PSATNMSQT October 7 2013 1 PSATNMSQT Assessment Basics

PSAT/NMSQT® October 7, 2013 1

PSAT/NMSQT® Assessment Basics § Content: – – – § Critical reading, including sentence completion and passage-based multiple-choice questions Mathematics, including multiple-choice and student-produced response questions Writing, covering improving sentences, identifying sentence errors, and improving paragraph questions Administration: – Paper-and-pencil test – Given in school on Wednesday, October 16 to 10 th and 11 th grade students. Section Timing Number of Questions Critical Reading Two sections at 25 minutes each 48 Questions Mathematics Two sections at 25 minutes each 38 Questions (28 Multiple choice, 10 Student-produced response) Writing Skills 30 Minutes 39 Questions Total 130 Minutes 125 Questions Testing time is 2 hours and 10 minutes -- plus 45 to 50 minutes for administrative activities. Must be done prior to taking lunch. 2

Security and Confidentiality 3 q Account for all secure materials before, during, and after each test administration q Protect the contents of all tests booklets and student answer documents q No person may view, reveal, or discuss the contents of a test or answer document unless specifically instructed to do so by the procedures in the test administrator manuals q Test directions Must ALWAYS be followed VERBATIM, absolutely NO deviation.

Test Day Time § Tests begin on time, no late starts. § Begin directions promptly at 9: 00 am § Students who arrive late will not test. § No one may be admitted to the testing room once the timed tests have begun. § Accurate timing of each section is critical. § There will be a 5 minute break after section 2 and a short stretch break after section 4. Have students place answer documents inside test booklets and collect them during break time. § Supervisors (test administrators) post start and stop times for students. 4

Before the Test § Know your school’s six-digit High School Code – School Code is required to order and administer tests. 446235 § Schedule the test – Wednesday, Oct. 16. – All students must test at the same time in the morning. You will not be able to take a lunch break and resume testing. – Allow three hours for testing and related activities. § Supervisor’s Manual § Read the entire manual from cover to cover. BRING IT WITH YOU THE DAY OF TESTING. THERE ARE NO EXTRAS! 5

Before the Test § Supervisor’s Manual – Directions begin on page 8. § Room environment – All desk facing the same direction (Due October 16 th, 4: 15 pm) – Walls covered (Due October 14 th, 4: 15 pm rooms 204, 205, 207, 209, 211, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 404, 406, 407, 408, 410, 412, library) – Clock or timer § Seating chart § TA assigns student seating § Space students out 4 ft. chest to chest 6

Room Supervisor Responsibilities (Test Administrator) Read and understand the manual. Time each test. Identify and admit testers. Actively monitor. (Walk around the room to ensure students are working on the appropriate section) Supervise the test room. Direct students to seats. Collect electronic devices/etc. Pick up and distribute test materials. Read test instructions. 7 Collect and account for all answer documents and test booklets. Complete any required documentation. Return materials.

Administrative Clarification § Pick up test materials in Rm. 605 at 8: 00 am Wednesday, October 16 th. § All scratch work done in book. § No questions about content or the calculator are allowed. § Leave the room one at a time for the restroom, unless escorted. § Post start and stop times for students. § Use documents provided in the TA folder, such as the seating chart, cell phone policy and restroom pass. § Lunch: 12: 30 pm-1: 00 pm all teachers and students will resume the regular class schedule after lunch. DO NOT RELEASE ANY STUDENTS BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO DISMISS HAS BEEN GIVEN 8

Administrative Clarification § Supervisors (Test Administrators), hall monitors, relief personnel, may not read, grade papers, or perform any other activity not directly related to administering the test. § Breaks: Test Administrators should not take more than a 10 minute break. § Non-testing personnel: If you are displaced or have students from another teacher displaced to your room, please have students write down their first and last name, ID#, and teacher on one sheet of paper. § Relief Personnel: Your job is to ensure the halls remain quiet at all times, redirect displaced students, relieve TA for a short break, assist TA with additional materials or questions as needed. 9

Electronic Device Policy § Electronic devices are NOT allowed. (Students and Test Administrators) § All cell phones must be labeled and collected from students. (Please make sure they have been turned off) § Read the cell phone policy to all students and have them sign the cell phone policy form acknowledging they understand the rules. § Place all cell phones in the gallon size baggy § Do not return cell phones to students until all students have completed testing. 10

Restroom Breaks • There will be assigned restroom supervisors for bathroom breaks. • Only allow one student out the room at a time • When a student ask to use the restroom • Physically take up the student’s test booklet and answer document. • Legibly complete the back of the hall pass making sure to document the exact time the student is exiting the room • Issue the hall pass to the student. • When the student returns, record the exact time the student returned on the hall pass. • Give the student their booklet and answer document and direct them to their assigned seat. v Restroom supervisors: Be sure to escort the student to the rest room. Take their pass before they enter the restroom and return it to the student as they exit. 11

After the Test Collect and count answer sheets. § Collect answer sheets from each student individually. Do not have them passed to you. § Make sure students do not put their answer sheets inside the test books. § Count answer sheets, and verify that you have one for each student. § Check student gridding. Collect and count test books. § After accounting for the answer sheets, collect the test books from students individually in the same order in which you distributed them. § Count used test books and verify that you have one for each student. § Return materials to testing office, rm. 605 12