Chapter G - Academics

Part 6.0 Testing

Section 6.1.1 Test Administration Handbook

Policy Statement:

American Preparatory Academy is committed to helping students achieve academic success in all categories, including standardized testing. In addition, schools are encouraged to "develop policies and procedures consistent with the law and board rule for standardized test administration." (R277-473-9) In order to more completely assist students in achieving success, American Preparatory Academy has developed the following Test Administration Procedures. Test proctors are responsible to make sure these procedures are utilized in the classroom when testing. If test proctors have questions about the testing procedures or need additional training, they are to contact school administration for clarification.

According to Utah State Rules, test proctors must annually:

• Attend a professional development training that utilizes the USBE Testing Ethics Policy Power Point presentation
• Receive a copy of the USBE's Testing Ethics Booklet

Testing Ethics

All state and national testing should be administered in compliance with R277-473-9. All test proctors should understand that any unethical testing practices could result in suspension or revocation of license.

Do's

• DO clarify instructions for students
• DO encourage students to use reference sheets and other resources
• DO create a testing environment that is organized and calm.

Do Not

• DO NOT provide students with questions from the test to review before taking the test.
• DO NOT view the test, then change instruction or review specific concepts because those concepts appear on the test.
• DO NOT reword or clarify questions, or use inflection or gestures to help students answer questions.
• DO NOT allow students to use unauthorized resources to find answers, including having materials on walls which provide answers to specific test questions.
• DO NOT return a student's answer document and instruct the student to, or suggest that the student rethink his/her answers.
• DO NOT copy or in any way reproduce protected test materials.

Test 

Test proctors should ensure that students and the testing environment are prepared for testing. It is American Preparatory Academy policy that test proctors administer standardized tests following all state rules and testing administration manual instructions.

Before Testing Begins:

1. Test proctors should read test administration manuals (TAMS) and ensure that they have all necessary materials. Test proctors should contact the Assessment Director if any materials are missing.

2. Organize materials in a way that will make them easy to distribute.

3. Test proctors must ensure a calm and organized testing environment.

1. Student Preparation: All students are taken to the restroom. Water bottles are on each student's desk to be used during water breaks only.
2. Perform Brain Gym exercises. Teachers are encouraged to explain to the students the benefits of Brain Gym and perform the exercises professionally.
3. Teacher follows instructions outlined in the TAMS. Teachers use the testing instructions with fidelity and say verbatim what is outlined in the instructions. 
   1. As long as the instructions do not prohibit any of the following, the teacher may utilize the following test administration protocols:

All directions that follow the word "SAY" must be read verbatim. Test proctors may solicit choral responses when reading directions outlined in the Test Administration Manuals.

"Mark the answer that is most correct. Students, which answer are you going to mark?..."

It is important that students clearly understand the test directions. At the end of the test instructions, it usually says "Do you have any questions about these directions?"  Test proctors are then to answer any procedural questions students ask (see CRT Instructions).   It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure the directions are fully understood by the students. Test proctors may check for understanding of procedures by asking students questions.

Proctors are to monitor the classroom by walking among the students. Proctors should check to ensure that students are on the corresponding section of the bubble sheets, that students have not skipped lines, and that students are properly filling in the bubble sheets without stray marks or ineffective erasures. (USOE STATEP p. 4)

Proctors may check to ensure the students are on the proper section of the bubble sheet individually or as a class. "Class, please point to the section on the bubble sheet you are going to fill in" (teacher checks).

On non-timed tests, test proctors may ensure students are on the right questions/bubble sheet sections by checking with the class page by page. No questions or answers or discussion regarding test content is ever allowed.

In order to facilitate the test proctor's ability to ensure students are matching the corresponding bubbles with the test questions, on a non-timed test a class may be asked to wait after completing questions or a portion of the test while the proctor is able to make a visual check of the answer sheets to be sure the correct lines are being filled in.

Proctors may never change a student answer, ask the student to change an answer, or in any way communicate to the student that they should "re-look" at an answer.

The only purpose in having the class wait to finish a section or turn a page is for the proctor to be able to ensure students are using the bubble sheet or answer sheet correctly and have not skipped questions.

On un-timed tests, proctors may invite students to stand and stretch at their desk-side or get a drink of water from their water bottle at appropriate intervals. Students should not leave their desk area during testing.

Incentives: Test proctors are not to use incentives that may encourage students to work through tests quickly. Proctors are not to allow students to read a book, draw, or go to recess once they have completed a test or test section.

Students should be taught to spend any extra time reviewing their answers, and if    allowed, writing their justification and verifications in their test booklets (see   below). Teachers should emphasize good test taking strategies to students all during the year and verbally praise the students when they demonstrate excellent test-taking strategies (not during the test, however).

Reading Passages:  Students should be encouraged to read the entire reading passages, story problems, or data tables prior to reading or answering the questions. This may conflict with test directions. In the case of a conflict, test directions are to be read as outlined in the TAM's. Students will have been taught to read the passage first, then the questions, and most will likely follow this training. We have found that reading the questions first biases students so that when they read the passage they tend to "look for" information and often don't comprehend the entire passage and all of its information.   We encourage teachers to work all year to teach students how to read passages, then read questions, then look for information to check for certainty of their answer.

Students should be encouraged where allowed to mark in their test books, to underline important information and to verify answers by writing in the test book. (This would not be possible on the 2^nd grade CRT, SATs, or Core Knowledge tests).

Testing "certainty":  Students should be taught during the school year that they can be certain about their answers on a test, and they will be for the majority of questions.   Crossing out the answers they know to be wrong in a multiple-choice question is the first step. Finding the answer they feel most certain about is second. If it is clear to them and they are certain, they should mark the bubble.

Next, students should be taught to use check marks on the numbers of the questions they have answered with certainty. They should circle the numbers of those questions they are uncertain about. They can then easily go back to the questions they were uncertain about and not spend any extra time re-reading those questions they were certain about.

The students should be taught to write a justification for the choices they make when they are uncertain. This often helps them clarify their answer.

If a student completes the test and has check marks by all the answers (having spent extra time on the uncertain questions and eventually checking them off), the student should go back to a passage and write the numbers of the test question in the passage where the answer is found. 

Testing: Do Not Disturb: Test proctors should do anything possible to minimize test-taking distractions. All classrooms should have a "Testing: Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.

Receiving, Storing, and Returning Test Materials

Receiving Test Materials:

School administration is responsible to have testing materials prepared several days prior to the first day of testing. Teachers will be notified where and when they can obtain their testing materials.

Once test materials are received, test proctors are responsible to ensure that all students have a(n):

• Test booklet
• Answer document
• #2 Pencil
• Reference Sheet
• Additional testing materials (calculators, rules, protractors) will be available based on school wide availability. Test proctors will be given individual instructions on how to obtain these materials.

Test proctors are responsible to store testing materials in a secure, locked location where students, parents, or the public cannot gain access (USOE STATEP, 4). Teachers should locate a secure storage location with in their classroom. If such a location cannot be found in the classroom, please contact the school administration to determine an appropriate storage location.


Returning Test Materials: Test proctors should return all testing materials within three days of all students completing the test.

1. Answer documents should be removed from test booklets and alphabetized by last name. Answer documents should be placed on top of all test books. Test materials should not be returned unless this procedure has been followed. Do not return materials that are not alphabetized or that are missing student answer documents. If you have received an answer document for a student that is no longer in your class, place this test on top of the other answer documents with a post-it note stating the student has withdrawn.

2. Completed tests may be returned one at a time (i.e., a teacher may return all science testing materials before returning all math testing materials). Tests may be returned as soon as all students in the class have completed the test and the answer documents have been alphabetized.

3. If students have taken tests with a different test proctor to accommodate IEPs, please wait to return testing material until all tests have been returned and placed with the class answer documents.