KCA System Requirements

Memory:

64MB of RAM. 128MB recommended.

Running the Kansas Computerized Assessments requires an average of 32 MB of memory. Under normal conditions, a system with 64 MB of RAM should suffice to run the application; however, if your computer is simultaneously running several applications, the KCA's performance could be affected.

Display:

Monitors should have a resolution of at least 800X600 pixels. Video adapters should have at least 8 MB of memory.

For MAC systems we strongly recommend to set the Dock system to the Right position and Automatically Hide mode; otherwise the Dock system could interfere with the testing environment.

Screen Resolution

The minimum screen resolution requirement for KCA is 800x600. Users who try to run KCA on systems with resolution less than 800x600 will receive an error message and will not be able to run the system.

Small screen patch:
Last year CETE introduced a patch that would allow the Windows KCA client to run on smaller displays than 800x600. This patch will allow the system to run but will require students to scroll in order to see items in their entirety. This would make for a sub-optimal testing experience for the student and as a result may lead to lower student performance.

Please make sure any new hardware meets the existing screen resolution requirement as future enhancements will negate the work around within the next few years.

CPU Processor:

300 MHz or higher.

Additional Requirements for Audio Accommodations

Windows:

• Supported on Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, and Windows 7.
• Your computer must have a sound card with necessary drivers installed and at least 128 MB of RAM.
• You need to install the Cepstral David voice for Windows.
• It is not required to set Cepstral David as the default voice on the computer.

Mac:

• Supported on Mac OS X 10.4.x to 10.6.7.
• Macs usually have the necessary hardware and software to support audio accommodation; no additional installation is necessary.
• You need to install the Cepstral David voice for Mac OS X.
• It is not required to set Cepstral David as the default voice on the computer.

Operating System:

Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, 7

Mac OS X 10.4.x to 10.6.7.

Internet Connectivity and Security:

Allow connections to the Internet using HTTP and HTTPS protocols on port 80 and 443.

Allow communication to the following servers:

• http://kca.cete.us
• https://kca.cete.us
• http://update.cete.us

Note: Both "update.cete.us" and "updates.cete.us" are used.

Bandwidth:

The bandwidth demands directly depend on the sizes and nature of the items in the test to be taken by your students (number of items, how graphically intensive the items are, etc). As an illustration and for planning purposes, let's determine the testing capacity of a school with a T1 connection, assuming an average test size of 60KB:

Bandwidth available: T1 - 1.54 Mbps or 1540 Kbps
Assuming a practical 30-second timeframe for all students to login concurrently we have:
1540Kbps * 30sec = 46200 Kbits capacity
Test size: 60KB or 480 Kbits
Testing capacity: 46200Kbits / 480Kbits = 96 users

A T1 connection can support at least 64 users. However, assuming a longer than 30-second concurrent login time for your students, you could increase your network testing capacity. Several schools have reported successful testing of up to 150 students simultaneously with a T1 connection.

To increase your testing capacity even more, we have developed a Local Caching Server (LCS). A LCS caches the test data in a school or district level server reducing up to 70% the bandwidth requirements.

Additional Software:

The student tutorials require Flash version 7r63 or higher.

We recommend the most current version of Flash for best performance. If you need to update your version of Flash, visit the Flash Player Download Center.