been retired or expired. You'll find guidance on how to update their record in the Edit a Candidate Record video.
The candidate is currently linked to another centre and needs to be transferred to yours.

For candidate transfer requests, please contact us using the Digital Assessment Services Support Form.

Important: You must not create candidates on SOLAR if you're delivering any of the following qualifications:

Street Works
Certificate Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver SCQF Level 5
Level 2 Certificate Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver
Health and Safety in a Construction Environment SCQF Level 4
Q - A candidate has an incorrect or Auto SCN. How do I fix this?

 

A - Once a candidate record is created, the SCN field can't be changed. If the SCN is incorrect, the record must be retired and a new one created. You'll find guidance on how to do this in our guidance section
Q - Can I retire candidates in bulk?

 

A - No, candidates must be retired individually. Instructions are available in the Edit a Candidate Record video
Using SOLAR 
Q - How do I get started on SOLAR?

 

A - You'll find everything you need to get started in the About Us section of our website. This includes instruction videos, guides, and the application forms you need to begin using SOLAR. 
Q - I can't find results for my candidates on the Results tab.

 

A - By default, the Completed column on the Results tab shows data from the last 30 days. You can change this by selecting a different date range using the filter option. For more guidance, watch the Results, Reporting and Candidate Breakdown video.

If your candidates have completed assessments that require human marking, your centre must mark these. You'll find them in the Mark tab. Once marked and submitted, the results will appear in the Results tab.
Q - I have marked a test, but it hasn't appeared in the Results screen.

 

A - After marking a test in the Mark screen, make sure you select Submit Script. Once submitted, the test will appear in the Results screen.
Q - Is SOLAR accessible for all candidates?

 

A - Yes. We're committed to making SOLAR accessible to all candidates. Features include:

Adjustable colour scheme and contrast settings. You'll find instructions in this video.
Flexible assessment durations to support candidates with disabilities or additional support needs. Centres can adjust this when creating a candidate or scheduling a test. For more details, refer to the SOLAR Centre Operating Guide.

SOLAR supports the following assistive technologies:

•JAWS Screen Reader
NVDA Screen Reader
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Speech Recognition
Windows Magnifier

If you have specific accessibility requests, please contact us using the Digital Assessment Services Support Form.

 

 
 

If your enquiry is not related to SOLAR, please use these contact options:

SQA Customer Contact Centre: 
Telephone: 0345 279 1000
 
Approved Centres: 
Telephone: 0303 333 0330