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International Centres - Guide to SOLAR

The sections below explain what SOLAR is, how to get access and where to get support.

What is SOLAR?

SOLAR is SQA's online eassessment system. SOLAR allows approved centers to register candidates to complete tests for their specified subject.

Before candidates are registered on SOLAR, they must be registered with SQAConnect. You must also submit results from SOLAR to SQAConnect for candidates to get their certificates.

SOLAR is free to use by SQA approved centres for approved subjects.

What subjects are available?

To see what subjects and assessments are available to your centre, please view our List of Available Assesments. The search options are by name and unit number. The list provides details of assessment timings, delivery methods, the marks or percentage rates required to pass each assessment and other relevant information.

SQA's Higher National (HN) qualifications are not available for delivery outside Scotland.

Your centre can only be given access to subjects that you are approved to deliver. We do not automatically give access to new subjects, so you would request these using the Digital Assessment Services Support Form.

How do I get started?

Approved centres can request access to SOLAR through the System Access Request form. All users who will be accessing the system should watch the Video Training Guides. These videos will help you understand basic functions of the system and how it works.

How do I schedule assessments for my candidates?

Once you have received your account login details, you would use the Centre Login page in the SOLAR website to login and schedule assessments for your candidate(s).

Using the training videos from the Guidance Section you will see how to add candidates into the system, schedule assessments and how to use the access codes (Keycode) to start the assessments. 

You will need to add candidates to SOLAR to be able to schedule them for an assessment. When this is complete, the system will create access codes (Keycodes) for each candidate. This keycode is used only once by the candidate to complete their assessment.

If a candidate does not pass the assessment and needs to sit the assessment again, they should be given time for feedback and revision. Use the same steps as before to schedule an assessment to create a new keycode.

Centres must always use SOLAR's content under full assessment conditions.

Can I see what an assessment looks like?

Formative content is available for some subjects through scheduling. Access the List of Available Assessments to find what is available for scheduling.

What do I do if I have a problem?

Please use the Digital Assessment Support Services Form to contact us with a problem or call us on +44 141 500 5060 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm Greenwich Mean Time(GMT)/British Summer Time (BST).

Full details of the available dates of the Digital Assessment Services Helpdesk are listed in the Digital Assessment Services Helpdesk Availability page. The homepage of the SOLAR website will also show our news about new, or revisions to current tests