PSAT NMSQT Administration October 16 2019 PSATNMSQT WHY

PSAT NMSQT Administration October 16, 2019

PSAT/NMSQT – WHY? The PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test helps students prepare for the SAT and provides entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. CM: Page 7

PSAT Coordinator’s Training While this training will cover the majority of the Coordinator Manual, please read and review the actual manual to make sure that you have a strong understanding of the rules, procedures, and protocols of the PSAT 8/9. Uniform processes are essential to a standardized testing program. This ensures comparable scores. All testing staff must follow the same testing procedures and give instructions exactly as they appear in the manual. CM: Page 7

Seriousness of Following Procedures and Protocols All who proctor a test should read the preadministration and testing scripts prior to the day of the test. Caution against “winging it. ” Failure to follow the protocols/procedures can result in loss of future testing opportunities and/or inability to score a test. CM: Page 7

Receiving Testing Materials Did you get the materials, yet? Each sealed packet contains either 25 or 5 testing documents or answer documents Will have 1 coordinators manual for each 25 tests. (e. g. 316/25 = 13 manuals) Pre labeled return boxes – for the answer sheets Labels for returning testing documents Non-standard documents will have their own shipping box (i. e. Braille, large print, etc. ) Coordinator’s kit Labels should have been delivered by September 11 th. If you do not have them let us know. CM: Page 8 -10

Coordinator’s Kit Contents NMSQT Shipping Memo NMSQT coordinator’s Report Form (SRF) Remittance Envelope Non Standard Administration Envelope NMSQT Irregularity Form NMSQT Gray Return Envelope Packing tape CM: Pages 8 - 10

Storing/Checking Materials Verify that you received all the cartons Read and follow the instructions provided with the shipment Verify that CB sent the correct tests If you are missing tests, get the wrong tests, the school code doesn’t match, etc. , call PSAT and Melissa De. Simone. Use the checklist found in the coordinator’s manual on page iv. Reseal the boxes. Sign your name. Lock up boxes in your campus’s designated secure test storage area. Keep the pre-labeled boxes for return shipment. Ensure that your distribution and collection of testing materials is secure and does not involve students. (I would avoid parent nonpaid helpers. I would recuse paid helpers that also have children in the testing grade(s) from this process, too. ) Nonstandard materials will arrive separately. CM: Page 13 -15

Keep testing docs in shrinkwrapping DO verify that you received the correct number of testing and answer docs. DO compare serial numbers with invoice. Confirm that testing materials match the testing window on the invoice. DO NOT break the seals. CB recommends fanning the bundles. If you need additional copies of materials, contact PSAT: NMSQT and Melissa De. Simone CM: Page 36

Changes in NMSQT Administration Seating requirements have changed. Minimum distance between students has been reduced to 3 feet from left to right (measure from center of desk) Required staff to student ratios in accommodated rooms is now 1 to 20 (instead of 1 to 10) MP 3 audio content is now delivered via a streaming application Additional policies/procedures for schools that need to test all or a portion of students in off-site facility Answer sheets will be shipped separately from test books If reporting an irregularity, you are required to apply a pink Irregularity Report (IR) label to the outside of each box in your return shipment of used answer sheets. CM: Page 6

Labels Check to ensure: 2 nd line – student names and is that kid at your school? 3 rd line – School code is correct? 4 th line – Grade level is correct? If incorrect data: Contact PSAT and Melissa Shred or securely destroy incorrect labels. CM: Page 39

Applying the label Once labels are verified: Apply them to the shaded box on Page 1 of Answer Sheet Place each label as accurately as possible so it falls exactly within the box. CM: Page 39

Time Planning for Day of NMSQT Pre-administration activities: 45 -50 minutes Reading Test: 60 minutes Break: 5 minutes Writing/Language: 35 minutes Math No calculators: 25 minutes Break: 5 minutes Math with calculators: 45 minutes Test Collection: 5 minutes Total time = approximately 3 hours 45 minutes CM: Page 7, 22

Scheduling the test Order – Done in May/June. Check your numbers, and add to the order if needed. Bulk Registration – Completed August 28 th Window Allow 4 hours for NMSQT No lunch breaks Avoid scheduling a fire drill, assembly, field trip for the tested grade on this day.

“Proctors” AKA: People who give the tests, which are certified staff members on your campus. (I caution against using substitute teachers. ) 1 for every 34 students. (i. e. plan for no more than 34 students in a classroom, as long as the student seating room follows CB policy. ) 3 feet apart from the center of each desk. Create a seating chart before the test day – not alphabetically, randomly. Students may not select their own seat. (p. 17) Each Proctor will need a manual – Direct them to read Part 2 carefully. May not administer PSAT/NMSQT to a member of their immediate family or household. CM: Page 18 -19

Proctor Responsibilities Reads the coordinator’s manual prior to the test administration. Assumes responsibility for all testing materials in his/her assigned room. Administers the test in accordance to the rules and procedures in the manual. Staff giving ‘with accommodations’ need to pay special attention to the section “Set up for Testing Students with Accommodations” page 61 and “Administer Accommodations” page 67. Collects and accounts for testing materials prior to the students leaving the testing room. Returns materials to you after the students leave the room. (Highly advise this happens within 10 minutes after the test session is over, and prior to the next group of students arriving for the remainder of their instructional day. ) CM: Page 66 -67

Training Staff Security of materials Books must be secure at all times. Test materials must be supervised at all times. If students leave the room, ensure that their documents remain in the room. (i. e. Bathroom breaks, etc. At the end of the session, collect testing booklets and answer documents prior to the students leaving the room. Accounting testing materials Review School Code Calculator use Make sure those that are will administer to those with labels understand that they refer to pages 10 -12, and those without the labels will read pages 12 -14 of the Supplemental Instructions. CM: Page 22 -25

Training Staff Accounting for testing materials Missing Tests: Determine serial number of the test Notify coordinator (You will insert your name) Check the desk of the student to whom that serial number is assigned Also check the desk of the students to whom the serial numbers before and after the missing document is assigned. (Tests stick together sometimes. ) If this is discovered during a test session, wait until break to locate the missing documents. (Please avoid this scenario. ) Call the coordinator as soon as possible. Announce to the students that you are unable to release anyone to break until the test is found. If after an exhaustive search, you are still unable to locate the document, report it on the coordinator’s Irregularities Form. coordinator will contact PSAT and District Office about the missing document.

Training Staff Reviewing Names, DOB, Student ID School Code Have students verify that their name, DOB, and ID are accurate. Post School Code on the Board, have students verify that number on their pre-labeled answer document. BNHS: 444916 NHS: 443715 EHS: 442611 SAHS: 445889

Training Staff Calculator use A calculator icon appears on the sections in which the student can use the calculator. The test is laid out in a way in which the non-calculator portion is before and separate from the calculator portion. It has to a be a real calculator – cannot use their phones, laptops, i. Pads, or tablets. Must be kept under their desks until the portion of the test that allows calculators is administered.

Calculators… The district office has distributed all calculators to campuses. Each campus will be responsible for providing their own calculators for the students. Think through how this will work on your campus.

Allowed Graphing Calculators

Training Staff Prohibited devices and aids: Can only have a number 2 pencil, testing document, and answer document on their desks throughout the test. May have the calculator out ONLY during the portion of the test that allows it. Staff secures all cell phones. Students turn off completely. Stored in front of the room.

Training Staff Directions for administering the test: Read direction scripts verbatim. Follow break protocols. Follow strict time lines for test administration. Answer student questions related to directions. Do NOT answer student questions about test content. Actively walk the room. Do NOT read, grade papers, plan units, answer email, use your cell phone. Keep a seating chart and document when you start and each test session. Recommended that a log is kept of when students leave the room for bathroom or other breaks.

Training Staff Test Day Problems: Notify the coordinator of any suspected testing irregularities.

Training Staff Inform students in advance of the test day and where they will take the test. On test day, students may bring: A number 2 pencil A scientific calculator – we may be providing this for the students. Know their student id number.

Training Staff Test Takers: Taking the test Don’t share test content or answers with anyone in any form. Only work on the section that you are assigned. Do NOT work ahead or behind. Stop a section when the proctor announces the test is done. Take the entire test. Do NOT leave the building or go to your locker during breaks.

Training Staff • Marking the answer document Marks that are too light or bubbles not completely filled may not be scored – adversely impacting the score. Number 2 pencils with a soft eraser only. Mechanical pencils are not permitted. Any erased answers need to be erased completely without tearing the answer document. Mark answers in the document. The test booklet will not be scored, only the answer document. The test booklet is consumable. Mark on it as needed.

Seating Chart Pre-plan who sits where. Do not use alphabet to assign. Must be random. (p. 6) Need to have a written seating chart with names. Charts will be turned into the coordinator. Avoid sitting relatives near each other.

Testing Rooms Students each need their own surface to write. i. e. no tables with multiple kids. Spacing must be 3 feet from the center of each desk surrounding each desk. (This is new) Needs two time pieces: Wall clock, personal time keeping device okay. No announcements overhead during the test. Rooms need to be proper temperature. Plan to have roamer to break teachers who are testing.

Providing Accommodations NMSQT does need to be approved by CB. Counselors have this information. Create a non-standard testing room for students needing extended time. Extended time charts begin on page 108 of Manual.

NMSQT – Students not enrolled in your school Students should live in your attendance area – typical check to validate. Students need a current government-issued or school issued ID with student’s name and signature. These students will not have labeled tests. They MUST use grade “ 11” as their grade level. Please check this.

Students new to your school after August 28 th Will have to complete the pre-test information. Schedule their test in room with other students who do not have a label.

On Test Day You will monitor hallways. Coordinate breaks (roamers to break teachers. ) Remind teachers to secure tests during the administration, and return immediately after the students are no longer in the room. Report any irregularities. Make sure that all students who bubble their personal information on the answer documents put the correct grade value.

After the test Return Materials immediately Use the checklist on NMSQT: p 46. Use the visual aid on NMSQT: p 51. Arrange for UPS pick up. Use the provided Return Label.