Frequently Asked Questions - General
Who can be a Test Administrator or Proctor?
Any employee of the school district who has successfully completed the PSTAT training and the training conducted by the School Assessment Coordinator (SAC) may serve as Test Administrators. Student teachers employed by the school district may serve as Test Administrators. Student teachers not employed by the school district may not serve as Test Administrators but may observe the administration.
Can students use calculators for the Mathematics and Science assessments?
All handheld calculators must have the memory cleared before and after each test session.
Online PSSA and Keystone Mathematics and Science assessments provide Desmos calculators, but students may use a handheld calculator as well.
An updated calculator policy is available on the PDE website.
Mathematics
Students taking the PSSA in grade 3 may not use calculators for any portion of the PSSA.
Students taking the PSSA in grades 4 through 8 may not use calculators for problems on pages 4 and 5 which are labeled non-calculator. After completing these few questions, students may use a calculator for the remaining questions in section 1 and for all questions in section 2.
Students taking the Algebra I Exam may use a calculator for the entire assessment.
Science
Students in grades 4 and 8 may use a calculator for the entire assessment.
Students taking the Biology Exam may use a calculator for the entire assessment.
When can a Test Administrator read a part of the assessment to students?
Test Administrators may read a word or short phrase to a student when the student asks for both paper and online assessments. For example, if a student asks a Test Administrator to read the word “perpendicular,” the Test Administrator may read the word to the student. The Test Administrator may not define the word “perpendicular” or cue the student to the correct answer.
If a student has a read aloud accommodation as part of an IEP or 504 plan, the Test Administrator may read the Mathematics and Science assessments only (not ELA) to the student or small group during paper and pencil administration. For online administration, the DAC or SAC selects the online Audio accommodation in the DRC INSIGHT Portal for both subjects and the accommodation will be delivered in audio mode automatically to the student.
How should Test Administrators handle restroom breaks?
For a paper and pencil administration, the student’s booklets must be closed and remain on the student’s desk until they return from the restroom. For an online administration, students should click pause and then resume when they return..
During the test session, one student at a time should be in the restroom. A proctor or hall monitor must accompany the student to the restroom. The student’s test booklet and answer booklet must be closed and remain on the student’s desk until they return from the restroom.
What happens if a student needs to re-test?
There are a variety of reasons (cheating or cell phone violations, for example) why a student would need to re-test. If asked or instructed by PDE, the SAC should arrange to have the student re-tested before or during the make-up window. If administering a paper and pencil assessment, a different Form number must be used. Place a Do Not Score label on the original answer booklet and bubble the student’s information exactly as it appears in PIMS on the new answer booklet with a school label. Return all booklets to DRC. If administering an online assessment, contact DRC Customer Service for a new test session to be assigned to the student.
What materials should be covered or removed from testing areas?
Any materials or posters which relate to the content being assessed should be covered or removed from the testing area. Digital clocks, analog clocks and motivational posters do not need to be removed or covered unless the poster has subject related content.
What happens when a student gets sick during the assessment?
PDE allows the student to pick-up on the assessment when the student returns to school. The student is to be monitored so he/she does not go back to any completed items.
For paper, if the student became ill on the booklet. If it is possible, the previous answers will need to be transcribed into another booklet of the same form number. If not possible, PDE will need to be contact for re-testing of items.
For online, the district assessment coordinator will need to unlock the test ticket and record the reason for unlocking.
Who is responsible for ensuring student participation and ordering materials?
Special programs and sites that educate students from public districts are required to administer the tests. However, it is a district’s responsibility to confirm these sites understand their obligation. All special programs can order testing materials directly from DRC. Districts should ensure that the sites order materials from DRC rather than provide any of the district’s materials to a special program.
Can students from different grades be together in one room for the PSSA?
Generally, no. The Directions for Administration Manual includes grade-specific instructions that are to be read aloud by the test administrator. Reading directions for multiple grades in the same room could create confusion. It may be possible to have students from different grades in small make-up sessions if the school can ensure that each student receives the appropriate test instructions.
Do I need to administer the tests to a homebound student?
Yes. The student’s homebound instructor should administer the test at the student’s home. The homebound instructor must be made aware that all testing materials are secure and cannot be left in the student's home or remain in the instructor’s possession. Instead, the instructor should return the materials at the end of each day/session for storage in the school’s designated secure location.
Do I have to administer the tests to home-schooled students, non-public students, or cyber school students who want to test at my school?
Home-schooled and non-public students are not required to test, but PDE asks that public schools take reasonable measures to cooperate with the parents of home-schooled and non-public students who want to have their children tested. A District/School label should be affixed to the student’s booklet and “Student is home-schooled and assessed at parental request” should be bubbled on the booklet to ensure the student’s results are reported properly. Note: home-schooled and non-public students cannot participate in the online assessment.
Cyber school students: schools/districts are encouraged to accommodate requests to test cyber school students if it is logistically possible to do so. The cyber school may send the student’s precode label(s) to the testing site for attribution.
Do I have to administer the tests to Foreign Exchange students?
Yes. However, a foreign exchange students’ performance will not be included in a school’s accountability calculations. Only participation will be included at the school, district, and state level.
Is scratch paper allowed on all assessments?
Yes, scratch paper is allowed and encouraged for all assessments, including online assessments. Schools are also allowed to provide graph paper as scratch paper.
When should make-up exams be completed during the testing window?
Make-up exams can be administered at any time during the testing window. Schools do not need to wait for the designated window to administer make-up exams, and all make-up testing must be complete by the end of the PDE-established testing windows.
Can students use additional paper to respond to open ended items?
No. The students need to write their responses in the space provided. Any answers written on separate sheets of paper will not be scored.
What if students need extended time?
Extended testing must occur immediately after the close of a session (i.e., when the majority of the students have completed the test within a timeline deemed as sufficient by the assessment coordinator). Any student who needs additional time should be given this accommodation and moved to a separate location to continue taking the test. The student should not be allowed to go to lunch or a different class period before beginning the extended time, and all extended testing must be completed on the same day the test session was started. The SAC must have a designated area for students who need additional time to complete the assessments. These students must be accompanied by a Test Administrator to the designated location. The Test Administrator must transport all testing materials. Students are not permitted to transport their own test materials.
A student was absent when Section 1 was administered. Where should they begin working?
If a student was absent for Section 1 of the PSSA or Module 1 of the Keystone Exam and returns when other students are taking Section 2 of the PSSA or Module 2 of the Keystone Exams, the student should complete Section 2 of the PSSA or Module 2 of the Keystone Exams with the other students.
The student can complete the missed section at any time before the end of the testing window.