FAQs - Platforms (XAMS and Portal)

To access the XAMS Assessment Platform, you must be set up as an Assessment Administrator with Open Awards and be approved for the relevant qualification/ assessment. You will be sent login details and will then be able to login here. If you are struggling to access the XAMS Assessment Platform, please contact customer services at customerservices@openawards.org.uk or call us on 0151 494 2072.

The XAMS Assessment Platform is an on-screen assessment platform used by Open Awards for external assessments. This includes:

• Functional Skills (Entry level 3, Level 1 and Level 2)
• Apprenticeship Assessment Knowledge tests
• Essential Digital Skills (Entry level 3 and Level 1)
• Multiple-choice Tests (short qualifications)

the XAMS Assessment Platform is Open Awards’ online platform used to book, manage, and undertake controlled assessments. You will see it referred to as the XAMS Assessment Platform.

Learners are only allowed access to a non-scientific calculator within Section B of the mathematics assessment. Therefore, they will not have access to a calculator with a power function. Where learners need to work with or display calculations associated with numbers to a power, they should enter the repeated multiplication of the same number either as characters in the working pane, or on the on-screen calculator.

Learners should be taught to use the forward slash (’/’) when using the platform to separate the numerator and dominator when entering fractions.  Both within the workings pane and the answer pane the forward slash (’/’) will remain a character  so learners can work with and display fractions. However, if learners need to divide the numerator by the denominator the calculator division symbol on the on-screen calculator will pull through to the workings pane and act as a mathematical operator.

If an assessment didn’t start, you do not need to wait 14 days to re-schedule. The usual scheduling rules apply.