General Information for New Mexico High School Competency Exams Regular Administration
1.
Tests must be administered only to 12thgrade students and those former students (13thgrade) who have completed the
coursework for a diploma but neglected to take the test or did not pass all subtests. Grade ‘13’ students may return
within 5 years of exiting the school system to take and pass New Mexico High School Competency Exams
(NMHSCE). The NMHSCE contains six sections: Writing, Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social
Studies. Students may not need to take all six subtests. For NMHSCE, please use the permanent ID (6 number from
provided list) to fill in the student ID.
2.
The testing date, time and place must be announced to the students prior to testing window. The students must be
notified the subject(s) they will be tested. Students may be grouped based on the number or type of subtests they will be
taking. There should not be more than 30 students in each testing room.
3.
The NMHSCE is NOT timed and students should be given sufficient time to complete each subtest. The tests should be
administered in a quiet area (not the cafeteria or gym) free from distractions. The “Do Not Disturb” sign must be posted
on the door of all classrooms where the students are taking the test.
4.
No. 2 pencils, paper, calculators, dictionaries, and thesaurus will be provided for the students by the school.

Please note that calculators are allowed to be used ONLY with Mathematics Part 2. (see page 8 of Test
Administrator’s manual)

Students MAY NOT use any other materials, including a dictionary, thesaurus, etc., EXCEPT to check their draft
compositions. (see page 3 of Test Administrator’s manual)

Security seals must be used to seal each of the six subtests of the exam.
5.
Testing Schedule (Approximately 2 hours each day)
Tuesday
Jan. 22, 2008
Complete demographic information and administer Reading Subtest
Wednesday
Jan. 23, 2008
Administer Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics Subtests
Thursday
Jan. 24, 2008
Administer Science and Social Studies Subtests
6.
Each student should receive one test booklet and one answer booklet. Do not distribute test booklet to students until the
written composition test has been administered.
7.
At least one teacher or administrator MUST be assigned and physically present in each testing room as Test Examiner.
Any trained community member may act as Proctor to assist the Test Examiner and the NON-DISCLOSURE form
provided needs to be filled and signed. All administrators and proctors for this assessment need to be trained by School
Testing Coordinator.
8.
All test materials must be held secure before testing, during testing, and after testing is completed. Test materials may
not be photocopied or reproduced. It is illegal, due to copyright laws, and unethical to copy, take notes, or describe
any assessment items. Materials must not be distributed until actual testing commences and must be returned to secure
storage as soon as testing is completed each day. Records must be kept on all secure materials, verifying to whom and
when materials are distributed, by sequential number, for testing purposes. Records should also show the return of
materials, accounting for each and every test booklet or other secure materials. DO NOT DESTROY ANY TEST
MATERIALS OR SHIPPING BOXES. All test materials MUST be returned to the Assessment and Evaluation Office
by the due date (See attached testing calendar). “Test Materials, Photocopy or Reproduce Is Prohibited” sign should be
posted at all copier machines of the school.
9.
Test Examiners, Proctors, or other personnel who are administering assessments may not, under any circumstances,
prompt students or provide answers to the students. Test Examiners or Proctors may not change answers or direct
students to change answers. In addition, staff may not review the assessment items with students, explaining or
providing instruction regarding the answers. If a certified staff member does any of the above, or related activities, the
individual’s licensure may be jeopardized.
9.
The School Test Coordinator MUST make the extra effort to ensure that the student information on the answer booklet is
filled in correctly. Training for all Test Examiners and Proctors who will be administering assessments MUST be
conducted.
10. The “FOR TEST ADMIN. USE ONLY” section requires specific information about the student that should be filled in
by the Test Examiner. To do so, the School Test Coordinator will need to provide the required data to the Test
Administrator. Required data are: ELL (English Language Learner); Free/Reduced; Bilingual; 504 Accommodation;
Special Education; and, 40th Day. This data is confidential and is not to be shared. After the students have completed
the test, the Test Examiner should fill in the bubbles in this section.
11. Test materials MUST be inventoried upon receipt. Any discrepancies between the inventory and the delivery receipt
MUST be reported to the Assessment and Evaluation Office immediately. The School Test Coordinator will be held
accountable for test materials as per the delivery receipt.
12. Test administrators do not have the authority to invalidate an examination. A recommendation must be made to the
school Test coordinator who may, following communication with and verification from Dr. Suchint Sarangarm,
invalidate an examination. To in validate a test, write “VOID” across the answer grid but after verification from Dr.
Suchint Saranagrm.
13. On the multiple choice portion of examination, a subtest will be scored if there are at least five (5) valid attempts within
first fifteen (15) items of the subtest. Otherwise, the subtest will be considered a “NON-ATTEMPT”.
14. Procedure for collecting test materials, verifying student biographical information, completing the Group Information
Sheet and the School/Group List, and returning ALL test materials to Assessment and Evaluation Office (see pages 1011 of Test Administrator’s Manual).
15. Test booklets should be placed, in sequential order, into the same boxes in which the original shipment of materials
arrived.
16. Complete GROUP INFORMATION SHEET or GIS (print teacher name, number of student tested, and fill for grade).
Place completed GIS on top of answer booklets. DO NOT combine grades on one GIS
17. Complete the SCHOOL GROUP LIST (List each teacher, grade, number of student tested). Place SCHOOL GROUP
LIST on top of your school answer booklets.
18. Procedure for distributing materials need to be well documented.
2007-08 Testing Calendar
New Mexico Statewide/RISD Assessment Program
Test Name
PSAT/NMSQT pilot project.
Administration Date
Oct. 18, 2007
New Mexico High School Competency Exam (NMHSCE) English &
Spanish versions for 11-12+, make up testing for absent students Oct. 1216
Oct. 9-11, 2007
NM Alternate Performance Assessment (NMAPA) for Seniors
Nov. 1-30, 2007
Administer the 7th Grade, 8th Grade Mathematics and Algebra Final
Exams for middle school and high school students
Dec 17-19, 2008
New Mexico High School Competency Exam (NMHSCE)
Jan. 23 - 25, 2008
English & Spanish Grades 10-12+, make up testing for absent students
Jan. 28-31
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Grades 4, 8, & 12
Jan. 22-Mar. 2, 2008
New Mexico Standards Based Assessments (NMSBA) for Grades 3-9 &
11, make up testing for absent students Mar. 7-14
Feb. 26 - March 6, 2008
New Mexico Alternate Performance Assessment (NMAPA) for grades 312+
March 3 - April 4, 2008
New Mexico English Language Proficiency Assessment (NMELPA)
April 1 - May 2, 2008
Administer the 7th Grade, 8th Grade Mathematics and Algebra Final
Exams for middle school students
May 12-15, 2008
Administer the Algebra I Final Exams for high school students
May 19-22, 2008
Classroom Checklist for NMHSCE
Regular Administration, 2007-2008
Test booklet ID
Number
Student Name (Last, First)
Date
Received
Date
Returned
Comments
Teacher _____________________________ School Testing Coordinator_________________________
(
)
(
)
School Name:____________________________________ Date:__________________________________
NMHSCE Regular Administration Distribution
Checklist for Teacher
2007-08
School Name:____________________________________ Date:__________________________________
Test
booklet ID
Number
Teacher
Name
Date
Teacher
Received Signature
Date
Returned
Teacher School Testing
Signature
Signature