Administering &
Proctoring the NYS
Assessments
Liane Benedict
Oswego County BOCES
CCR calls for changes in instructional
approaches to align with the Six Shifts in
ELA & Math ~ the NYS Testing Program
has been redesigned to measure student
learning aligned to these shifts.
 Speaking & Listening will not be measured
on the ELA assessments.
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Test Design Changes
ELA Assessments will consist of 4 books
administered over 3 days.
 Math assessments will consist of 3 books
administered over 3 days.
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(Please see NYS Test Guides for further
information regarding test design).
Test Design

ELA Assessments
◦ Grade 3 & 4 ~ 70 min. per day
◦ Grade 5-8 ~ 90 min. per day

Math assessments
◦ Grade 3 ~ 70 min. per day
◦ Grade 4 ~ 70 min. Day 1 & 2, 90 min. Day 3
◦ Grade 5-8 ~ 90 min. per day

(Please see NYS Test Guides for further
information regarding test design).
Test Design
All questions based on deep reading of
informational, literary or paired texts.
 All texts will be authentic and grade level
appropriate.
 Field test questions will be embedded.

◦ Please see Teacher Directions for further
information on embedded questions
ELA Key Points

The new Math test questions will require:
◦ multiple steps involving the interpretation of
operations.
◦ conceptual understanding and fluency in order
to solve real world problems.

Relying solely on algorithms will not be
sufficient.

Field test questions will be embedded.
◦ Please see Teacher Directions for further
information on embedded questions
Math Key Points
Teacher Directions
 Test booklets (1-4)
 Answer sheets

◦ Pre-coded or generic
Pencils
 “Do Not Disturb” sign
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Test Materials: ELA
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Teacher Directions
Test booklets (1-3)
Answer sheets
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Pencils
“Do Not Disturb” sign
Rulers

Protractors
◦ Pre-coded or generic
◦ All students Grade 3-8 must be provided with a
ruler for his or her exclusive use during the entire
test
◦ All students Grade 4-8 must be provided with a
protractor for his or her exclusive use during the
entire test
Test Materials: Math

Calculators
◦ Grade 3-5 may not use a calculator
◦ Grade 6 ~ Book 2 & 3 only
 Four-function w/ square root key or a scientific calculator
◦ Grade 7 & 8 ~ Book 2 & 3 only
 Scientific calculator
Note: NO calculators, of any kind, are permitted for use on Grades 6, 7, and 8
Mathematics Test Book 1 because this part of the test measures students’
proficiencies involving calculations.

Reference Sheets
◦ Each student testing in Grades 5–8 will be provided
with a mathematics reference sheet for his or her
exclusive use during the tests. This sheet is printed
inside each of the three test books.
Test Materials: Math

Materials are secured in a safe or vault upon
arrival in district
◦ Inventoried in shrink wrap

Not allowed:

Tests secured following test administration
until scoring
Scoring materials destroyed

◦ Photocopies
◦ Use of extra books
◦ Discussion of test items/content via electronic
means
◦ Soft scoring
Test Security
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Spaced seating
Clear desks
Cover or remove any visible support
material
Quiet, free from interruptions
Proctor visibility
Organizing the Room
Directions Read only.
No spell checking/grammar devices.
May NOT waive use of complete
sentences, spelling grammar, punctuation.
 May use scribe – word processor
recommended.

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◦ Please see Teacher Directions for specific
information regarding procedures for scribes.
For ELL students, please refer to the School
Administrators Manual for guidance.
ELA Accommodations
Reading of test questions is permitted.
 Use of a scribe is permitted.
 Use of counting blocks, counters, or an
abacus are permitted.
 For all 3 books in Grades 3-5 and book 1
of Grades 6-8 (even if use of a calculator or table is
in the IEP or 540 plan), use of a calculator or
mathematics table is not allowed.

o
Please see Teacher Directions for specific information
regarding procedures for reading questions, scribes,
manipulatives, and calculators.
Math Accommodations


Follow process of administration as
explained in Teacher Directions
May not provide assistance to students,
however…
◦ May check for answers left blank, more than one
answer bubbled, staying on task or mechanics of
the test
◦ Must record answers in test booklet

Supervision of students
◦ “must circulate periodically”
◦ Monitor to ensure no unauthorized use of materials
or assistance
◦ Temporary absence
 Accompanied by a proctor
Proctoring

Student cheating
◦ Must be reported
Evacuation of building
 Student illness

◦ Time missed allowed to be made up

Misadministration and/or irregularities in
administration
◦ Must be reported
Proctoring
Encourage students to review questions
 May take out a book to read (but nothing
else).
 If all finish early, the teacher may end the
test session prior to the allotted time.

When finishing early…
Refusals
 Absences
 No rubber bands or clips
 Daily roster notes
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Quality Control
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Facilitated by principal
May start on second day of test
administration
Make up days may be used to complete
initial administration of the test
Administered in the sequential order
Record “absent” for each section for which
student does not complete test
Make Up Testing

For information regarding ELL, Alternate
Language, Braille exams or any further
information regarding administration of
the 2013 3-8 Assessments please see the
NYS 2013 School Administrators Manual.
Further Information