Transcript ACT Plus Writing Power Point for System and Building Test

STC Workshop
ACT Plus Writing
April 2015
Key Dates
Mid-March to April 27
• Conduct supervised pretest sessions for all paper-pencil
examinees
• Conduct room supervisor and proctor training
• Arrange to meet testing requirements at school or off-site
location
April 20-24—STC receives secure materials for initial testing
April 28—Initial test date (paper format)
April 28-May 12—Accommodations testing window
April 28-29—Window for online order for standard time ACT
April 29—ACT initial test materials picked up
May 4-7—STC receives makeup materials
May 12—Makeup test date
May 13—Makeup and accommodated materials picked up from STC
May 22—deadline for ACT to receive all answer documents
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General Information
 Maggie Hicks, at 334-242-8038, is primary contact.
 Each System Test Coordinator (STC), Building Test Coordinator
(BTC), Test Accommodations Coordinator (TAC), Backup Building
Test Coordinator (BBTC), Principal, Room Supervisor, Proctor,
Monitor, and Technology Coordinator for those administering ACT
online must be familiar with the documents listed below. The link to
download and print manuals is www.act.org/aap/alabama .
 The ACT Administration Manual
 The ACT Plus Writing: Handbook for System and Building Test
Coordinators
 Manual Supplement for District Shipping
 Answer Document Supplement (The ACT)
 ACT Calculator Policy
3
General Information
 If an emergency arises on test day (e.g., fire, tornado, snow) forces
termination of testing or closing of school, STC must notify ACT at
800.553.6244, ext. 2800, and the ALSDE at 334.242.8038 as soon as
possible to explain situation. Decisions regarding rescheduling will
be made on a case-by-case basis by ACT only.
 In cases of unusual circumstances (i.e., bomb threats, weather alerts,
suspected cheating, incidents involving prohibited behaviors), the
STC must notify ACT and the ALSDE immediately.
 A copy of all irregularities must be sent to ALSDE.
 As soon as testing is over in school each day, initial date or makeup,
materials must be returned to STC. No materials may be returned to
ACT from schools.
 STCs must keep copies of all attendance rosters, seating charts,
documentation forms, and irregularity reports.
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Reminders/Policies/Procedures
 Important information, including contact information for the ACT
Plus Writing Customer Service, is included on inside cover page.
 When instructions split into columns, ACT Plus Writing instructions
are printed in the right-hand column in color; instructions for ACT
with no writing are printed in black.
 All staff must comply with ACT policies. Staff members who
complete profile at establishment have agreed to policies put forth
in their respective roles.
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Policies/Procedures
 ACT Plus Writing must be administered ONLY on April 28 using the
specific form for the initial testing day.
 Makeup tests must be administered ONLY on May 12 using ONLY the
specific form for makeup testing.
 ACT Plus Writing with Accommodations must be administered
between April 28 through May 12 using materials assigned to
students for which they were approved. Accommodated materials
may not be transferred to other students, even if they are unused.
 Testing MUST begin by 9:00 am in all rooms on both the initial and
makeup test dates. Permission must be granted by ACT for a late
start.
 An observer/monitor with ACT, ALSDE, or district may visit a school
on test day. Admission must be denied if the observer cannot
provide authorization letter or ALSDE identification.
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Facility Requirements
 Lapboards are not allowed under any circumstances.
 Bulletin boards/related materials must be covered.
 Two reliable time pieces are required. One should be accurate clock
or watch that shows the actual time of day. ACT recommends the
second be stopwatch or countdown timer. Cell phones can NEVER
be used as timers or watches.
 BTC should have a phone available for emergency use on test date.
 Rooms must be free from distractions.
 Signs must be posted outside the test rooms to warn others that
testing is in progress and that quiet is required.
 Bells, intercoms, and public address systems must be turned off
during the test session.
 If a school cannot meet these requirements, the school is not eligible
to test and offsite testing should be arranged.
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Seating
 Test rooms must be set up according to ACT requirements. If not
met, scores may be cancelled. If the facility does not have furniture
that will allow proper seating, testing will not be allowed. Offsite
testing may be an option.
 Whether desks or tables are used, all examinees must face the
same direction.
 Tables must be arranged so all spacing requirements are met. Use
the following rules to seat examinees at tables:
 Round Tables: only one examinee per table, regardless of size.
 Rectangular Tables Less Than 6 Feet Long: only one examinee
per table.
 Rectangular Tables 6 to 9 Feet Long: only two examinees per
table. (If 6-foot tables are used to seat two examinees, a 3-foot
space is required between the seats on the same side of the
table.)
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Use of Digital Devices by Staff
 School personnel involved in administration of state testing may not
use digital devices (including but not limited to telephones, cell
phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication devices
capable of capturing or relaying information) during test
administration. Violations may result in disciplinary
action/certification revocation. Additional disciplinary action may be
taken by the LEA.
 All electronic devices belonging to school personnel, including
computers located in the testing room, must be turned off before
testing materials are brought into the room, and they must remain off
until testing materials are removed from the room. (Examinees may
not bring electronic devices into the testing room.)
 All printers that have scanning or copying capability and all copy
machines must either be disabled or removed from all rooms being
used for a testing session.
9
Testing Staff Requirements
 ALSDE requires that Test Administrators/Room Supervisors be certificated
employees. Proctors must be full-time employees involved with the
education of examinees.
 Anyone who coaches high school or college athletics may not serve as a
Room Supervisor for one-on-one testing of a student athlete. An athletic
coach may serve as a Room Supervisor if more than one examinee is in the
room.
 To avoid appearance of conflict of interest and to protect against allegations
of impropriety, staff may not serve as Test Coordinator or Back-up Test
Coordinator for the ACT State Testing administration or have access to
secure test materials if any relative or ward will be testing with standard
time at any school in Alabama during the initial or makeup administration.
Relatives and wards include children, stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, siblings, in-laws, spouses, and wards.
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Test Coordinator
 Test Coordinators ensure that examinees are tested under
standard conditions and that the security of the examinations
are maintained.
 The name of the Test Coordinator must be on file with ACT.
 The Test Coordinator must train Room Supervisors and
Proctors before the test date.
 In addition, the Test Coordinator must conduct a pretest
briefing session for testing staff on each test date. The pretest
briefing is in addition to the mandatory training required within
two weeks prior to testing.
 Specific responsibilities are included on pages 9-10 of the
Administration Manual.
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Back-Up Test Coordinator
 If the Test Coordinator cannot serve in his/her role or supervise
the test administration, the Back-up Test Coordinator is
expected to assume those responsibilities.
 The person selected to serve as replacement must complete
and submit a profile change form online and be properly
trained before test day.
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Room Supervisor
 The Room Supervisor administers the ACT Plus Writing. The Room
Supervisor must
• Read the Administration Manual and comply with the policies and
procedures it describes.
• Attend both the training and briefing sessions conducted locally by the
Test Coordinator.
• Check ID or personally recognize and admit examinees.
• Mark attendance and ID on the roster and direct examinees to specific,
assigned seats.
• Record booklet numbers on seating chart.
• Read Verbal Instructions to examinees verbatim from the appropriate
manual.
• Complete detailed documentation of any irregularities.
 Specific responsibilities are included on pages 10-11 of the
Administration Manual.
13
Proctor
 A Proctor may be used to assist a Room Supervisor or the Test
Coordinator if fewer than 25 examinees are testing.
 A Proctor is required (in addition to the Room Supervisor) for
every 25 examinees after the first 25 in the room.
 A Proctor is required to assist the Room Supervisor if more
than 10 examinees with the same Timing Code are testing in
the same room.
 Schools may choose to use a Roving Proctor.
 Specific responsibilities are included on page 11 of the
Administration Manual.
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Training Staff (Page 12)
 For standardized testing to occur successfully, staff members must
understand their responsibilities. It is critical that the same
procedures are followed at every school.
 Test Coordinators and Back-up Test Coordinators are required to
hold a training session before test day for all staff, to prepare
them for test-day. This session must be attended by all testing
staff, so that everyone has a common understanding of what is to
take place on test day.
 Training Session Topics for Discussion are provided on pages 67–69
of the Administration Manual.
 Before test day, every testing staff member is required to read the
Administration Manual.
 Each testing staff member is to be provided with a complete copy of
the Administration Manual before the training session.
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Test Security Requirements (Pages 13-15)
 The STC is responsible for maintaining the security and
safekeeping of the test materials before, during, and after
testing.
 At the conclusion of testing, ALL used and unused test
materials must be returned to ACT by the STC.
 Under no circumstances is a test booklet seal to be broken by
anyone other than the examinee on test day.
 Staff and examinees are prohibited from disclosing test
questions or response choices to anyone.
 Contact ACT (800.553.6244, ext. 2800) if a test booklet is lost,
stolen, or otherwise missing at any time while the test booklets
are at your school, from receipt to return. Notify ALSDE.
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Receipt and Check-In of Materials (Page 13)
 STC MUST verify that all materials match items on the Test Materials
Distribution List within 24 hours of receipt.
 Each booklet must be counted; cannot assume groups of booklets are
complete.
 Writing Test booklets are shipped in shrink-wrapped packages of 5.
Check the serial number of the first booklet in each pack against Test
Materials Distribution List. Do NOT open the shrink-wrap until the
morning of test day.
 ACT (800.553.6244, ext. 2800) must be contacted immediately if there are
discrepancies.
 A separate Test Materials Distribution List will be received for each
examinee.testing with accommodated materials.
 Contact ACT (800.553.6244, ext. 1788) if there are any discrepancies with
accommodated materials.
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Storing Test Materials (Pages 14-15)
 STCs must use the carton(s) in which the test materials
were shipped to return all test booklets to ACT after each
test date.
 After materials have been inventoried, the cartons must be
resealed with tape provided in shipment. The STC should
sign across the tape after the carton has been
 The sealed boxes must remain locked in the STC’s secure
storage until the day before testing. (This is a change from
spring 2014.)
 The school’s secure storage must meet the two-lock storage
rule.
 All test materials must be accounted for before, during, and
after testing, until they are returned to the STC and ACT.
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Distributing Materials
The Chain of Custody (Page 15)
 Included in secure materials shipments will be a Manual Supplement
for District Shipping. The manual supplement contains:
 amendments to the policies and procedures in the Administration
Manual
 an overview of the district shipping process
 procedures for receiving materials from ACT, transferring
materials to and from schools, and returning materials to ACT
 the Secure Test Booklet and Test Package Transfer Form
 The Secure Test Booklet and Test Package Transfer Form (page 4
of the Manual Supplement ) must be used to document any transfer
of test booklets, accommodations test packages, or alternate test
formats between a district and a school. The form documents the
dates, locations, and personnel involved in the transfers.
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Distributing Materials
The Chain of Custody (Page 15)
 Booklets are to be sorted for distribution to individual rooms
before test day, but must be resealed in the cartons and
returned to the security of the STC’s locked storage until
the morning before test day.
 Under no circumstances is a test booklet seal to be broken by
anyone other than the examinee on test day.
 The BTC must confirm that he/she has the correct number of
test booklets before distributing them to Room Supervisors on
the morning of test day.
 Test booklets must be personally handed to Room Supervisors
by the Test Coordinator and/or Back-up Test Coordinator.
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Distributing Materials
The Chain of Custody (Page 15)
 All Room Supervisors must complete items A and B on the Test Booklet
Count Form (A-3) when they receive test booklets from the Test
Coordinator.
 The Room Supervisor must sign and the Test Coordinator must initial under
“Received Before Testing” to verify that the number of booklets recorded is
the number in the Room Supervisor’s possession.
 Room Supervisors complete item C during Test 1 and item D after Test 4.
 Room Supervisors must also complete item E after the Writing Test.
 After testing, ALL Room Supervisors must immediately return all materials
to the Test Coordinator and complete item F. The Room Supervisor must
initial and the Test Coordinator must sign to verify that the number of
answer documents and test booklets returned to the Coordinator equals the
number transferred to the Room Supervisor.
 Room Supervisors should not be dismissed until accuracy of ALL
required forms have been verified.
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Completing the Non-Test Portions Before
Test Day (Pages 16-21)
 Verbal Instructions for completing non-test portions of answer
document in a scheduled session at school before test day
begin on page 19 of the Administration Manual.
 Whether or not a barcode label is present, examinees must still
grid the identifying information on the front and back pages of
answer document during the pretest session. If this is not done
accurately and completely, the examinee’s ACT score report
may be undeliverable.
 Basic identifying information (front and back pages) are
required for all examinees. The ALSDE did not provide
examinee addresses. If an examinee wishes to receive
information at his or her home, the examinee must enter and
grid the home address in the appropriate boxes.
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Completing the Non-Test Portions Before
Test Day (Pages 16-21)
 If an examinee has not completed any of the non-test portions
before the initial test date, that examinee is NOT permitted to test.
Instead, the student must be scheduled for makeup testing. The
BTC must arrange for the student to complete the non-test portions
before the makeup test date. If the student does not complete the
non-test portion before the makeup test date, the student cannot
test on the makeup date.
 Non-test portions of the answer document may NOT be
completed on ANY test date—not before and not after any of
the tests. If examinees are allowed to complete any of the nontest portions on test day, or are allowed to handle answer
documents after testing, the answer documents will NOT be
scored or scores will be cancelled.
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Completing the Non-Test Portions Before
Test Day (Pages 16-21)
 Providing a student’s Social Security number is optional. ACT will not add
this information later to the state’s file. Do not place any other number in
Block C.
 Examinees are instructed to leave Block K of the answer document blank.
The high school code has been provided for all examinees with a label.
 If a high school code must be entered in Block K, staff must grid the correct
code on the answer document before returning the answer document for
scoring.
 Block L asks if the examinee wishes to participate in the A-C-T Educational
Opportunity Service (EOS). Through EOS, ACT provides information about
ACT-tested examinees to colleges and universities, scholarship
organizations, and other organizations so they may contact examinees
about programs and opportunities that they may be interested in exploring.
EOS will not receive test scores.
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Completing the Non-Test Portions Before
Test Day (Pages 16-21)
 Block S is not used for Alabama reporting. Do NOT enter the
SSID number in Block S.
 ALSDE has requested additional information using Block V on
the answer document. This section is required only for
students testing with accommodations. School staff must
answer the questions after testing is complete; examinees
should not complete any part of this section.
 Verbal instructions about basic identifying information and high
school course/grade information are on pages 19-21.
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Preparing for Test Day (Pages 22-23)
 The school is responsible for providing the following items for each test
room:
• No. 2 pencils with erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens)
• two reliable timepieces: watch, stopwatch, interval timer, or accurate
wall clock (no cell phones or smart watches)
 The Supervisor’s Report Form (SRF) is pre-gridded by machine and
identifies school to the scoring system. Information on the SRF should
NOT be corrected. Failure to return the SRF could delay scoring of answer
documents.
 One roster (Page A-1) for each test room must be created prior to the initial
test date. The name of each examinee scheduled to test must be written
on the roster.
 If a list of only examinees who were present on test day is submitted, the
roster will not be accurate and cannot be used to determine which
examinees must be scheduled for makeup testing.
 A school may create rosters provided they have the same information
recorded on them as shown on the one provided on page A-1.
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Test Day Activities (Pages 24-28)
 Be sure every Room Supervisor has a complete copy of the Administration
Manual or the Special Testing Manual, not just the Verbal Instructions, in
order to verify procedures for any situation that may occur.
 Administration of the tests must be the first activity of the morning. Allow
enough time for examinees to be identified, admitted, and seated so that all
Room Supervisors can begin reading the Verbal Instructions. Verbal
Instructions in every room must begin by 9:00 a.m.
 In order to avoid cancellation of test scores, note the following:
 Test 1 must begin before 9:00 a.m. Timing Verification Forms with a
Test 1 start time after 9:00 a.m. will be investigated and scores may be
cancelled.
 Breaks must not be extended for any reason.
 Tests must be administered in order.
 Lunch breaks CANNOT be taken during the test session.
 All parts must be completed in one sitting.
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Briefing Session (Page 25)
 Test Coordinators MUST hold a briefing session each test-day
morning. Be sure to discuss any school-specific information
(e.g., policies on the wearing of hats, how to handle breaks,
what to do if examinees bring cell phones). Remind staff of the
digital device policy.
 For the ACT Plus Writing, remind staff that Writing Test
booklets are not to be distributed until just before the Writing
Test begins and after multiple choice test booklets have been
taken up.
28
Testing Staff (Page 25)
 The Test Coordinator must return a complete Testing Staff List
for each test date (initial and makeup). A blank form is included
on page A-7.
 A separate form for staff assisting with administrations to
examinees testing with accommodations is in the Special
Testing Manual and must be completed and returned
separately by the Test Accommodations Coordinator.
 All personnel involved in testing, including anyone assisting
with handling or transportation of secure materials, or assisting
with security, must be listed. If tests are administered on DVDs,
technical staff must also be included.
29
Admitting Examinees to Test Room (Page 25)
 Room Supervisors must control who enters and leaves the test room at all
times. Do not allow examinees to enter the test room until the room is
properly prepared, the test materials are in a secure location where
examinees cannot access them, and the Room Supervisor is ready to admit
examinees.
 Admit examinees by checking them in, one-by-one, at the door of the test
room.
 Do not allow an examinee to enter the room unless the Room Supervisor
has verified the examinee’s identification and marked the roster.
 If an examinee cannot present acceptable ID at the door or cannot be
verified by a member of the testing staff, do NOT admit him or her to the
room.
 Admitted examinees must stay in the test room. If it is necessary for an
examinee to leave, recheck ID when the examinee is readmitted.
 Do NOT admit examinees with ANY electronic devices (other than
permitted calculators) to the test room.
 Never allow examinees to choose their own seats.
30
Verifying Examinee
Identification (Pages 26-27)
 All examinees are required to present an acceptable form of
photo identification or be personally recognized (face-to-face)
by a school faculty member before being admitted to the test
room.
 If an examinee without acceptable photo ID is permitted to
begin testing, the examinee must be dismissed and the answer
document will not be scored—even if acceptable ID is
presented later.
 The Room Supervisor must mark the roster to indicate the type
of ID accepted for each examinee
 Identification issued or verified by a relative is NOT allowed.
 Testing must not be delayed while waiting for an examinee to
bring identification or allow testing of late examinees.
31
Prohibited Items in the Test Room (Pages 28)
 Examinees must not bring cell phones, smart watches, or other
electronic devices into testing room, including during the break.
 Calculators may be used during the Mathematics Test but they must
be turned off and put away when the examinee is not working on
that test.
 Textbooks, foreign language or other dictionaries, scratch paper,
reading material, notes, or any unapproved testing aids are not
allowed in the testing room.
 Highlighters, colored pens or pencils, and mechanical pencils are
not allowed.
 Examinees must not bring backpacks or bags of any kind into
testing room.
 Neither examinees nor staff may have access to food or beverages,
including water, except during the scheduled break.
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Administering the Tests (Pages 29-33)
 Verbal instructions may begin as soon as all examinees have
been identified and seated, no later than 9:00 a.m. in all
rooms.
 If any room starts later than 9:00 a.m., document the time and
reason on the Irregularity Report. Starting after 9:00 a.m. in
any room may result in the cancellation of scores for that
room.
 Absolutely no one may be admitted to the test room after test
booklets have been distributed. If this policy is violated, the
answer documents for the examinees admitted late will not be
scored.
 Review the Verbal Instructions carefully before test day to
make sure you read the correct ones.
33
Timing of Tests (Pages 30-31)
 Extreme care must be taken to ensure exact time is allowed for each test.
 The full time for each test must be given, even if one or all examinees in the
room finish a test before the allowed time elapses. Mistiming may result in
the cancellation of scores.
 The actual Start time (e.g., 8:42) must be recorded in the box on the
appropriate Verbal Instructions page. Calculate the Stop time, then the
verbal announcement of 5 minutes remaining (subtract 5 minutes from the
Stop time) and enter those times in the appropriate boxes in the manual. A
chart has been provided for calculating times.
 Room Supervisor must enter the actual times of day he or she announces
START, 5 minutes remaining, and STOP on the form provided on page A-5 of
the manual. (Room Supervisor must not merely copy this information from
the timing boxes used to calculate Start, 5 minutes remaining, and Stop.
 A verbal announcement of time remaining MUST be made five minutes
before the end of each test.
 Posting Start and Stop times or time allowed for each test on board is
optional.
34
Calculators (Page 31)
 ACT permits examinees to use a calculator on the Mathematics
Test (Test 2) but not on any of the other tests.
 Use of a calculator is optional. All problems on the Mathematics
Test can be solved without a calculator.
 ACT provides an updated list of prohibited devices (Calculator
Notice) to Test Coordinators each test date. Each Room
Supervisor must have a copy of the current list to refer to
during Test 2. See page 20 of this handbook. It is the
responsibility of the Room Supervisor and Proctor to personally
check each calculator.
 If an examinee brings a backup calculator to the testing room,
he or she can have only one on the desk at a time.
 Examinees may never share calculators.
35
Checking for Prohibited Behaviors by
Examinees (Pages 31-32)
 Review guidelines for checking for prohibited behaviors
carefully.
 Throughout testing, walk quietly around the room to discourage
and detect prohibited behavior. Staff attentiveness is a very
effective deterrent.
 Document all prohibited behavior and any actions you take on
the Irregularity Report.
 If you dismiss an examinee for prohibited behavior, follow the
Dismissal for Prohibited Behavior procedures on page 38
exactly.
 Examinees may look at and work only on the current test.
36
Break After Test 2 (Pages 32-33)
 ACT requires that you allow a break of 15 minutes at the end of
Test 2.
 The break may NOT include lunch. If it does, scores for all
examinees may be cancelled.
 Do not delay or lengthen the break in your room to wait for other
rooms. You MUST resume testing no later than 15 minutes after
STOP is called on Test 2.
 If the break is longer than 15 minutes, explain why on the
Irregularity Report.
 Breaks longer than 15 minutes will be questioned and may
result in cancelled scores.
 Do not leave the test room unattended.
37
Break Before the Writing Test (Pages 33)
 Once the multiple-choice test booklets have been collected and
verified after Test 4, allow examinees a 5-minute break to relax
and sharpen their pencils before the Writing Test.
 Do NOT leave the test room unattended.
 Resume testing after five minutes.
 Do NOT distribute the Writing Test booklets during the break.
38
Examinees Who Leave During a Test and
Return (Page 33)
 Examinees may go to the restroom during testing, but it is best
not to announce it.
 Examinees who leave the test room during a timed test or
return after timing has begun may NOT make up lost time. The
absence need not be recorded on the Irregularity Report.
 If two or more examinees are permitted to leave at the same
time, or if other rooms have been dismissed, the examinees
must be accompanied by a Proctor.
 If no Proctor is available, only one examinee may leave the
room at a time.
 Do not leave a test room unsupervised at any time.
 Additional trained staff should be stationed in the hall
during testing.
39
Guessing and Test Item Challenges (Page 33)
 If examinees ask about guessing, refer them to the instructions
printed on the front cover of the test booklet.
 Do not comment on or add in any way to the printed directions.
 Complete an Irregularity Report if an examinee challenges
typographical errors in the booklet or ambiguities in particular
test items. Tell the examinee to answer the item as written and
report the details of the challenge to you after the test is over.
40
Group Irregularities (Pages 34-35)
 If a group irregularity occurs, follow the directed instructions and call ACT. Complete
an Irregularity Report and describe in detail any irregularity, especially those that
could affect test scores. Include the names of examinees who were dismissed from or
who left the test site without completing all their tests. Attach any affected answer
documents, and return to ACT in the Red envelope.
 If no irregularities occur in any rooms at your test site, do not return a report.
 In the event of an emergency evacuation, your first concern must be for the safety of
your examinees and your testing staff. Note the testing time that has elapsed and—if
time permits—have examinees close their test booklets and place their answer
documents inside them. Collect the test booklets only if time permits. Instruct
examinees and staff to leave the building. If it is safe to do so, lock the test room.
When safe, ACT should be called.
 If bad weather causes school to close or termination of testing, call ACT for
instructions as soon as possible.
 A missing or stolen test booklet is one of the most serious irregularities that can occur
at a test site. If—at any time—you cannot account for a test booklet or an answer
document with examinee identifying information, you must immediately call ACT
State Testing and then notify ALSDE.
 Failure to report any irregularity is a test security violation
41
Individual Irregularities (Pages 35-39)
 An individual irregularity is one that affects a single person or several individuals
involved in a single circumstance (e.g., communicating answers to each other).
 Follow directions in manual for reporting each type of irregularity.
 Defective Test Materials (page 35)
 Duplicating Test Materials (pages 35-36)
 Failure to Follow Directions (page 36)
 Examinees Who Become Ill (page 37)
 Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center (pages 37-38)
 Dismissal for Prohibited Behavior (pages 38-39)
 Do NOT schedule examinees dismissed for prohibited behavior for makeup testing.
 Follow directions for voiding answer documents on page 39 of Administration
Manual.
 If an answer document must be voided, contact ALSDE.
 See warning on page 39 of Administration Manual for examinees who refuse to
turn in test materials.
 Failure to report any irregularity is a test security violation.
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Verbal Instructions for Standard Time Testing
(Pages 40-57)
 Before reading the Verbal Instructions, make sure you have all the forms needed.
 State Testing Roster (A-1)
 Test Booklet Count Form (A-3)
 Seating Diagram (A-4)
 Testing Time Verification Form (A-5)
 Irregularity Report (A-6)
 Non-test portions of the answer document may NOT be completed on test
day—not before and not after the tests. If examinees are allowed to complete any
of the non-test portions on the initial or makeup test date, or allowed to handle
answer documents after testing, the answer documents will NOT be scored.
 Verbal instructions must be read loudly, clearly, and exactly as written. You may
NOT depart from the text.
 Practice reading instructions prior to the day of testing.
 Room Supervisors and/or Proctors must walk around the room to ensure that
each examinee has signed the test booklet, entered correct test booklet number
and test form on the answer document, and filled in corresponding ovals.
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After the Test (Page 58)
 Immediately after testing is completed on each test date (initial
and makeup), the Test Coordinator must account for all test
materials.
 Standard materials must be kept separate from any
accommodations materials being returned by the Test
Accommodations Coordinator.
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Makeup Testing (Pages 59-60)
 If an examinee did not complete testing on the initial test date,
you must decide whether to schedule the examinee for makeup
testing.
 Examinees scheduled for makeup testing must take all tests on
the makeup test date.
 ACT will send materials for makeup testing. You must use the
test booklets shipped to you for makeup testing.
 Shortly before the initial test date, the Test Coordinator will
receive an email with instructions for ordering makeup
materials. If you do not receive this email by the initial test date,
contact ACT State Testing at 800.553.6244, ext. 2800, for
assistance.
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Collecting, Packing, and Returning Materials
(Pages 61-65)
 This section contains information about collecting,
packing, and returning test materials.
 Use the step-by-step instructions to pack your
materials and return them to ACT in the original
boxes.
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Manuals and Supplements
Paper Testing
• The ACT Administration Manual (Standard
Time Paper Testing) - PDF
• The ACT Administration Manual – Special
(ACT-Approved Accommodations Paper
Testing) - PDF
• Answer Document Supplement (the ACT)
• Taking the ACT
• ACT Audio DVD Guidelines
• Manual Supplement for District Shipping
• Using Your ACT Results
• Reporting Deliverables Overview
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STC Workshop
ACT Plus Writing
Online Format
April 2015
Additional Information
 Practice Tests e-blast to Test Coordinators and their respective
STCs on 3/25
 Practice Tests:
http://www.act.org/spring2015/studentinfo.html
 Preparing for the ACT Taken Online:
http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/Preparing-for-Online.pdf
 Examinee Tutorial for TestNav (video)
 Using Your ACT Results
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Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
 PearsonAccessnextTM is the web application used by
testing staff (i.e., test coordinators, room supervisors)
to start and monitor tests. It is located at
http://actonline.act.org.
 Technical coordinators are not required to access
PearsonAccessnext unless their site is using proctor
caching.
 TestNav TM is the secure web application used by
examinees to take the tests. It is located at
http://tn.actonline.act.org.
50
Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
 The ACT must be given using a “locked down”
testing application, TestNav.
 Disabling the lock-down is strictly prohibited.
Computers used for testing must also be
configured to prevent examinees from accessing
any application, content, or other service beyond
TestNav during testing.
51
Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
 To help ensure test security, all software
applications, including Internet browsers, cameras
(still and video), screen capture programs (live and
recorded, such as Skype), email, instant
messaging, application switching, media players
(such as iTunes), and printing must be closed
before testing begins.
52
Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
 To ensure the confidentiality of examinees, their
results, and exam content:
 Keep your staff login details confidential.
Don’t share them.
 Keep all student authorization tickets secure
until test day when ready to provide them to
examinees.
53
Online Testing Overview (Pages 3-5)
 Seal codes are a combination of letters and
numbers examinees must enter at the beginning
of each test to begin that particular section.
 Seal codes are unique to each test session and
ensure standardized progress through the tests
by all examinees in the room.
 The Room Supervisor provides each seal code
as part of reading the Verbal Instructions. Each
must be announced verbally and cannot be
written on the board.
54
Computer-Based Test Administrations for
ACT Plus Writing Online Version (Not in
Manual)
 Each online testing room must have a separate
computer workstation the Room Supervisor will
use to access the platform, begin and close the
test session, and monitor testing progress.
 The workstation must pass the System Check
and be located in an area where the Room
Supervisor can see all examinees in the room.
55
Computer-Based Test Administrations for
ACT Plus Writing Online Version (Not in
Manual)
 Whether a desktop or a laptop is used as the
workstation, the computer must remain stationary
on a table or a desk throughout the test session.
 The Room Supervisor may not exit the program
and enter any other site on the computer during
the test session.
 No iPads, cell phones, tablets, or other
electronic devices may be used in the test
room. These devices may not be used as
timers.
56
Seating Arrangements (Page 7)
 Workstations must provide enough space for
examinees to work comfortably and use
scratch paper and calculators.
57
Testing Staff Requirements (Pages 8-12)
 A Proctor is required for one to twenty-five
examinees assigned to a room.
58
Receiving Materials from ACT (Pages 15-16)
 The Pretest Instructions for Online Testing contains
instructions for the examinees to complete their
pretest information online. Each examinee will
have a personal set of instructions with a unique
claim code.
 Examinees are instructed to use the blank space
on their student authorization ticket as scratch
paper. ACT will supply blue scratch paper for you
to distribute to examinees as requested.
59
Completing Pretest Information for Online
Testing (Page 18)
 The Pretest must completed before test day.
 If an examinee has not completed any of the
pretest portions before the initial test date, that
examinee is NOT permitted to test. Instead, the
student must be scheduled for makeup testing.
The BTC must arrange for the student to complete
the pretest portions before the makeup test date. If
the student does not complete the pretest portion
before the makeup test date, the student cannot
test on the makeup date
60
Test Accommodations for Online Testing
(Page 19)
 For an examinee testing online, you may provide locally
approved test accommodations without review and approval
by ACT if ALL of the following conditions are met:
 The examinee must test with standard time.
 The examinee must not receive additional breaks.
 The examinee must use the same workstation
configuration as other examinees.
 The accommodations must be consistent with the
examinee’s plan on file at the school.
61
Test Accommodations for Online Testing
(Page 19)
 Examples of locally approved test accommodations that can
be made without ACT approval are:
 Preferential seating (e.g., at the front of the room, at a
table instead of a desk).
 Testing in a quiet environment (e.g., small group or
individual room).
 Wheelchair access.
 Diabetics may eat snacks in the test room, but should
test separately to avoid disturbing other examinees.
 A written copy of the Verbal Instructions or a sign
language interpreter to interpret the Verbal Instructions.
 If you provide locally approved test accommodations, please
complete an Irregularity Report.
62
Test Sessions (Pages 27-33)
 In PearsonAccessnext and TestNav, a test session is
an event that occurs in a single room on a single
day. For example, the administration of the
administration of “The ACT” in computer lab #1 on
Tuesday morning is considered a test session.
Different test sessions may occur simultaneously in
different rooms.
 Two tests will appear in the system: “The ACT,”
which consists of all four multiple-choice sections—
English, reading, mathematics, and science; and
“The ACT Writing,” which consists of only the
writing test.
63
Student Authorization Tickets (Pages 34-35)
 The student authorization ticket is a printout that
contains the URL the examinee will use to access
the online test, as well as his or her individually
assigned username and password. All online
testing examinees will have an authorization ticket
for the multiple-choice tests. A separate
authorization ticket is needed for the writing test.
 The test coordinator prints the student
authorization tickets prior to test day. They must be
handled as secure and kept in a secure location
until test day.
64
Setting up Computers (Page 37)
 Room Supervisors will set up computers before
admitting examinees to the room.
 On the administrative workstation, open
PearsonAccessnext at http://actonline.act.org.
 On each testing workstation, open TestNav at
www.tn.actonline.act.org.
65
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