NAU GEAR UP Webinar on the
Administration of EXPLORE
Director, Program Solutions
ACT West Region

EXPLORE Administration Webinar
•Welcome and Introductions
•Participation Instructions
•What We Will Cover
•How Questions Will Be Addressed
•Future Viewing
•ACT Resources and Contacts
•Lets Get Started!

ACT’s
EXPLORE and reference materials that will be very helpful to you during and after the workshop.

EXPLORE Policies and Procedures
EXPLORE is a standardized test.
This manual details directions for administering EXPLORE in a standardized way which will benefit you and your students.

You will receive:
 Test Supervisor’s Manual (1 per 20 students)
 “Why Take EXPLORE?” Handouts
– Available in Spanish http://www.act.org/explore/downloads.html
 Instructions for Completing Your Answer Folder
 Test Booklets
 Answer Folders
 School Header
 USPS Postage Prepaid Return Envelopes

Take the time to read and understand the
Test Supervisor’s Manual

• Arrangements for test administration
• Proctors one per room or as needed if you are testing in more than one room
• Bell schedules
• Calculators Permitted/Prohibited
(pg. 9 Supervisor’s Manual)

•Pre-ID labels
Must be applied to page 1 of EXPLORE answer folder BEFORE the test for students who do not have a Pre-ID label, please have them bubble their answer sheets to include all the fields that the Pre-ID requires.
Ensure that Answer folders/test booklets are properly sorted in advance by class to ensure efficient and accurate distribution
Ensure students names are on their test booklets as well as their answer sheets
•Recommend entering Special Status Codes ( SPED,LEP) on Answer folder when pre-ID Labels are applied (pgs. 40-41
Test Supervisor’s Manual)

Review and familiarize yourselves with the steps and instructions for completing the Answer Folder

All Districts Will Use Pre-ID labels
Please ensure that your district/school has orde Pre-
ID labels as detailed in the instructions found on the
ACT Pre-ID website: http://www.act.org/education/order/preid/ .
For more information regarding ordering of test materials or Pre-ID labels, please contact ACT
Customer Services at:
EXPLORE 800/553-6244, ext. 1892 or
EXPLORECustomerService@act.org

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Pre-ID Label
(Barcode) Instructions
Instructions for Completing
Your Answer Folder – Page 3
15

Pre-ID Label Instructions for Students
Instructions for Completing
Your Answer Folder – Page 3
16

Accommodations are determined by the school/district for students that ordinarily use the following to support their learning:
Pgs.14-18
EXPLORE
Test
Supervisor’s
Manual
– Large Print
– Braille
– Audiocassette or CD
– Reader’s Script

 Prepare testing room(s); gain support to create quiet hallways in the area where testing will take place.
– Avoid auditoriums and cafeterias
 Testing supervisors and room supervisors must prepare properly (read and simulate your test day needs)
 Proctor – optional dependent on # of students
 Stop watch or interval timer
 Extra #2 pencils, erasers, and a pencil sharpener
 Scratch paper
 Account for all testing materials
 Provide roster of students assigned to each test room

 Send home “Why Take
EXPLORE?
”
Schedule a pre-test session for non-cognitive
 Benefits of EXPLORE
– Career exploration
– Planning high school courses
– Preparing for college
 Brief career discussion
 Brief explanation about interest inventories

Review with staff and students the
EXPLORE Guidelines
 Unauthorized Testing Aids
 Questions/Guessing
 Rest Periods
 Leaving the Room During Testing
 Announcement of Time Remaining
 Electronic Devices
 What Constitutes a “Test
Irregularity” during testing
Refer to Supervisor’s Manual for additional guidance pgs. 19-22

What do the Students Need?
 Pencils & Erasers
 Calculators? ( pg. 9 Supervisor’s Manual)
 Instructions for Completing your Answer
Folder
 Instructions for Completing the Supplemental
Questions required by NAU.
 Answer Folder (with assigned Pre-ID Label)
 Test Booklet (make certain students write their full name on the test booklet cover)

Instructions and Procedural
Testing Sequence
Student Information Section
Pgs. 23-25
Pgs. 3-5

Instructions and Procedural
Testing Sequence (cont.)
Pg. 30 Use Option 3 for Pre ID
Label users
Pg. 33 Instructions for Academic
Tests
Test 1 English
Test 2 Math
Test 3 Reading
Test 4 Science
Pgs. 44-46 Disposition of Answer
Folders and Test Materials
Pg. 65 Testing Irregularity Report
Pg. 63 Room Supervisor Comments

Administration of Non-cognitive Information
EXPLORE - Part 1
Non-cognitive (45-60 minutes
– must be completed prior to testing)
 Student Information
 Plans and Background
 Needs Assessment
 Supplemental Local Items
(NAU Website)
 UNIACT Interest Inventory
 72 Questions
Supervisor’s Manual - Pgs. 24-28
25

EXPLORE Part 1
Non-cognitive (45-60 minutes may be completed prior to the tests )
 Student Information
 Plans and Background
 Needs Assessment
 Supplemental Local Items
 UNIACT Interest Inventory
 72 Questions
Pg. 6-7

Academic Test Administration
EXPLORE Part 2
Academic Sections (120 min)
 English 40 Items (30 min)
 Math 30 Items (30 min)
– Calculators Allowed
 Break (5-10 min)
 Reading 30 Items (30 min)
 Science 28 Items (30 min)
 General Administration (10 min)
Students Must Complete All
Sections
Pgs. 27-33

Although Pre-ID labels will be used, it is still important for students to complete the following blocks:
E, F, J, K, L and M only
Blocks to Ignore:
A, B, D, G, H, I, N, O, P, Q,
R, and S
Block to be filled in after test booklets are distributed: K

Important
Reminder
Section M:
Supplemental
Local
Questions
Provides
School specific data on your students
You will need to make copies for each student
29

– For Non-Cognitive Section: Read instructions aloud to students ( Use Option #3 in Test
Supervisor’s Manual on pg. 30 ).
– For Academic Sections: Read aloud instructions from Supervisor’s Manual (beginning on pg. 33), as students read along in their answer folders.

What To Do Once Testing is Over
 Collect Answer Folders
– Ensure that each student has marked the correct test form code in block
“K” at the bottom of page 1.
– Ensure student information is entered/bubbled in correctly.
– Ensure pencil marks are complete. (no stray marks)
 Collect, Check, (for name),and Store Test
Booklets for Redistribution
– Students should write first and last name on test booklet to ensure appropriate return of Test booklets to the original student users.
– Ensure you store these test booklets in a secure location for later review.
– Extra test booklets (unused) save and store in a secure location for use once test results are returned.

 Fill Out School
Header
 Pre-printed label will be on header
 Make sure or correctly enter your three-digit contract/cycle code (203) in block “K” .

Mail all answer folders (standard, make-up, accommodation testing) together.
Place your school header on top of your stack of answer folders in your first envelope.
If you have testing irregularities fill out the Testing Irregularity
Reports and place the report(s) in the first envelope of answer folders.
If you are submitting a large number of answer folders for scoring, try and use a single box rather than multiple envelopes to ensure all materials arrive at the ACT scoring center together.
If you need to ship more than one box, please number them
(1 of 3), (2 of 3), etc…
Pgs. 40-44
EXPLORE Test
Supervisor’s Manual

Mailing Answer Folders for Scoring
 Place Answer Folders in ACT Pre-Paid Envelope(s)
 Each School Mails in
Answer Folders to ACT
 Allow 3 Weeks for School
Level Reports and Student
Score Reports to Arrive

Schools will receive:
 Reports and Supporting
Materials
 Student Score Reports
 Student Score Labels
 Using Your EXPLORE Results
 Roster of Student Records
 Profile Summary Report by
School
 Presentation Packet
 Item Response Summary
Report
 Early Intervention Rosters
 Data File CD
Districts will receive:
 Profile Summary Report by
District
 Item Response Summary
Report by District
 District Data File CD
 Copies of School Profile
Summary Reports
Pgs.51-56
EXPLORE Test
Supervisor’s
Manual

ACT and NAU GEAR UP will hold 2 types of
Data Interpretation Workshops this year:
Option A:
EXPLORE 101 Refresher Webinar – December 6
(prior participants)
Option B:
EXPLORE 101 Regional Workshops – January 2013
(all new participants)
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OPTION A:
EXPLORE 101 Refresher Webinar
December 6, 2012 Webinar
This webinar is REQUIRED for any District
Liaison and & CC Coach who: a) participated in an EXPLORE Regional
Workshop (‘EXPLORE 101’) last January,
AND b) plans to conduct the required postassessment activities with students and parents before the January 2013 EXPLORE
101 Workshops ).
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EXPLORE 101 Refresher Webinar
Webinar will cover:
 Provide updated PowerPoints for Student and Parent Sessions
 College and Career Planning Guides and PreECAPS
 Final Reports
 Student Score Report
 Profile Summary Report
 Item-Response Summary Report
 Early Intervention Rosters
 College Readiness Standards and Benchmarks
 Rigorous core courses and their impact
 What to do next with the data

Option B:
EXPLORE 101 Regional Workshops
January 2013
Locations and dates TBD
Participation in one of these regional workshops is REQUIRED for any District
Liaison or CC Coach who did not participate in an EXPLORE Regional Workshop last January
– in other words, 2012-13 is your first year as a
Liaison or Coach
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EXPLORE 101 Regional Workshops
Workshops will cover:
 Helping Students and Parents Understand, Use and Act on
EXPLORE Results (PowerPoints and use of Materials)
 College and Career Planning Guides and PreECAP’s
 Final Reporting Guide/Final Reports for NAU/GEAR UP
 Student Score Report
 Profile Summary Report
 Item-Response Summary Report
 Early Intervention Rosters
 Many other resources to help your students
 College Readiness Standards and Benchmarks
 Rigorous core courses and their impact
 What to do next with the data
42

http://pages.s6.exacttarget.com/CCPGOrder/

• EXPLORE Student Website www.explorestudent.org
• Materials for Educators www.act.org/explore/downloads.html
• ACT Website http://www.act.org
• EXPLORE Arizona Project Website https://sites.google.com/site/exploreazproject/home

Instructions for how to access and or share this presentation/workshop
Website URL: Ann will send the recorded link out at the conclusion of the Webinar
Webinar and PowerPoint will also be available on the EXPLORE Website: http://Sites.google.com/site/exploreazproject/home
48

For Additional Information:
Ann Connelly
602-728-9526 ann.connelly@nau.edu
Stephanie Lewis
916-631-9200 stephanie.lewis@act.org