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Getting Ready for the ACT®ACT Administration Training

Nebraska

Livi LenihanProject Coordinator - Nebraska

ACT Operation Contract Fulfillment

Katie WollanProject Coordinator – Trainer

ACT Operational Contract Fulfillment

Agenda

Guiding Question: How do I successfully manage the administration of the ACT?

• What’s New• Important Dates• ACT Systems Review• Pre-test Activities• Test-day Activities• Post-test Activities

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What’s New?

New This Cycle

ACT Approved Accommodation Timing Code 6

Examinees with the ACT-approved accommodation of time and a half in a single session (timing code 6) will have 50% extended time for each subject test of the ACT® test, with a hard stop after each test.

• Test 1 English – 70 minutes• Test 2 mathematics – 90 minutes• Break – 15 minutes• Test 3 reading – 55 minutes • Test 4 science – 55 minutes• Break – 5 minutes• Test 5 writing – 60 minutes

New This Cycle

Accommodations and Supports

Accommodations and Supports Roster

• Still identifies the examinees and their approved accommodations and/or English learner supports

• The report is still accessed through PearsonAccessnextTM

Pre-Recorded Audio Format• USB only

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New This Cycle

Key for Test Booklet Covers

New This Cycle

Calculator Policy Update• Examinees are fully responsible for making sure any

calculator they bring to the test is an allowed model.

• Staff will continue to check for use of a prohibited calculator or improper use of the calculator.

• If your school provides calculators to examinees for testing, the school is responsible for making sure those calculators are acceptable.

Link to the calculator policy:https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ACT-calculator-policy.pdf

What dates do I need to remember?

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Important Dates

February 15

• Manage Participation in PearsonAccessnextTM

• Request ACT-approved accommodations through the TAA System

• Verify your student information loaded into PearsonAccessnextTM

February 18 -March 29

Request ACT-approved accommodations using the Late Consideration Form

Week of March 4 or Week of March 11

Receive test materials

Before April 2 Students complete the Non-Test Portion of the answer document (paper)

Your complete Schedule of Events is posted on the ACT-hosted testing website in the Orientation stage

April 2 Initial Standard Time test date

April 2 - 16Accommodations Testing Window

April 2 – 4April 9 - 11 Online Testing Window

April 24 Makeup Test date

TestDates

ACT Systems

PearsonAccessnextTM

Web application used by testing staff to manage participation, verify and register students, order materials, and online testing.

Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA)

ACT test accommodations and English learner supports management system used by testing staff to submit requests.

Link is provided on the ACT-hosted testing website in the Configuration stage.

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ACT Systems

TestNav Online student testing

platform Download app to testing

computers

How do I Manage Contacts?

Manage Contacts

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Manage Contacts

Create Test Staff User Accounts

Create Test Staff User Accounts

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What are my Pre-test activities?

Pre-test Activities

Select Qualified Staff & Complete Mandatory Training • School Test Coordinator

• Substitute School Test Coordinator

• Technical Coordinator (online testing only)

• Room Supervisor

• Proctor(s)

Use the guidelines in the Test Coordinator Information Manual

Pre-test Activities

• Within 24 hours of delivery, the School Test Coordinator must open and verify the receipt of all test materials using the packing list

• After counting materials, reseal cartons with the tape provided

• Sign your name across the seal• Store in a secure location• Retain cartons for return shipment

Verify Receipt of Test Materials

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Pre-test Activities

• Order additional test materials if necessary

• Only the School Test Coordinator can access secure test materials before test day

Verify Receipt of Test Materials

Call ACT immediately at 800.553.6244 ext. 2800if there is a security breach at any time

Pre-test Activities

• Must complete before test day

• One-hour session (approx.)

• Apply barcode labels to the back, lower right corner of the answer documents

Non-test Portion ACT – Paper testing

Pre-test Activities

Complete: Blocks A, B, D, N, O, P, and R Name, DOB, and address fields Score reports can not be mailed if these are incomplete

Block K (High School Code) If testing site is correct school, leave blank Find the high school code for examinees’ “home” high school at

www.actstudent.org/regist/lookuphs Use the high school code 969999 for homeschooled examinees

Non-test Portion– Paper testing

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Pre-test Activities

• Non-test Instructions for Online Testing• www.actstudent.org/account• Log In to existing account or Create new Account

• Examinee enters:• First Name

• Last Name

• Student Code

• Examinee follows on-screen instruction to complete

Non-test Portion– Online

Pre-test Activities

• Allow 15 - 30 standard-time examinees to each room

• Arrange seating so there is a minimum of 3 ft. between examinees

• Plan appropriately for students with local and/or ACT-approved accommodations

• Cover test-related bulletin boards

Prepare Testing Rooms

Pre-test Activities

• Use 2 reliable timepieces (not a cell phone!)

• Ensure TC access to a phone (must be kept on silent)

• Ensure proper lighting, temperature, and ventilation

• Prepare posters, cards, and admissions materials

• Schools may provide students with:• No. 2 pencils with erasers• Pencil sharpener• Permitted calculators – if you choose

Prepare Testing Rooms

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Pre-test Activities

Create Room Rosters

• List all students expected to test in each room

• Room Supervisor and Proctor will mark the form of identification used to admit students

• Identify students who are absent

What are my Test Day activities?

Test Day Activities

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Sample ACT Test Day Schedule (standard-time testing)

7:30 a.m. Arrival of testing staff

7:45 a.m. Briefing session with school staff

8:00 a.m. Arrival, identification, and seating of examinees

8:15 a.m. 1) Begin reading verbal instructions

2) Distribute test materials

3) Administer all 5 tests in order:English 45 minutesMathematics 60 minutesBreak 15 minutesReading 35 minutesScience 35 minutesBreak 5 minutesWriting 40 minutes

4) Collect/verify test materials

12:30 p.m. Dismiss examinees

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Test Admin Forms

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Administration Forms ACT

Reasons for Scores to be CancelledRooms not set up correctly Standard time use of accom. materials

Conflict of Interest with staff Accom use of standard time materials

Unauthorized transferred materials Additional information provided

Advanced access to test content Tests timed incorrectly

Pre-test info completed on test day Tests administered on the wrong day

Tests not given in correct order Different timing codes in same room

Test materials are duplicated/attempt Answers not transferred properly

Misadministrations Can Cause Scores to be Cancelled

Group Irregularities

Interrupting a Test

Disturbances and Distractions

Emergency Evacuation

Rescheduled Examination

Missing or Stolen Test Materials

Mistiming of tests or breaks

Power Failure

Individual Irregularities

Examinees Who Leave Early

Test Item Challenges

Defective Test Materials

Duplicating Test Materials

Failure to Follow Directions in Marking Responses

Examinees Who Become Ill

Irrational Behavior

Prohibited Behavior at the Test Site

Dismissal for Prohibited Behavior

Prohibited Behavior by Students

Working or Looking Behind or Ahead in the test booklet

Giving or Receiving Assistance

Marking Ovals After Time is Called

Copying or Removing TestMaterials

Using Notes or Aids (including prohibited calculators)

Accessing electronic devices (including cell phones)

Using inappropriate behavior or causing distractions

Watch for and Document Irregularities

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Document Action

Test BookletsThere are no answer documents inside and the test booklets are arranged in sequential serial number order

Answer DocumentsEach answer document has the correct required identifying information on the front and back pages

Administration Manual Keep for makeup testing or securely destroy

Test Room Report

Is completed and signed and initialed by the Test Coordinator and Room Supervisor and all test booklets are accounted for

RosterAll examinees scheduled to test are listed and if they tested or not, with any ACT Student ID Letters attached

Seating DiagramAll items are complete and test booklet serial numbers are recorded in the squares

Timing ReportEach test has the start, 5 minutes remaining, and stop time recorded

Irregularity ReportIs signed with explanation and voided/replaced materials are attached

Collect Test Room Documents

Test Day Activities

What are my Post-test activities?

Packing the Processing Envelope

Packing the cartons

Reporting SchedulePost-test Activities

Post-test

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Packing the Processing Envelope

Packing the Cartons

ACT Reporting Schedule

Reporting Schedule ACT

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https://www.act.org/stateanddistrict/nebraska

Department Phone Email

Test Administration 800-553-6244 ext 2800 www.act.org/stateanddistrict/contactus

Accommodations and Supports

800-553-6244 ext 1788 ACTStateAccoms@act.org

ACT Contact Information

Nebraska Department of Education

Phone Email

Iris Owens 402.471.4319 Iris.a.owens@act.org