Testing FAQ

Q. How do I close and lock the teacher test?

A. The Teacher Test does not need to be closed and locked like the students tests do! They remain open until the national testing window closes. At that time, they will automatically close and lock.

Q. My students can’t start their test, what do I do?

A. Please ensure the following
1) You have pressed the ‘Open Login’ button to allow the students to log on
2) All the students have the proper logins and have logged in successfully
3) You have pressed the ‘Begin Test’ button 

If all of the above is true and you are still having difficulty with getting students to begin their test, please contact the help desk. 

Q. Why can’t my students login?

A. Please ensure that you have pressed the ‘Open Login’ button to allow students to log on. Then, please try restarting their computer and having them login from an incognito window. If you continue to have difficulties after that, please contact the help desk. 

Q. Why can’t I see the testing dashboard?

A. The testing dashboard is only visible during the testing window. Therefore, you won’t be able to see the testing dashboard before the testing window opens or after it closes. Please check the dates of your testing window to see if it is within the time that the testing dashboard should be present. If you are within the testing window and the testing dashboard still does not appear, please contact the help desk. 

Q. Can I get paper tests for my school? How do paper tests work?

A. Yes absolutely! There will be an additional cost to administer the test on paper to defray the cost of shipping and scoring the paper results. Additionally, the testing window is shorter for paper tests. Please contact us to discuss logistics and administration differences from the digital-only approach.

Q. How do I enable the text-to-speech function?

A. All computers should have some sort of built-in read-to-me function and when that is enabled, there are shortcut keys to activate the reading function. If you look at the bottom of the proctor guide, we list the instructions for different devices (last page, bright red box). The issue is that chromebooks really do not do this well; it is cumbersome and the voice isn't great either.

We're researching a better tool that would work independently from the user's device, but haven't found one yet. 

If this is needed and if chromebooks are what is used, the best recommendation that we have is that the proctor can read the questions aloud to the students.  The questions are in the same order, but most of the answers are presented in a random order to prevent cheating. So the proctor would need to be careful with how they read out the answers to guide the students so that the reading aloud doesn't give away the answer, nor does it confuse those with different answer order

Q. My testing section locked before my students finished, how can I reopen the testing section?

A. Please contact the help desk for assistance reopening testing sections. 

Q. How do I test my absent students?

A. If students were absent the day of testing, they will automatically be removed from the testing section when the section is closed and locked OR the teacher can remove them manually when they realize that they are absent. What we do now is set up a NEW testing section for those students who were absent. The way that is done is the following:
1. The center admin or center data admin goes into the testing sections tab

2. Click the +New button in the top right of the screen

3. Fill out the information for the testing section. We usually recommend naming it something to the tune of “Grade X – Absentees”

4. Click save and close

5. Click the 3 horizontal dots all the way to the right of the testing section

6. Click “View”

7. From the students tab, press +New

8. Select the absent student from the dropdown list

9. Either click “Save & add more” or “Save & close” if you are completed

10. Follow the steps for launching the test as previously (i.e. open the login, send the login links, begin the test)