SQA provide Digital Answer Booklets (DABs) in PDF and Microsoft Word format and you can download the DABs from SQA's web site. The Word DABs are now in .docx format so they can be opened in the Word app or Pages on the iPad. The SQA DABs don't view properly in Immersive Reader in the Word app, Word Online or the Pages app (the layout of the front page collapses or just looks weird) and so if you are using these tools, try out this more accessible DAB:
CALL Generic Digital Answer Booklet
You don't have to use the SQA DABs if they are not accessible or suitable for the candidate - you can just use your usual text editor or word processor. SQA do prefer you to use their DABs because they can be processed by the SQA e-marking and scanning systems.
Word Digital Answer Booklets - with the Word App
Download the DABs for the relevant subjects in advance from SQA's web site. The candidate needs to log in to the app with a Glow or local authority Microsoft Office 365 account in order to edit and type up answers in Word.
Care is required when typing in candidate details on the front page: it is easy to accidentally move the information boxes. The candidate number in the bottom left on each page can be copied over from the front page by tapping and holding on it, then pressing Update.
Text Formatting and content
The Word app has a full range of formatting options to change font, style, colour, size etc together with bullet and word lists. Tables, and images can be inserted into the DAB.
Drawing
Freehand drawing pencil and pens are provided, and a wide range of shapes, lines and arrows.
Maths and equations
There is an equation editor.
Text Reader
The iPad's own Speak Selection and other text reader tools can be used. Word provides Immersive Reader in the View ribbon which can simplify the appearance of the text and read it with the Read Aloud tool. The layout of the SQA DABs looks slightly strange because of the way the files are designed.
Spelling and writing support
The iPad spellchecker, word prediction, Siri and Voice Dictation can all be used, if appropriate for the candidate and subject and permission has been requested and granted using the SQA AAR system. If the candidate does not have permission to use these supports you can turn the iPad tools off in Settings>Keyboard and use Guided Access to lock the candidate into Word to prevent the candidate from turning them back on.
Word also has it's own built-in spellcheck and we could not find a method to disable it.
Define and Lookup: select and word and choose 'Define' to read a definition; 'Smart Lookup' will do an internet search. These are not permitted in examinations. Smart Lookup does not work if the iPad is not connecetd to the internet, and the Define dictionaries can be deleted: open a definition then tap Manage in the bottom left. Swipe left to delete the dictionaries. As long as the iPad is not connecetd to the internet, the dictionaries cannot be downloaded.
Viewing Question Paper alongside the DAB
Use the iPad Slide Over or Split View to see the PDF question paper in another app and your DAB at the same time.
Word Digital Answer Booklets - with the Pages App
Download the DABs for the relevant subjects in advance from SQA's web site to the iPad itself, or to OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive etc. When the DAB is opened in Pages you are likely to get a message that the Minion Pro font is missing and that nested tables will display as text. We found that the front page with the candidate information did not display correctly although it was still possible to double tap and enter the data
Care is required when typing in candidate details on the front page: it is easy to accidentally move the information boxes. The candidate number in the bottom left on each page can be copied over from the front page by tapping and holding on it, then pressing Update.
The table on the answer pages appears narrower than it should be when opened in Word on the iPad or a Windows machine.
You will have a better experience using the CALL answer booklet:
CALL Generic Digital Answer Booklet
Text Formatting and content
Pages has a full range of formatting options to change font, style, colour, size etc together with bullet and word lists. Tables, and images can be inserted into the DAB.
Drawing
Freehand drawing pencil and pens are provided, and a wide range of shapes, lines and arrows. We could not find a way to insert a drawing into the table for the answers, however.
Maths and equations
There is a basic equation editor.
Text Reader
The iPad's own Speak Selection and other text reader tools can be used.
Spelling and writing support
The iPad spellchecker, word prediction, Siri and Voice Dictation can all be used, if appropriate for the candidate and subject and permission has been requested and granted using the SQA AAR system. If the candidate does not have permission to use these supports you can turn the iPad tools off in Settings>Keyboard and use Guided Access to lock the candidate into Pages to prevent the candidate from turning them back on.
Pages also it's own built-in spellcheck: this can be disabled in the Pages settings although a candidate could easily switch it back on.
Define and Lookup: select and word and choose 'Define' to read a definition; Smart Lookup will do an internet search. These are not permitted in examinations. Smart Lookup does not work if the iPad is not connecetd to the internet, and the Define dictionaries can be deleted: open a definition then tap Manage in the bottom left. Swipe left to delete the dictionaries. As long as the iPad is not connecetd to the internet, the dictionaries cannot be downloaded.
Viewing Question Paper alongside the DAB
Use the iPad Slide Over or Split View to see both the PDF question paper and your DAB at the same time.
PDF Digital Answer Booklets
The PDF DABs can be used with an app such as ClaroPDF or PDF Expert. I could open a PDF DAB with the OneDrive app but typing into the answer box did not work well because the top of the page wasn't visible so I could not see what I was typing.
The PDF DABs are simple to use but the number of lines that can fit on one page of a PDF DAB is limited and text does not 'flow' from one page to another, and the options for formatting and changing fonts etc are restricted, compared to using a word processor.
Text Formatting and content
The PDF DABs have 'plain text' answer boxes - the font, font size, colour etc cannot be changed and bullets, numbering and tables are not available.
Drawing
ClaroPDF and PDF Expert all have drawing and annotating tools.
Maths and equations
Neither ClaroPDF and PDF Expert have equation editors, although PDF Expert works well with the Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon for handwriting equations and you can use apps like the Math Keyboard to type simple expressions.
Text Reader
The iPad's Speak Selection can be used and both ClaroPDF and PDF Expert also have their own text readers that can be used to read back your answers.
Spelling and writing support
SQA provide PDF DABs with and without spellcheck enabled but it makes no difference which one you open because the iPad spellchecker works in both.
The iPad spellcheck, word prediction, Siri and Voice Dictation can all be used, if appropriate for the candidate and subject and permission has been requested and granted using the SQA AAR system. If the candidate does not have permission to use these supports you can turn the iPad tools off in Settings and use Guided Access to prevent the candidate from turning them back on.
Viewing Question Paper alongside the DAB
With both ClaroPDF and PDF Expert you can have DQP and DAB open at the same time, although you can't actually see them side by side within the app. If you want to see them side by side, open the DQP in e.g. ClaroPDF and the DAB in PDF Expert and use the iPad Slide Over or Split View to see both at same time.
Candidates with Visual Impairment
Neither PDF not Word DABs are very well suited to the needs of candidates who require high levels of zoom or who use VoiceOver because the apps are quite complex to navigate and the SQA PDF and Word DABs are not properly accessible for screen readers. The CALL Word DAB is accessible with VoiceOver.
The PDF apps are possibly simpler and slightly easier to navigate at high zoom, and the 'Follow Focus' feature in the iPad Zoom works with the PDF DABs but not in Word. We suggest that candidates with visual impairment should:
- Use an iPad Pro 12.9" with the larger screen so that they can view the papers more easily.
- Use a hardware keyboard, so that there is more space on screen for text, and it's easier to touch type.
- Ask SQA to provide Digital Question Papers that are accessible with VoiceOver to encourage the development of accessible DQPs: it is possible to create papers that can be accessed with VoiceOver.
- Use the Notes app provided with the iPad for typing answers. Notes has a simple design so it is easy to navigate; works well with the Zoom Follow Focus in that the cursor follows the text as you type; and it works well with VoiceOver.
