COMPANION™ Administrator’s Manual...sensitivity or fairness issues. Once all reviewers sign of on the item selection, the test map detailing the items for each form, their ordering,

2017-18

COMPANION™

Administrator’s Manual

© 2017 The College Board. College Board, ACCUPLACER, WritePlacer, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. AccuScore and COMPANION are trademarks owned by the College Board. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the web: www.collegeboard.org. 00716-013

ACCUPLACER COMPANION Administrator's Manual © 2017 The College Board. 1

Contents 4 About ACCUPLACER COMPANION Tests

4 Development of COMPANION Tests and Scoring Tables

5 Steps Taken to Ensure Fairness of ACCUPLACER Tests

6 Fairness Review

6 Empirical Analysis

7 COMPANION Tests

7 Test Formats

7 Test Security

8 Proctoring and Testing Room

8 Materials Needed for the Administration

8 Timing

8 Use of Handheld Calculators and Other Items

9 COMPANION Test Student Privacy Policy

9 Administrator’s Reader Script for COMPANION Tests

9 Regular- and Large-Print Editions

9 Braille Edition

9 Audio-CD Edition

12 Additional Script for Regular-Print Tests

13 Additional Script for Large-Print Tests

14 Additional Script for Braille Tests

15 Additional Script for Audio-CD Tests

17 Next-Generation COMPANION Reader Scripts

17 General Guidelines

17 Test Reader Responsibilities

18 Administering COMPANION WritePlacer

23 Submitting WritePlacer Essays for Scoring

23 Requesting Neo External Access

25 Preparing Essays for Scoring

30 Uploading Essays to Be Scored

32 Retrieving Essay Scores

33 Creating Individual Score Reports

37 Directions for Hand Scoring COMPANION Tests

37 Automated Excel Worksheets

37 Placement Tests

38 AccuScore

38 System Requirements

39 Installation


40 Configuring AccuScore

42 Scanning

43 Reporting

44 Transmitting Data to Your ACCUPLACER Site

45 Post Scanning Report

46 Field Descriptions

46 Sorting

47 COMPANION Online Paper Processing System

48 Accessing and Downloading Test Booklets and Answer Sheets

48 Securing Test Materials

49 Viewing and Printing COMPANION Materials

53 Directions for Automated Scoring of COMPANION Tests

53 Printing Requirements for Answer Sheet Documents

53 Downloading/Printing COMPANION Answer Sheet Documents for Bulk Processing

57 Processing Answer Sheet Documents After Administration

59 Imaging COMPANION Answer Sheet Documents

59 Uploading Answer Sheet Document Images for Scoring

64 What Do I Do When My Answer Sheet Document Has Completed Processing?

65 Editing Information from an Imaged COMPANION Answer Sheet

70 Deleting a Paper Test ID from ACCUPLACER

70 Viewing Scored Paper Test Results

72 Error Handling and Troubleshooting

74 Ordering COMPANION Tests Through the Mail

74 Refund Policy

74 Billing Invoice Questions

74 Payment

75 Shipping

75 Contact Information

76 Appendix A—COMPANION Student Privacy Policy

77 College Board System Student Privacy Policy

83 Appendix B—Test Administration Notes for the Braille Edition

83 Administrator’s Notes for the Braille Edition

98 Appendix C—COMPANION Conversion Tables

107 Appendix D—AccuScore License Agreement

108 ACCUSCORE SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

ACCUPLACER COMPANION Administrator's Manual © 2017 The College Board.

110 Appendix E—WritePlacer and WritePlacer ESL Score Descriptions

111 WritePlacer

112 WritePlacer Holistic Scoring Rubric

115 WritePlacer Dimensions

116 WritePlacer Dimension Descriptions

118 WritePlacer ESL

119 WritePlacer ESL Holistic Scoring Rubric

121 WritePlacer ESL Dimensions

123 WritePlacer ESL Dimension Descriptions

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About ACCUPLACER COMPANION Tests The College Board is committed to ensuring that students who require accommodationsreceive appropriate accommodations on all of its tests. All College Board tests aredesigned and administered to ensure that students who require accommodationshave the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities within the parameters of each test.On the computer-adaptive tests, accommodations such as extended time, breaks,readers, scribes, and use of assistive technology are provided on an as-needed basis. Inaddition, all computer-adaptive ACCUPLACER® tests have Accessibility Wizard softwarebuilt into the testing environment, allowing customized font size and backgrounds toaddress students who need accommodations in those areas.

For test takers who need accommodated test forms, the College Board providesCOMPANION™ tests, or alternate ACCUPLACER tests that are available in regular- orlarge-print paper-and-pencil formats, braille, and audio-CD formats. There are two parallelforms of each COMPANION test. For tests where auto-score is not available, use the raw-to-scaled score conversion tables included at the end of this manual; the number-correctscores on COMPANION forms are converted to ACCUPLACER scaled scores.

Development of COMPANION Tests and Scoring Tables The COMPANION tests typically have 1.5 to 2 times as many items as the correspondingcomputer-adaptive tests. Items for COMPANION tests are selected using an AutomatedTest Assembly program. The program follows the same content specifications for theadaptive tests, resulting in test forms that are proportionally equivalent in contentcoverage. The program also uses statistical specifications to ensure that selected itemscover the difficulty range from easy to difficult. The table below shows the ACCUPLACERCOMPANION tests available and the length of each:

Test Length

COMPANION Test Form (No. of Items)

Arithmetic

Elementary Algebra

College-Level Math

F, G 35

Reading Comprehension

Sentence Skills

ESL Reading Skills

ESL Sentence Meaning

ESL Language Use

H, I 35

Next-Generation Reading

Next-Generation Writing

Next-Generation Arithmetic

Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics

Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions

J, K 40


Once items are selected, content experts and psychometricians verify that theselections meet the content and statistical specifications of the tests. The psychometricreviews include plotting the test characteristic curves of the two alternate forms toexamine form comparability. Content experts also review selected items for any potentialsensitivity or fairness issues. Once all reviewers sign off on the item selection, the testmap detailing the items for each form, their ordering, and other required information areused to create the COMPANION tests and answer sheets. Concurrently, with the creationof the test book and answer keys, raw-to-scaled conversion tables are created for theCOMPANION tests.

The final scores for the classic1 COMPANION tests are placed on the same score rangethat corresponds to the ACCUPLACER 20–120 score scale established for the computer-adaptive tests through a simulation study. As will be shown, the scaled scores for theCOMPANION forms roughly reflect the same ability level as the same scales scoresobtained on the computer-adaptive mode. The next-generation tests are reported on a200–300 scale.

The Item Response Theory (IRT) item parameters for the selected items in eachCOMPANION form and a uniform theta distribution form the basis of each simulation.

For each ACCUPLACER test, a uniform distribution of 50,000 theta scores data areused as true theta values in simulation.

For each COMPANION form, student response data to the selected items aresimulated using the item response theory (IRT) model, the true theta values, and theitem parameters for those items on the COMPANION test.

The total number correct score is then computed for each simulee. At each number correct score from 0 to the total number of items, the true theta

values for all simulees achieving that score are summarized and the average theta isobtained.

The average true theta is then mapped to the scaled score using the theta-to-scaledscore conversion table established for the computer-adaptive test for each subjectarea.

The process described above maps each raw score on a COMPANION form to a scoreon the scale of the corresponding computer-adaptive test. It should be noted that aspecific raw score from the COMPANION forms does not necessarily map to the samescaled score. This is due to small differences in item difficulty distribution across theCOMPANION forms. Small differences in difficulty of parallel test forms are found in everytesting program for which adjustments are made through psychometric procedures.

Steps Taken to Ensure Fairness of ACCUPLACER Tests In order to provide meaningful information about levels of achievement, test scoresmust accurately reflect the knowledge and skills of students on the construct of interest.Test bias occurs when test items contain construct-irrelevant elements that preventidentifiable groups of students from demonstrating such relevant knowledge and skills,thus resulting in systematically lower or higher scores. The College Board is committed toensuring that test items are as free as possible of unnecessary barriers to the success ofdiverse groups of students, despite differences in characteristics including age, gender,disability status, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, linguisticbackground, socioeconomic, or other personal characteristics. Consistent with industrystandard best practice, ACCUPLACER test items are subjected to rigorous internal andexternal fairness review and statistical analyses to ensure that all ACCUPLACER items areas free from bias as possible and are fair to all test takers.

1. The “classic” tests are the original ACCUPLACER placement offerings of Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, and College-Level Math.


Fairness Review Fairness reviews of ACCUPLACER test questions are performed by two distinct groupsof experts. First, when developing questions, College Board assessment specialistsapply professional test-development standards to identify and eliminate any language,content, words, phrases, or references that may be offensive, upsetting, distracting, orinappropriate to any particular group of students. In addition, all questions are reviewedby external reviewers who are deeply familiar with the student population of interestand the nature and purpose of the test under review. These independent reviewersare typically active classroom teachers and practitioners drawn from a wide range ofacademic disciplines and demographic backgrounds.

Both groups of fairness reviewers are charged with helping ensure that test questionsand stimuli are broadly accessible to the wide-ranging student population that takes theexam, that the questions are clearly stated and unambiguous in their intent, and that thequestions do not offer unfair advantages to some students.

Empirical Analysis College Board psychometricians routinely examine whether test items functiondifferently for different groups of students. Statistical analysis, referred to as DifferentialItem Functioning (DIF), is performed to determine whether there are items on the testwhere certain groups of students have undue advantage over others. Comparisons ofperformance on test items are customarily made between male and female, as well asbetween different racial or ethnic groups. To understand DIF, three related conceptsmust be distinguished: item impact, DIF, and item bias. When one group has a higherproportion of students answering an item correctly than another group, this observationis referred to as item impact. Item impact may be due to true group differences inacademic performance or due to item bias. For DIF to be observed, comparisons onitem performance are conditioned on the characteristic being measured by the test.That is, students of equal proficiency on the test who belong to groups being comparedshould respond similarly to a given test item. If they do not, the item is said to functiondifferently across groups and is flagged as a DIF item. Flagged items are usuallyclassified into three groups—negligible, moderate, or severe, depending on how differentthe item performances are among the groups being compared. Items with severe DIF areautomatically removed from the item pool, while items with negligible DIF are kept. Itemswith moderate DIF are reviewed by content experts who are familiar with the diversityof the student population taking the test. When the reviewers determine that the DIF isdue to a factor irrelevant to the construct the test is supposed to measure, the item isconsidered to be biased. Note that for an item to be biased, at least one characteristic ofthe item that is unfair to one or more groups must be identified.

Finally, as an assessment that serves diverse groups of students, every effort is made toensure that each ACCUPLACER test is balanced for diversity. Questions in the item bankare coded for “constraints” such as gender, race, and ethnicity. These “Content Diversity”constraints ensure that every ACCUPLACER test contains a variety of cultural anddemographic contexts and references.


COMPANION Tests Test Formats COMPANION tests are available in regular and special format editions that includelarge print, audio-CD, and braille. Students who have documented disabilities may useCOMPANION Special Format tests. All ACCUPLACER multiple-choice tests, exceptComputer Skills Placement tests and the ESL Listening tests, are available in brailleand large print. Tactile graphics are available to aid visually impaired students with theinterpretation of graphs used in a test.

The special formats COMPANION booklets are reusable.

Each special format test contains the same questions, and any combination of formatsmay be used during testing. Be careful, however, to match forms. The table belowprovides details on the font size of the large-print test booklets as well as the variationsof braille used in each test.

Test Title Test Section Font Size & Style

All classic tests Body 18 pt Verdana

Headings & Subheadings 20–24 pt Verdana

All next-generation tests Body, Headings & Subheadings 18 pt Arial

Test Title Braille Type

Reading Comprehension

Sentence Skills

Next-Generation Reading


Contracted EBAE braille

ESL Reading Skills

ESL Sentence Meaning

ESL Language Use

Un-contracted EBAE braille

All math tests Nemeth braille

The audio-CD or braille version may be used to augment the large-print version. Somequestions in the mathematics test refer to figures. In such cases, students may refer tothe large-print editions or to the braille that has tactile graphics.

Test Security Protecting the security and confidentiality of ACCUPLACER test materials is critical forensuring valid test scores and providing standard and equal testing opportunities for allstudents.

The ACCUPLACER License Agreement requires that all testing be done in a secure andproctored setting. There are no exceptions to this requirement. No student should beallowed to take the test without the constant supervision of an approved proctor.

COMPANION tests are not reusable except for the COMPANION Special Format tests(large print, braille, and audio-CDs). The Test Administrator is responsible for the securityof all testing materials. Except during testing, all test materials must be kept in a locked,secure area that is accessible only to the Test Administrator.

After testing, used test books must be destroyed using secure means. All answersheets must be retained for four (4) years. Only COMPANION Answer Sheets may beused when delivering COMPANION tests.

Test materials may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part, transferred to anyother party, or used for any other purpose. Reproduction of a test book is a violationof copyright. Beginning in September 2016, some COMPANION paper materials will be


made available to users of ACCUPLACER to download and print locally at no cost to theinstitution.2 In addition to protecting physical copies of printed COMPANION tests, itis the responsibility of your institution to protect these new digital copies of the tests.Test booklets must not be saved to local computers or networks. Print your materialsdirectly from the Resources menu in ACCUPLACER before each administration. Thenext-generation materials will be under the COMPANION Processing—COMPANION Materials submenu.

All breaches of security, whether through carelessness or intentional mishandling oftest materials, should be reported by the Test Administrator to ACCUPLACER CustomerSupport at 866-607-5223.

Proctoring and Testing Room COMPANION tests must be administered in a proctored setting only. Test takers mustbe monitored at all times, and an authorized Test Administrator from the institution mustbe present on-site during any and all administrations of ACCUPLACER or COMPANIONtests. The testing room should comfortably accommodate the number of testing stationsplaced in it. Testing stations should be approximately five feet apart, or sound- andlight-absorbing dividers should be provided. For information on proctor responsibilityand creating a suitable test environment, please refer to the Program Manual under theResources tab of the ACCUPLACER platform.

Materials Needed for the Administration Test booklet Copies of the COMPANION Test Student Privacy Policy Answer sheet Scratch paper Number 2 pencils (or pens for WritePlacer®) CD player for special formats A copy of this manual

Timing COMPANION tests are not timed. COMPANION WritePlacer tests can be timed.

Use of Handheld Calculators and Other Items It is recommended that students not be allowed the use of handheld calculators on classic COMPANION Arithmetic or Elementary Algebra math tests, or Next-GenerationCOMPANION Arithmetic and Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics math tests.Some of the important material that these tests assess cannot be measured properlywhen using a calculator. Examples of such material are performing basic arithmeticoperations and calculations with integers. The online version of the tests deals withthis issue by allowing a pop-up calculator on some questions, but not on all questions.An analogous policy would be difficult on a paper-and-pencil test, so these formswere assembled with the understanding that students would not be using handheldcalculators. While all test questions can be answered without the use of a calculator, afour-function or scientific calculator can be used on the classic COMPANION College-Level Math and COMPANION Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions tests,but a graphing calculator must not be used.

Students with the required documentation may use a calculator if it is a prescribedaccommodation.

Use of dictionaries, including translation dictionaries, is not permitted with theCOMPANION tests.

Cell phones or other electronic communication devices are not permitted in the testing room.

2. See page 49 of this manual for more information on this new feature.


COMPANION Test Student Privacy Policy The ACCUPLACER Student Privacy Policy can be found in Appendix A of this manual.There is a regular-print copy of the policy as well as a large-print version. You can makeyour own copies of the policy for distribution during testing, or you can order regular-print copies of the policy using the ACCUPLACER COMPANION and AccuScore™ Order form found under the Order Tests tab of the ACCUPLACER platform. There is no chargefor copies of the policy.

Administrator’s Reader Script for COMPANION Tests Regular- and Large-Print Editions After verifying the identity of all students, seat them and put them at ease by introducingyourself and explaining the purpose of the testing.

Read the directions starting on page 11 aloud to students. All other instructions are forthe Test Administrator and should not be read aloud.

Braille Edition After verifying the identity of all students, provide them with the Test Administration Notes for the Braille Edition located in Appendix B. Read aloud this information ifnecessary. Inform the student that, when possible, illustrations and passages followed byquestions are on facing pages. This may require several blank pages, as indicated in theadministration notes. All other changes or omissions are listed.

The large-print test books and the audio-CDs can be used to supplement the brailleeditions of COMPANION tests.

Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of the testing. Read the directions starting onpage 11 aloud to the students. All other instructions are for the Test Administrator andshould not be read aloud.

Audio-CD Edition After verifying the identity of all students, seat them and put them at ease by introducingyourself and explaining the purpose of the testing. Before testing, familiarize the studentwith the operation of the CD player. Demonstrate the features of the CD player, includinghow to adjust the volume, utilize the start and stop buttons, and select tracks.

Please be sure to pay special attention to the track titles for each available test, as thereare significant differences for each. It is especially important to note that some questionsbegin at the end of a track (e.g., Question #1 begins after the Test Introduction and TestDirection sections), while other questions begin at the start of a track. In addition, Next-Generation Reading and Writing tests contain important passages to which studentsshould refer when answering specific questions; as a result, students may find itnecessary to rewind to the beginning of the track to review important details that will helpthem answer a question.

The large-print or braille versions may be used to augment the CD version.

Once the student and/or the reader has adjusted the volume and has had sufficient timeto become familiar with the CD player, read the directions starting on page 11 aloud tothe students. All other instructions are for the Test Administrator and should not be read aloud.


.

You are about to take the (test name) test. The purpose of the test is to assess your skills in (language or mathematics). The test scores will help you and yourenrollment advisor determine the courses in which you may enroll at (name of your institution).

During the test administration you should not have anything on your desk except thematerials I give you and two, soft-lead No. 2 pencils. Dictionaries are not permittedfor any tests, and calculators are permitted only for the following tests: College-Level Math, Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics, andNext-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions. If you have brought any suchmaterials with you, please put them away.

Pause and allow students time to put away extra materials.

The COMPANION tests are distributed by the College Board and are designed to beused by educational institutions and students to assist in determining if a student isprepared for college-level coursework.

I am distributing a copy of the College Board’s Student Privacy Policy. Please readthis policy (or have a reader read it aloud to the student) thoroughly, and raise your hand if you have any questions.

Distribute the COMPANION Student Privacy Policy.

By taking the COMPANION test, you consent to the terms of the privacy policy.

Please pass the Student Privacy Policy back to me. If you would like a copy of thepolicy, you may get one from me after you have completed testing.

Collect the Student Privacy Policies.

I will now distribute your answer sheet.

Distribute answer sheets.

Listen carefully as I explain how to complete your answer sheet.

On the front page of the answer sheet in block 1, labeled Your Name, print yourlast name, first name, and middle initial in the boxes provided. Be sure to write onlyone letter in a box. Do not be concerned if there are not enough boxes to print yournames completely. In the column under each box in which you have printed a letter,fill in the circle containing the same letter. Be sure to stay in the proper column andfill in only one circle in each column. It is very important that you fill in the entirecircle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase as completely aspossible. Incomplete marks or erasures may affect your score. (pause)

In block 2, labeled Student ID, enter your student ID number and fill in thecorresponding circles below each entry. (Provide any special instructions concerning student ID numbers). (pause)


In block 3, labeled Date of Test, enter today’s date (date). Fill in the corresponding circles below each entry. (pause)

In block 4, provide your answer to the question, “Are you a test proctor recording responses for the student?” by filling in the corresponding circle for your answer. (pause)

If a student is using a reader, instruct the reader as follows:

Please read the questions aloud to the student as often as requested. It is importantto read only what is written on the test.

Please do not provide elaboration beyond what is provided in the script, even if thestudent asks for it.

If administering classic COMPANION:

In block 5, provide your answerto the question, “How do youdescribe yourself?” by filling inthe corresponding circle for youranswer. (pause)

In block 6, labeled Date of Birth,enter your birthdate and fill in thecorresponding circles below eachentry. (pause)

In block 7, labeled Gender, fill in thecircle corresponding to your answer.(pause)

Blocks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are required fields.

If administering next-generation COMPANION:

In block 5, labeled Gender, fill in thecircle corresponding to your answer.(pause)

In block 6, labeled Date of Birth,enter your birthdate and fill in thecorresponding circles below.(pause)

In block 7, provide your answerto the question “How do youdescribe yourself?" by filling inthe corresponding circle for youranswer. (pause)

Open your answer sheet to page 2, and answer questions 8 through 17 by filling inthe appropriate circle next to each of your answers. (pause)

In block 18, labeled Site ID, write the following numbers (provide your 9-digit site ID). (pause)

Question 19 is optional. If you want students to answer this question, provide a list ofmajors with the corresponding Major Codes. Distribute the list of majors and say:

I am distributing a list of majors and their corresponding major codes for you to usewhen answering question 19.

Review the list and find your major. Enter the 6-digit major code associated with yourmajor in box 19. Fill in the corresponding circle below your answer. (pause)

If you are undecided about your major, fill in the circle next to “Undecided” at the bottom of block 19.

If you do not want to answer this question, fill in the circle next to “I choose not to answer.” (pause)

11


Question 20 is optional. If you want students to answer Local Background Questions,provide a list of questions with answer choices and say:

I am distributing a list of Local Background Questions.

Read each question carefully and select your response. Record your response toeach of the (number of Local Background Questions) questions by filling in the corresponding circle next to the question number. (pause)

Due to the variations of each COMPANION test, the scripted instruction will now bespecific to test type. Please find the type of COMPANION test being delivered, andcontinue with the script.

Additional Script for Regular-Print Tests Distribute test books.

I will now distribute the (name of test) test book. On the cover of the test book,write your name, student ID number, and today’s date (date) in the spaces provided. (pause)

Because your test book will not be used again, you may use any extra space in thebook to make notes or computations. Only answers marked on your answer sheetwill be scored. No credit will be given for any answers marked in your test book.

Turn to page three (page four if administering ESL tests) of your answer sheet and locate the area labeled (name of test). This is where you will record your answers for this test.

On the front cover of your test book you will see a form designation. Your test iseither form (See table below).

If test being administered is

Arithmetic Reading Comprehension Next-Generation Reading

Elementary Algebra Sentence Skills

ESL Reading Skills


College-Level Math Next-Generation Arithmetic

ESL Sentence Meaning Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics

ESL Language Use Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions

Say “Form F” or “Form G”

Say “Form H” or “Form I” Say “Form J” or “Form K”

It is very important that you fill in the correct test form as this will determine howyour test will be scored.

Are there any questions?



Elementary Algebra Sentence Skills Next-Generation Writing

College-Level Math ESL Reading Skills Next-Generation Arithmetic





Answer any questions.

(If administering classic COMPANION):

There are 35 questions on this test. There is no time limit.

(If administering next-generation COMPANION):


After you have completed the test and have checked your work carefully, raise yourhand and a proctor will collect your test book and answer sheet.

Carefully break the seal on your test book and begin the test.

At the end of testing, collect all testing materials, answer sheets, and scratch paper. Testbooks should be destroyed by a secure method.

Additional Script for Large-Print Tests Distribute test books and scratch paper.

I will now distribute the (name of test) test book.

Because your test book will be used again, please do not write in the test book.Scratch paper has been provided for you to make notes or computations.

Only answers marked on your answer sheet will be scored.

Turn to page three (or page four if administering ESL tests) of your answer sheet and locate the area labeled (name of test being administered). This is where you will record your answers.

On the front cover of your test book you will see a form designation. Your test iseither form (see table below).










After you have completed the test and have checked your work carefully, yourproctor will collect your test book and answer sheet.

Repeat the instructions above for each test being administered.

At the end of testing, collect all testing materials, answer sheets, and scratch paper.Destroy the scratch paper using a secure method. Go through the test book and eraseany stray marks.

Additional Script for Braille Tests Distribute test books and scratch paper.

I will now distribute the (name of test) test book.

Because your test book will be used again, please do not write in the test book.Scratch paper has been provided for you to make notes or computations.


If the student is taking the Reading Comprehension or Sentence Skills test, say:

This test is EBAE contracted braille.

If the student is taking the ESL tests Reading Skills, Sentence Meaning, or Language Usetest, say:

This test is non-contracted EBAE braille.

If the student is taking one of the mathematics tests, say:

This test is transcribed according to the 1972 revised Nemeth Code.

Turn to page three (or page four if administering ESL tests) of your answer sheet and locate the area labeled (name of test being administered). This is where you will record your answers.


14




College-Level Mathematics

ESL Reading Skills Next-Generation Arithmetic













After you have completed the test and have checked your work carefully, yourproctor will collect all of your testing materials.


At the end of testing, collect all testing materials, answer sheets, and scratch paper.Destroy the scratch paper using a secure method. Go through the test book and eraseany stray marks.

Additional Script for Audio-CD Tests After the student has completed pages one and two of the answer sheets, providescratch paper and the appropriate CD. Provide CDs one at a time.

The CD that I have given you contains 35 test questions (40 test questions for all Next-Generation tests) for the (name of test). Each question and all of the possibleanswer choices for that question have been recorded on a single CD track (i.e., Question 4 will appear on track 4). Please note, however, some questions will appearat the end of a track because important information such as directions and readingpassages will appear before them. As a result, it is a good idea to review the tracktitles before beginning the test so you are familiar with each question’s location.

15




College-Level Mathematics

ESL Reading Skills Next-Generation Arithmetic





You may listen to the questions and the answer choices as many times as you want.

Because your test book will be used again, please do not write in the test book. Scratch paper has been provided for you to make notes or computations.


Turn to page three (or page four if administering ESL tests) of your answer sheet and locate the area labeled (name of test). This is where you will record your answers.







After you have completed the test and have checked your work carefully, yourreader will collect your testing materials.

You may begin.


At the end of testing, collect all testing materials, answer sheets, and scratch paper.Destroy the test book and scratch paper using a secure method.


Next-Generation COMPANION Reader Scripts When administering an ACCUPLACER test to a student who requires the use of a reader,the appropriate reader script is to be used. Administrator’s reader scripts are availablefor each of the next-generation placement tests and can be found on the ACCUPLACERplatform under the COMPANION Materials tab. Please download and print the script inadvance of testing to familiarize yourself with the content and language of each test.

Students can answer Reading and Writing questions on the basis of the information givenin the reader script. Questions in Math tests may refer to figures; when questions refer tofigures, students may use the large-print or Brailed booklet for that test form3.

General Guidelines The guiding principle in reading a test aloud is to ensure that the student has accessto test content. Test readers must be adults who are trained in the administration of standardized tests and protection of secure test materials. They must also read and signa nondisclosure agreement prior to test administration.

A reader may only read to one student during the test. Reader’s support should beprovided in a separate setting so as not to interfere with the testing of other students.

Test Reader Responsibilities The information in the bullets below must be shared with test readers prior to test

administration:

Read the scripts as they are presented and as clearly as possible. Read test questions accurately, pronounce words correctly, and speak in a clear voice

throughout the test. Adjust your reading speed and volume if requested by the student. Spell any words requested by the student. Passages, questions, words, or instructions may be repeated, but only as requested

by the student and without change. Do not paraphrase, interpret, define, or translate any questions, words, or

instructions. Any additional information would affect what the tests are designed to

test.

Avoid gesturing, head movements, or any verbal or non-verbal emphasis on wordsnot otherwise emphasized in the script.

Throughout the exam, strive to communicate in a neutral tone and maintain a neutralfacial expression and posture.

Do not converse with the student about test questions as this would be a violation oftest security.

Do not manipulate the test or assist with any other support tools. Collect scratch paper immediately at the end of the testing session and deliver it to

the test administrator. Additional test directions as well as general remarks to the Reader can be found in eachreader script.

The reader script is secure test material. It must not be left unattended when it is not inthe locked storage area; shared in any way, with anyone; or be removed from the testingenvironment under any circumstances.

3. Students who use a reader or audio file in conjunction with another format (regular-print, large-print, Braille) will find that the two versions differ slightly. This is because reader scripts and audio files describe graphics and figures in greater detail.


Administering COMPANION WritePlacer COMPANION WritePlacer is intended to be used only by individuals who are unableto take the online WritePlacer assessment. If you have a need to use COMPANIONWritePlacer for other purposes, please contact the ACCUPLACER Program [email protected] for a price quote.

After verifying the identity of all students, seat them and put them at ease by introducingyourself and explaining the purpose of the testing. Read the directions printed in theblocks below aloud to the students. All other instructions are for the Test Administrator and should not be read aloud.

WritePlacer is intended to be administered in one sitting, unless additional time is neededto support a student’s documented accommodation. Students are not permitted tobring in any outlines, drafts, scratch paper, or documents to assist with their WritePlaceror WritePlacer ESL essay. Taking a student’s essay, outlines, drafts, or related promptsout of the testing center is considered a test security risk and therefore not permitted.Students are not permitted to take a copy of their WritePlacer or WritePlacer ESL essay,drafts, scratch paper, or its associated prompt outside of the testing center. Any scratchpaper must be provided to the student by the test administrator and collected uponstudent’s completion of the exam. Any and all scratch paper—outlines, drafts, etc.—mustbe destroyed in a secure manner. Faculty should be made aware of this policy and shouldbe directed to keep essays and prompts confidential.

You are about to take the (WritePlacer or WritePlacer ESL) test. The purpose of thetest is to assess your writing skills. The test scores will help you and your enrollmentadvisor determine the courses in which you may enroll at (name of your institution).

During the test administration, you should not have anything on your desk exceptthe materials I provide. Dictionaries are not permitted.

If you have brought any such materials with you, please place them under your chair.

Pause and allow students time to put away extra materials.

The COMPANION tests are distributed by the College Board and are designed to beused by educational institutions and students to assist in determining if a student isprepared for college-level coursework.

I am distributing a copy of the College Board’s Student Privacy Policy. Please readthis policy thoroughly and raise your hand if you have any questions. (pause)

Distribute COMPANION Test Student Privacy Policy.

By taking the COMPANION test, you consent to the terms of the privacy policy.

Please pass the Student Privacy Policy back to me. If you would like a copy of thepolicy, you may get one from me after you have completed testing.

Collect Student Privacy Policies.

I will distribute your test book. Do not open the test book until I tell you to do so.

Distribute WritePlacer test books.

mailto:[email protected]


On the front page of the answer sheet in block 1, labeled Your Name, print yourlast name, first name, and middle initial in the boxes provided. Be sure to write onlyone letter in a box. Do not be concerned if there are not enough boxes to print yournames completely. In the column under each box in which you have printed a letter,fill in the circle containing the same letter. Be sure to stay in the proper column andfill in only one circle in each column. It is very important that you fill in the entirecircle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase as completely aspossible. Incomplete marks or erasures may affect your score. (pause)

In block 2, labeled Site ID, enter (provide your 9-digit site ID) and fill in the corresponding circles below each entry. (pause)

In block 3, labeled Date of Test, enter today’s date (provide date). Fill in the corresponding circles below each entry. (pause)

In block 4, provide your answer to the question “Are you a test proctor recording responses for the student?” by filling in the corresponding circle for your answer. (pause)

If a student is using a recorder, instruct the recorder as follows:

Please read questions as often as requested. It is important to read only what is inthe test.

Please do not provide elaboration beyond what is in the script, even if the studentasks for it. Write only what the student asks you to write and edit only as directed bythe student.

In block 5, labeled Student ID, enter your student ID and fill in the corresponding circles below each entry. (Provide any special instructions concerning student IDs.) (pause)

In block 6, provide your answer to the question “How do you describe yourself?” byfilling in the corresponding circle for your answer. (pause)

In block 7, labeled Date of Birth, enter your birthdate and fill in the corresponding circles below each entry. (pause)

In block 8, labeled Gender, fill in the circle corresponding to your answer. (pause)



If you are administering WritePlacer, say:

Open your test book to page 2 and read the section Instructions to Students silentlyas I read it aloud to you.

The essay gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can develop andexpress your ideas in writing.

You will first read a short passage and an assignment question that are focused onan important issue. You will then plan and write a multiparagraph essay (300–600 words) in which you develop your own point of view on the issue. You should supportyour position with appropriate reasoning and examples. The position you take willnot influence your scores.

Your essay will be given a holistic score that represents how clearly and effectivelyyou express your position. The following six characteristics of writing will beconsidered:

Purpose and Focus—The extent to which you present information in a unified andcoherent manner, clearly addressing the issue

Organization and Structure—The extent to which you order and connect ideas Development and Support—The extent to which you craft sentences and

paragraphs demonstrating control of vocabulary, voice, and structure Mechanical Conventions—The extent to which you express ideas using Standard

Written English Critical Thinking—The extent to which you communicate a point of view and

demonstrate reasoned relationships among ideasScores on WritePlacer range from 1 to 8. An essay will be given a score of zero if it istoo short to be evaluated, written on a topic other than the one presented, or writtenin a language other than English.


If you are administering WritePlacer ESL, say:

Open your test book to page 2 and read the section Instructions to Students silentlyas I read it aloud to you.

The essay gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can develop andexpress your ideas in writing.

You will first read a short passage and an assignment question that are focused onan important issue. You will then plan and write a multiparagraph essay (300–600 words) in which you develop your own point of view on the issue. You should supportyour position with appropriate reasoning and examples. The position you take willnot influence your scores.

Your essay will be given a holistic score that represents how clearly and effectivelyyou express your position. The following six characteristics of writing will beconsidered.

Word Use—The extent to which the writer is able to use a wide range of words andphrases accurately

Sentence Use—The extent to which the writer is able to use a variety of sentencepatterns, with both independent and dependent clauses

Grammar—The extent to which the writer is able to express ideas usinggrammatically correct English

Organization and Development—The extent to which the writer is able to focus onthe assigned topic and develop ideas clearly

Scores on WritePlacer ESL range from 1 to 6. An essay will be given a score of zeroif it is too short to be evaluated, written on a topic other than the one presented, orwritten in a language other than English.

Regardless of the type of WritePlacer test, continue with the following script:

Distribute Planning Sheets.

The Planning Sheet is for you to use when planning and organizing your essay.Anything written on this sheet will not be seen by the reader who grades your essay.

Your score will be based solely on what is written on pages 3 and 4 of the testbooklet.




If you are timing the essay, say:

You will have (minutes) to complete your essay.

You may begin your work.

If you want to warn students that the end of their time is approaching, say:

You have (minutes) remaining to complete your essay.

At the end of the time, say:

Please stop.

I will now collect your essay.

Collect WritePlacer test books.

I will now collect your Planning Sheet.

Collect Planning Sheets.

Your essay will be sent for scoring, and the results will be available within the next 10days.

Provide additional instructions concerning how and where they can receive their scores.

Keep essays and Planning Sheets separate. Destroy Planning Sheets using a securemethod.

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Submitting WritePlacer Essays for Scoring To have COMPANION WritePlacer or WritePlacer ESL essays scored, you must establisha Neo External account for your institution. Neo External is a secure site where the PDFsof students’ essays can be uploaded for scoring. Once the essays have been scored, youwill be able to download the scores from Neo External.

If you intend to submit more than 300 essays, please send an email to accuplacer@ collegeboard.org at least two weeks before you plan to submit the essays so that anadequate number of readers can be made available for scoring the essays. The emailshould contain the contact information of the sender, the expected number of essays,and the expected date that the essays will be sent.

Requesting Neo External Access To request a Neo External account, follow these steps.

Step 1. Send an email to [email protected] requestingaccess to Neo External. Your email MUST include your name, your contactinformation, and your Institution’s ACCUPLACER ID #.

To find your Institution ID # log in as a Site Manager, click on the Users tab, selectCreate and Edit Users, then select Search and Edit Users.

Step 2. You will receive an email similar to the one below. Click on the link provided.

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


Step 3. Provide the requested information to create your account.

The Username and Password you enter will be your Neo External login credentials forfuture use.

24


Preparing Essays for Scoring Follow these steps to send WritePlacer essays for scoring.

Step 1. Using secure means, destroy all Planning Sheets.

Step 2. If you are submitting WritePlacer essays, create a folder on your computernamed WritePlacer, your institution’s name, and the date the essays will besubmitted for scoring. For example: WritePlacer—Sample College—Dec. 1,2016.

If you are submitting WritePlacer ESL essays, create a folder on your computernamed WritePlacer ESL, your institution’s name, and the date the essays will besubmitted for scoring. For example: WritePlacer ESL—Sample College—Dec. 1, 2016.

Do not put WritePlacer essays in the same folder with WritePlacer ESL essays.WritePlacer essays and WritePlacer ESL essays MUST be kept in separate folders.

Step 3. Make an individual PDF of each essay to be scored, all four pages, and save thePDFs to the WritePlacer or WritePlacer ESL folder that you created in Step 2.Name each PDF using the student’s name and ID number. For example:Adams 15431.

25


Step 4. Click on https://neo.pearson.com. Choose Non-Employee Login and enter your login information.

Step 5. Click on Companion Mass Upload Templates.xlsx.

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https://neo.pearson.com


Step 6. To download, scroll to the page and click on Companion Mass UploadTemplates.xlsx.

Steps 5 and 6 do not have to be repeated once the Mass Upload template has beensaved to your computer.

Step 7. An Excel spreadsheet will display. Save this template to your computer forfuture use. Each time you submit essays for scoring, you will use this templateto create an inventory of essays being sent for scoring.


Step 8. Enter the students’ names and other required information in the columns A toD. Enter your Site ID in Column E. In columns F and G, enter the name of theperson submitting essays and his/her email address.

Save the file in the WritePlacer or WritePlacer ESL folder, naming it MassUpload and the date it is being sent.

Example: Mass Upload—Dec. 1, 2016.


Step 9. Create a Zip file of the WritePlacer or WritePlacer ESL folder containing theessays to be scored.

To create a Zip file, right-click on the folder and hover your cursor over the“Send to” option. This will open a new submenu. Select “Compressed (zipped)folder.”

Step 10. A new folder will be created with a Zip extension.

http://www.wikihow.com/Right-Click-on-a-Mac


Uploading Essays to Be Scored Step 1. Log in to Neo External to create a file and click on the Files icon.

Step 2. To upload files, click on Click to select files (or to drag in Zip files).


Step 3. Scroll down to Publish and click.

Step 4. Uploaded file will appear as an attachment.


Retrieving Essay Scores Once the essays have been scored, an email will be sent notifying you that the essayscores are available for download on Neo External.

Follow the steps to retrieve essay scores.

Step 1. Log in to Neo External.

Step 2. The homepage (activity page) will show a link to a mass upload, or your

modified Excel spreadsheet's name. Click on the hyperlink of the spreadsheet.

Step 3. Excel spreadsheet with scores will appear. To download the scoredspreadsheet, click on the hyperlink of the spreadsheet.

If you submitted WritePlacer essays to be scored, nine additional columns willhave been added to your Mass Upload file. The WritePlacer Holistic Score isyour overall or final score; the remaining columns are the trait score.


If you submitted WritePlacer ESL essays, seven additional columns will havebeen added to your Mass Upload file. The WritePlacer ESL Holistic Score isyour overall or final score; the remaining columns are the trait scores.

Attachment D shows the scores descriptions for WritePlacer and WritePlacer ESLessays.

Creating Individual Score Reports If you want to create an Individual Score Report, click on the appropriate link below and,on the Data Entry spreadsheet, enter the information received from the WritePlacerscoring center.

WritePlacer http://media.collegeboard.com//digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/wp-auto-score-report.xlsx

http://media.collegeboard.com//digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/wp-auto-score-report.xlsxhttp://media.collegeboard.com//digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/wp-auto-score-report.xlsx


WritePlacer ESL http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/wp-esl-auto-score-report.xlsx

http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/wp-esl-auto-score-report.xlsxhttp://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/wp-esl-auto-score-report.xlsx


Shown below is the Data Entry sheet for George Adams.


By clicking on the Score Sheet tab, the Individual Score Report will display. Shown belowis the Individual Score Report for George Adams.


Directions for Hand Scoring COMPANION Tests To hand score an answer sheet, place the appropriate scoring stencil over the answersheet so that the stencil lines up with the corresponding response area for each test.

Confirm that the form marked on the answer sheet corresponds to the form on thestencil.

The raw score for each placement test is equal to the number of questions answeredcorrectly. Responses visible through the circles on the stencil are correct. Questionswith multiple responses are to be counted as wrong. Use the conversion tables located inAppendix C to convert raw scores to scaled scores.

Automated Excel Worksheets Automated Excel Worksheets are available for the ACCUPLACER placement test andWritePlacer tests. By using the automated Excel worksheets, you can enter a student’stest information and raw scores and then generate an Individual Score Report that can begiven to the student and/or the enrollment advisor.

Placement Tests A single Excel worksheet is available for recording placement test scores. Click on thelink below and enter the required data on the Data Entry tab, then click on the Score Sheet tab to see the Individual Score Report. This report can be printed by using the printfunction of Excel.

http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/misc/accuplacer/accuplacer_placement_forms.xlsx

http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/misc/accuplacer/accuplacer_placement_forms.xlsxhttp://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/misc/accuplacer/accuplacer_placement_forms.xlsx


Shown below is an example of an Individual Score Report from the Score Sheet tab.

AccuScore AccuScore™ is a scanning application that allows you to score COMPANION answersheets, print the results, and automatically transfer the scanned data via SFTP to yourACCUPLACER test site.

System Requirements Operating System: Windows Vista Business Edition or greater, or Windows XP SP2 orgreater

Processor: Pentium 866 MHZ

Minimum System Memory: 512 MB, 1GB for Vista hard drive

100MB CR-ROM drive for installation

Monitor at 1024 X 768 or higher


Installation When you purchase AccuScore, you will receive an installation CD. To install theAccuScore software, insert the CD into the CD drive of your computer. The applicationshould automatically launch the software Setup Wizard. If the application does notlaunch, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the CD and double click Setup. To install the software, you must have Administrative permissions for the PC on which the applicationis being installed.

When Setup Wizard launches, the following screen will appear. Click Next to continue.

Depending on how your PC is configured, you will be prompted with a number ofmessages. It is strongly recommended that you select all Default settings. If you chooseto customize your installation, it may complicate supporting your application in the future.

When the installation process has been completed, an AccuScore icon will be added to your desktop, and the screen below will be displayed. Click Close to continue.

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Configuring AccuScore Before using AccuScore to score COMPANION answer sheets, you will need to configurethe application. To configure AccuScore, click on the AccuScore desktop icon or go toStart > Programs > AccuScore > AccuScore.

The screen below will appear. To configure the application, click theConfiguration tab.

This screen will appear so that you can select your default parameters.

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1. Automatically Print After Scan After an answer sheet has been successfully scanned, the application can

automatically print the results.

By selecting Yes (default), the application will automatically print the score resultsto the default printer

By selecting No, the application will not automatically print the score results. It willbe the operator’s responsibility to print the report.

2. Scanner Family The software supports two scanner families. The scanner must be a dual-headedscanner with the capability to scan dual-sided documents. Also it must be pencilread. If you have access to ink read only, please contact ACCUPLACER [email protected].

OpScan and iNsight Series

OpScan 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

insight 2, 3, 4, 5, 30, 70, 150

Scantron SE Series

2000, 2010, 2250, 2260, 2500, 2800

Check the scanner series you will be using. For more information about scanners, goto www.scantron.com.

3. Site Identification The Site Identification value is used to validate the Site ID on the answer sheet. During the scanning process, the Site ID is read from the answer sheet. The Site ID must be one of the values listed on the Site Identification List to be considered valid.

To add a new site value:

Click in the area to the right of the asterisk (*) Key in the new Site ID. It must be 9 numeric characters plus the dash (-). The dash

must be used. Example: XXXXXX-XXX Click Save

To delete a site value:

Highlight by clicking the Site ID to be deletedPress the Delete key on your keyboard Click Save

To change a site value:

Click in the area to the right of the Site ID to be changed Change the value Click Save

4. Save changes In order to save the changes, click the Save. Clicking the Cancel button will undo all changes you have made since the previous save.

5. Exit Click the Exit button to leave the application.

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mailto:[email protected]://www.scantron.com


Scanning Before you start scanning, review each COMPANION answer sheet for completeness.

Required fields:

Last Name Cannot be blank or contain multiple marks

First Name Cannot be blank or contain multiple marks

Date of Test Must be a valid date

Student ID Cannot be blank or contain multiple marks

Date of Birth Must be a valid date

Form F or G Must be marked for all tests taken

Using the perforation, detach the pages of the answer sheet. Be sure to keep the answerdocuments in the proper sequence.

Click the AccuScore desktop icon or go to Start > Programs > AccuScore > AccuScore,where you will see a screen similar to the one below.

Place the COMPANION answer sheets in the scanner face up, feeding in the bottom ofthe page first. Click Start Scanning.

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During the scanning process, ACCUPLACER will validate the data as they are scanned. Ifany of the required fields are missing, the application will display an error message similarto the one below.

Reporting If you chose to automatically print a score report after scanning, a report like the onebelow will be generated.

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Transmitting Data to Your ACCUPLACER Site COMPANION data is transmitted automatically to a SFTP server and will be uploadedto your ACCUPLACER test site within 24 hours. An internet connection is required. Iftest results cannot be transmitted, an error message like the one shown below will bedisplayed.

Once the data have been loaded to your ACCUPLACER site, additional Individual ScoreReports can be generated using the Reports function. It may be helpful to keep all of theirCOMPANION data in a separate test site.

If you want course placements to appear on the Individual Score Report, you will need toadd placement rules to your site. An easy way to create placement rules is to copy yourCAT placement rules and edit them using the COMPANION tests rather than the CAT test.See example below.

Or you can add the COMPANION test to your placement rule as shown below.

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Post Scanning Report After scanning, you will be provided with a report showing the status of each student’sscore. A status of Sent indicates that the data were successfully transmitted to the SFTPserver. When you click on a line in this report, the line will be highlighted. To reprint anIndividual Score Report, click Print. Individual score reports will be available for 20 days.

In the event that a score report was not successfully transmitted, it will have a status ofNot Sent. To resend the score report, highlight it and click Send.

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To select more than one row, hold down the key, and all of the selected rows willbe highlighted. Click Send to retransmit. When the selected data have been successfullytransmitted, the status will be changed to Sent, and the date will change to the transmission date.

Field Descriptions

Student ID The student’s ID from the answer document

Last Name The student’s last name

First Name The student’s first Name

MI The student’s middle initial

Test Date The date the test was administered

Status If status shows Not Sent, the exam failed to transmit to theACCUPLACER site and must be resent

Send button—Use to transmit exams that have not been successfully transmitted. Onlyexams with a status of Not Sent can be sent.

Print button—Use to print or reprint exams previously taken.

Sorting By default, the list is displayed by Status, with Not Sent at the top of the list. You canresort the list by clicking the section title (Student ID, Last Name, First Name, etc.).

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COMPANION Online Paper Processing System Users of the COMPANION paper alternative to ACCUPLACER assessments havetraditionally ordered materials from the College Board, delivered the paper assessments,and used one of a variety of methods to score them. This traditional model forCOMPANION test administration, along with the traditional scoring methods, is detailed inthe COMPANION Administration Manual, available within Resources on the ACCUPLACERonline site.

With the introduction of the Next-Generation ACCUPLACER placement tests, The CollegeBoard is introducing a new method of accessing, administering, and scoring COMPANIONpaper assessments, providing greater flexibility, quicker access, and fewer material coststo institutions. The new COMPANION Online Paper Processing feature described in thisguide will allow institutions to access test forms and answer sheets for COMPANIONtests within the ACCUPLACER website and to upload scanned answer sheets directly intoACCUPLACER for automated scoring.

Features include:

Free download of regular- and large-print versions of the five new next-generationCOMPANION paper test forms, as well as a standard answer sheet document. Next-Generation Reading Next-Generation Writing Next-Generation Arithmetic Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions Free download of next-generation answer sheet documents with bar-coding for

bulk processing Ability to upload scanned images of individual or bulk (up to 25) completed answer

sheets with an automated scoring engine that scores the answer sheet images. Ability to add missing required student/background information and correct issues

caused by erasure that prevent automated scoring. Retention of answer sheet images for up to four (4) years within the ACCUPLACER

platform.

The COMPANION Online Paper Processing feature is available to all active institutionswithin ACCUPLACER at no additional cost. Each test scored by the automated scoringengine will consume one (1) ACCUPLACER unit from your site or institution.

Based on this new process, it is possible to include COMPANION paper test scores inyour placement rules within ACCUPLACER, but you must actively add these tests toyour placement rules. COMPANION paper versions will not automatically be included forplacement decisions based on selecting the online equivalent test(s). When selectingtests for inclusion in placement rules, the COMPANION assessments for this automatedscoring process will include “(Auto Score)” in the test name.

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Accessing and Downloading Test Booklets and Answer Sheets Before administering the COMPANION paper tests, you will need to download and printthe test booklets and enough answer sheet documents based on the number of studentsyou are testing. Test booklets are available for regular and large-print COMPANION testsonly.

NOTE: If you need to administer the COMPANION assessments in braille or audioversions, you will still need to order materials via the College Board orderingprocess using the ACCUPLACER Order Form available under the Order Formslink within the ACCUPLACER website.

Securing Test Materials Protecting the security and confidentiality of ACCUPLACER test materials is critical forensuring valid test scores and providing standard and equal testing opportunities for allstudents.

The Test Administrator is responsible for the security of all testing materials. Exceptduring testing, all test materials must be kept in a locked, secure area that is accessibleonly to the Test Administrator.

Test materials may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part, transferred to anyother party, or used for any other purpose. Reproduction of a test book is a violationof copyright. Beginning in September 2016, COMPANION paper materials will be madeavailable to logged-in users of ACCUPLACER to download and print locally at no cost tothe institution. In addition to protecting physical copies of printed COMPANION tests, it isthe responsibility of your institution to protect these new digital copies of the tests. Test booklets must not be saved to local computers or networks. All breaches of security,whether through carelessness or intentional mishandling of test materials, should be reported by the Test Administrator to ACCUPLACER Customer Support at 866-607-5223.


Viewing and Printing COMPANION Materials To access COMPANION paper materials for regular and large print:

STEP 1: Log in to https://www.accuplacer.org using an Institution Administrator or SiteManager account for your institution/site.

STEP 2: Click on COMPANION Processing in the left navigation pane of the website.

STEP 3: In the expanded COMPANION Processing menu, select the Materials submenu.Use this option for printing test booklets or single answer sheet document setsto be processed one at a time (not in bulk).

https://www.accuplacer.org


STEP 4: Find the desired document within the COMPANION Forms Imported List.Information within the list includes:

COMPANION: The name of the COMPANION test/form or answer Form Name document.

Form Type: The form type will be “Test Form” for COMPANION testanswer booklets or “Answer” for answer documents.

File Name: This is the physical file name that was uploaded to thesystem for this downloadable item. This information isgenerally not used by institutions.

Form Code: For COMPANION tests that have more than one form available, this is the code for the form associated withthis answer sheet. For example, one student may takeNext-Generation Arithmetic Form J, while another takesForm K. It is crucial that the student bubble the correct form in the Form field on the COMPANION answer sheet document.

Date of Upload: The date on which this downloadable item was uploadedto the system. This information is generally not used byinstitutions.

By default, ACCUPLACER displays 10 items per page in the list (you canchange the setting to display up to 250). Click the drop-down menu on the farright of the window to change the number of items per page in the list. You cannavigate to view additional items by using the Next, Previous, First and/or Lastbuttons at the bottom of the list, or by clicking a specific page number at thebottom of the page.

To change the sort order of the downloadable items within the list, you canselect the desired sort column from the Sort By drop-down list and chooseascending or descending sort order by selecting the appropriate button next toSort By.


You can also change the sort order by clicking on the desired column. Thearrow on that column will indicate whether the column is sorting in descendingorder (down arrow) or ascending order (up arrow).

STEP 5: To preview the form online, click the View icon in the Action column for thedesired downloadable item.

A PDF of the selected item will open on your computer. Depending on thespecific browser and software applications available, the file may open withinthe browser or within a PDF viewer application on your computer.

STEP 6: Click the Print icon in the Action column to open a PDF of the selected itemfor printing.


STEP 7: From the PDF, set your desired printing parameters (quantity, etc.) and print toyour local printer.

IMPORTANT: Depending on your browser or software application, be sure thatany “Fit to Page” print options are NOT selected when printing answer sheetdocuments, or ensure printing is set to 100%. Using “Fit to Page” may preventthe scoring engine from properly scoring the form.

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Directions for Automated Scoring of COMPANION Tests Printing Requirements for Answer Sheet Documents COMPANION answer sheet documents available within COMPANION Materials are customized to work with the automated scoring engine when you upload images of theanswer documents into ACCUPLACER. In order to optimize the scoring process andavoid potential issues with scoring, there are a number of special considerations whenprinting.

Ensure your printer has adequate toner to avoid any washout on the answer sheet. Always use Letter (8.5 x 11 inch) or A4 (210 x 297 mm) paper size. Use minimum paper weight of 20# bond. Slightly heavier paper will help prevent

wrinkles or other issues that could impact the scoring engine. Print black and white. Printing color may affect the student’s ability to view letters or

numbers inside bubbles when taking the COMPANION assessments. Single-sided printing only. Duplex printing, especially on lighter paper weight, may

cause issues for the scoring engine. Bulk printing large quantities of answer sheets may skew the positioning of printed

information on later copies within the set. Limit printing of answer sheets to a quantityof 20 per print job.

Use the highest resolution printing to which you have access when printing answerdocuments (minimum recommended is 600 dots per inch (dpi)).

DO NOT adjust the size during printing. Ensure printing is at 100% and any “Fit toPage” options are NOT selected.

After printing answer sheet documents, be sure to visually verify their quality prior tousing the sheets to administer COMPANION tests.

Downloading/Printing COMPANION Answer Sheet Documents for Bulk Processing ACCUPLACER allows you to upload up to 25 answer sheet sets at a time for sitesadministering COMPANION paper assessments in bulk. The bulk upload and scoringprocess requires barcodes that are generated on the answer document sets whenprinted from the system.

Each page of the four-page answer document set has a unique barcode. The initialportion of the barcode is the unique document set identifier, while the last digit of thebarcode is the page number.

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To download/print answer sheet documents for bulk processing:

STEP 1: Log into https://www.accuplacer.org using an Institution Administrator or SiteManager account for your institution/site.

STEP 2: Click on COMPANION Processing in the left navigation pane of the website.

STEP 3: In the expanded Companion Processing menu, select the Print AnswerDocuments for Bulk Scoring submenu

54

https://www.accuplacer.org


The Print Answer Documents for Bulk Scoring Screen will appear.

STEP 4: Select the desired answer document for printing from the COMPANIONAnswer Document drop down menu.

STEP 5: Enter the number of answer sheets you would like to download/print in theEnter Number of Copies field. Each copy of the answer sheet document is fourpages. Because each answer sheet set is uniquely identified by a barcode,do not make photocopies of the printed answer sheets. Once initiated, thedownload/print process will generate a single PDF file with the specifiednumber of four-page document sets. In the example below, the resulting PDFwould be 100 pages.

STEP 6: Click the Print button.

When the PDF has been generated, you will receive a confirmation on thescreen. Click the Download button to download the PDF.

If you need to re-print the PDF, or if you wish to download and print thePDF at a later time, each answer sheet set you generate is maintained inthe COMPANION Batch Print Summary portion of the page. The Batch PrintSummary includes a unique Print ID for each batch, the total number of uniqueidentifiers (4-page sets) within the batch, and the date on which the batch wasgenerated and the user who generated it.

55


STEP 7: To download and print your answer sheet document PDF from the Batch PrintSummary, click on the Download icon under the Action column of the summary.

STEP 8: To view a list of unique identifiers (UIDs) included within the batch, click the ViewUIDs icon under the Action column of the summary.

A COMPANION Batch Print Details screen will open, providing each 4-page setunique identifier contained within the batch.

For larger batches, you can search for a specific unique identifier using theSearch UID field.

STEP 9: To delete a batch from the Batch Print Summary, click the Delete icon under theAction column of the summary.

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You will be asked to confirm the request to delete the batch. Click Yes todelete the batch or No to return to the summary and keep the batch

STEP 10: Once you have downloaded the PDF for your batch of answer document sets,you can use your computer’s print function to print the forms. Follow theguidelines specified in the Special Printing Requirements for Answer SheetDocuments section of this guide.

Processing Answer Sheet Documents After Administration After administering the COMPANION paper assessments, you will need to processthem for scoring by capturing images of the answer sheets and uploading them intoACCUPLACER. For answer sheets that cannot be scored upon upload, you can use anedit program within ACCUPLACER to try to resolve some potential scoring issues.

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that proctors or Site Managers collecting theCOMPANION paper assessments visually inspect each student’s answer sheetfor completeness and accuracy prior to the student leaving the test center orschool. Any missing information or questions about intended item responsescan then be resolved prior to upload and scoring.

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Suggestions for inspection and visual verification include:

Names, Student ID, and Date of Birth. Complete Student ID is filled out at the bottom of each page.Any required background questions. The Site ID where the test is administered (supplied by the proctor). The form code for each COMPANION test administered to the student. Check answer sheet documents to ensure they are in good condition

and free of wrinkles or other damage that might prevent proper imagingor scoring.

Visually scan for any items where it appears that more than one responsewas bubbled or no response was bubbled, and verify the desired responseoption with the student. If necessary, have the student completely fill inthe desired response bubble and/or more completely erase unintendedresponse bubbles. Any multiple-choice test items containing multiple-response bubbles as well as any items with no response bubbled, will bescored as incorrect.


Imaging COMPANION Answer Sheet Documents Once you have verified the answer sheet with the student, you are ready to captureimages of the answer documents. Please do not write on answer sheets until after imaging and uploading them into ACCUPLACER. Doing so may negatively affectACCUPLACER’s ability to score the sheets.

STEP 1: Following manufacturer’s guidelines and documentation, use a desktopscanner or office copier/scanner to capture images of your answer sheetdocument pages. Images can be saved in any of the following formats:

PDF (.pdf) JPEG (.jpg) TIFF (.tif)

If you are using PDF, it is most efficient to save one file with all pages of theanswer sheet for that student’s COMPANION test to allow a single file to beuploaded. When using JPEG or TIFF format, you must upload individual files foreach answer sheet document page.

STEP 2: In addition to the image types noted above, as part of your scanning/imaging,be sure that you adhere to the following requirements:

Scan/image quality must be 300 dpi (dots per inch) or greater. Must scan to original paper size (100%). No enlarging or reducing. Scan image orientation must be portrait, not landscape, and images, when

viewed in the system, must appear right-side up. If images are scannedupside down, they will not be scorable.

Verify that images are not skewed (rotated left or right) due to placementwithin the scanner/copier.

Uploading Answer Sheet Document Images for Scoring Once you have captured images for your answer sheet documents, you must uploadthem into ACCUPLACER for scoring. The COMPANION paper upload and scoring processcan be performed on batches of up to 25 four-page answer sheets document sets at atime. If you are processing more than one answer sheet at a time, it is critical that you areusing Next-Generation COMPANION answer sheets generated from ACCUPLACER withthe unique identifying barcode in the upper-right corner of the page. These barcodesidentify a unique set of four-page answer sheet documents sets, including a pagenumber as part of the code.


The COMPANION Online Paper Processing feature can be used by InstitutionAdministrators (IAs) or by Site Managers (SMs) within ACCUPLACER.

Institution Administrator: Using the feature at the IA level will consume units fromthe institution unit bank when tests on an answer sheet document are scored. You may only view paper test formsthat you have uploaded/processed in ACCUPLACER withyour user account. However, Institution Administrators CANview any resulting Individual Score Reports (ISRs) acrossthe institution after the paper forms have been scored bythe system.

Site Manager: Using the feature at the SM level will consume units fromthe site unit bank if the site has units allocated to it. If the site does not have units, the units for any scored test willbe consumed from the institution unit bank. You may onlyview paper test forms that you have uploaded/processedin ACCUPLACER with your user account. Site Managers areable to see any resulting ISRs at their site after the paperforms have been scored by the system.

Required Answer Sheet Pages for Successful Scoring

COMPANION upload and scoring processes work best when you upload completeanswer document sets including all four pages. Below are the definitions for pagesthat are required or optional, but ACCUPLACER recommends using complete four-page sets.

Page 1 Page 1 is always required. Without the student ident