key elements for a successful administration facilitated by: law school admission council susan...

KEY ELEMENTSFOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION

Facilitated by:Law School Admission CouncilSusan DeMarco Frances MercedesTerri Neuman

In collaboration with MaryRuth Pierce,University of Delaware

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KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION

• Pretest Planning

• Well-Monitored Break

• Complete Accountability

• Be Ready for the Unexpected

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Pretest Planning

• When do you contact, confirm test schedules and train staff?

– Well in advance

• Training–Do staff receive training?

–LSAC offers training

• Do you assign specific roles for staff?• When do you reserve rooms?

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Pretest Planning• Do you designate the check-in area ahead of time?

• Do you confirm availability of area for check-in?

• Are there campus tours scheduled for that day?

• Will anyone else be using that area?

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Pretest Planning• What are the necessary tools?

–Roster, Supervisor Irregularity Report (SIR),

scissors/slitter, tape• Do you have a resolution table?

– And…what is a resolution table?– Location of table – Contact information numbers handy-LSAC

Test Administration, campus security, facilities, and emergency numbers

• Where to store materials?• Were arrangements made with the central receiving department?

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• Prior to the test– Do you contact campus event services to

reserve the rooms?• Do you visit the testing rooms?• What you are assessing

– Are lighting, heating, and air conditioning in working order?

– Are desks / tables set up correctly?– Are other activities going on?

– Construction– Other campus events

• Do you post signs? – Directional/prohibited items, etc.

Pretest Planning

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• Do you make general announcements?– Ziploc bags– ID– Admission ticket– Prohibited items

• Do you post roster with room assignments?

– Location, location, location– Lets students view room assignment before

check-in– Random or assigned seating – Sample Roster Posting– Example: A – G – seating – caveats?– No more than first three letters of last name

Pretest Planning

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• Samples of roster signs for room assignments

– Last (Family) Name starting with:

AA - GA, GE - LA, LE - PU, RA – YU– Last (Family) Name starting with:

A - G, H - L, M - R, S – Z– Last (Family) Name starting with first three

letters:

Alo - Geo, Hal - Lol, Mas - Run, Sab – You

Pretest Planning

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Pretest Planning

• Day of test check-in

• Do you schedule a pretest meeting with staff?

• Do you reconfirm roles with staff?

• Do you have an ID-thumbprint table?

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Pretest Planning

• When the testing room and the check-in areas are not in close proximity, do you…

– Escort test takers to the testing rooms individually?

– Escort test takers in a group to the testing rooms?

Do you have seating assignments?– Preplanned or first come first seated

• Are you able to identify and separate groups of friends?

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KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION

• Pretest Planning

• Well-Monitored Break

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Well-Monitored Break

• Break– How is it handled?– Do you monitor the break time?

• What are the challenges/solutions?– Collection and counting of materials– Specify break area– Rest rooms– Elevators, stairs (post signs–Test takers

should not use these during the break)

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Well-Monitored Break

• What is the importance of assigning specific roles and responsibilities to staff?

– Avoid delays or confusion among staff – Professionalism

• Who collects, counts, and secures test materials during break?

– Assigned staff

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Well-Monitored Break

• Who will remain with books at all times during break?

– Assigned staff

• Post proctors near rest rooms, stairs, elevators, etc.

• Proctors should be visible to test takers at all times

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Well-Monitored Break • Do you specify the vicinity of the break

area?– Monitor– how far and where test takers are

allowed to go during the break– Easier for test center staff to observe, be

vigilant, and listen to test takers throughout the break

• What should be avoided?– Access to computers, pay phones– Leaving testing area, leaving the building

• What should test center staff look for during the break?– Electronic devices, talking about the test /

communicating with people outside room

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KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION

• Pretest Planning

• Well-Monitored Break

• Complete Accountability

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Complete Accountability

• When are test takers dismissed?– Only after books have been collected and

accounted for

• Count books when room supervisor(s) hand them in to you

• Recount test materials before packaging • Place secure seals on bins• Label and ship• Contact LSAC with tracking information

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Complete Accountability

• If there is a discrepancy…– Have a different person do a recount– Test takers must remain seated until count is

correct or LSAC advises otherwise– Notify testing company immediately

– LSAC 1-800-426-7100

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KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION

• Pretest Planning

• Well-Monitored Break

• Complete Accountability

• Be Ready for the Unexpected

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Be Ready for the Unexpected

• Unexpected test-day events– Homecoming– Marching band– Power outages– Emergency closing due to weather

• Contact testing company immediately

– Caller/center identification– Reason for closing– If possible, plan make-up test

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Be Ready for the Unexpected

• What if there are fire drills, lawn mowers, bands, alarms, HVAC problems?

– Can any of them be stopped or delayed?– First priority is safety of staff and test takers

• Are details written on SIR, including what rooms were affected?

• Is there a Plan B?– Always

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KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION

• Pretest Planning

• Well-Monitored Break

• Complete Accountability

• Be Ready for the Unexpected

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Thank You!

Any questions or suggestions, contact the LSAC Test Administration Group at testadmin@LSAC.org