TSI Fundamentals Test Procedures Training

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Central Administration Building #216

BROWNSVILLE ISDAssessment, Research & Evaluation Department

AGENDA

TESTING CALENDAR

PRE-ASSESSMENT

ROLES

TSI TESTING PROCEDURES

RESOURCES

Q & A AND SHARE SESSION

TESTING CALENDAR

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JANUARY

TESTING WINDOW

S TBD

MIDDLE SCHOOLTSI TESTING

UPDATES

Students will attempt all three subjects. More information on this matter will be forthcoming.

Reading

Math

Writing

TSI PRE-

ASSESSMENT TESTS

HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Pre-Assessment Activity

o Reading Review

o Writing Review

o Math Review

Three possible levels

o ABE: Adult Basic Education

o DC: Developmental Course

o CL: College Level

http://ctle.hccs.edu/gcpass/PREP_Home.htm

SITE MANAGER & PROCTOR ROLES

SITE MANAGER PROCTOR Prepare testing area and ensure all

computers are ready for student login

Distribute vouchers and begin the test administration

Monitor testing

Manage Open test sessions

View active test sessions

Complete seating chart and pass on to Site Manager

Add and edit Proctor information as needed

Access and print individual Student, Placement Students, and Score Roster Reports

Preregister students prior to test date

Set up rosters by Proctor and assign vouchers. (Groups of 15-20 students per proctor)

Keep track of test units available and request more units as needed

Manage Open and Close Test Sessions to check students who did not complete the assessment

Maintain campus testing records

RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE

ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH & EVALUATION WEBSITE

http://bisd-assessment.weebly.com/

ACCUPLACER MANUALS

ACCUPLACER Program Manual

&

ACCUPLACER’S USER GUIDE

TSI ASSESSMENT PROGRAM MANUAL COMBINED

https://www.accuplacer.org/cat/logout.do

www.thecb.state.tx.us/DE/TSIo Blueprints (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined,

page 132 – July 2014)o FREE Study Guides (found under the Resources tab of

the testing platform)o Introduction for Studentso Sample Questions for Studentso WritePlacer Guide with Sample Essayso WritePlacer ESL Guide with Sample Essays

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

MANDATORY PREASSESSMENTS - Houston Community College TSI Pre-AssessmentsStudents must participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity before taking the TSI Assessment. Colleges or universities are required to provide the Pre-Assessment Activity and to document student’s participation. Students will not be allowed to take the TSI Assessment until they have completed the pre-assessment activity.

The activity includes the following:o An explanation of the importance of the TSI Assessment;o Practice test questions and feedback;o An explanation of all your developmental education options, if you don’t meet the

minimum passing standard; ando Information on campus and community resources that will help you succeed as a college

student 

TEST PROCEDURES

TEST SECURITY/UNIFORMITY OF TEST EXPERIENCE

o Untimed testso Active monitoringo 15-20 students per proctoro Test experience should be uniform regardless of testing campuso Use dividers or screenso Limit distractions inside/outside of the test roomo All cell phone/electronic devices off and collected by proctoro Purses, backpacks, and other materials will not be near testing studentso See page 63 for more information on test procedures. (Accuplacer Program Manual – April

2014)

o Testing Do Not Disturb sign

TEST PROCEDURES

o DICTIONARY USEo Use of dictionaries is not permitted with TSI testing (TSI Assessment Program Manual

Combined, page 40 – July 2014)o SCRATCH PAPER

o Scratch paper may be used but will have to be collected and destroyed (Accuplacer Program Manual, page 67 – April 2014)

o STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 38 – July 2014)o The College Board is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities receive

appropriate accommodations on all of its tests (Accuplacer Program Manual, page 73 – April 2014)

o CALCULATOR USEo Activate the pop-up calendar in Test Settingso Do not allow students to use a handheld calculator when taking an online ACCUPLACER

test, unless the student has a documented disability that lists calculator use as a prescribed accommodation (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 40 – July 2014)

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

EXEMPTIONS

Not all incoming students need to take the TSI Assessment. Students with a TSI Assessment exemption can enroll in any entry-level college course without restrictions. (TSI Assessment Program Manual Combined, page 4 – July 2014)

Student may be exempt if they have:

met the minimum college readiness standard on SAT® ACT, or a statewide high school test

successfully completed college-level English and math courses

enrolled in a Level-One certificate program (fewer than 43 semester credit hours);

or are not seeking a degree

been, or currently are, in the military.

For more information visit www.thecb.state.tx.us/DE/TSI (See #1 and click on TSI/Exemptions)

GUIDANCE & COUNSELING “TSI” FACT SHEET- Exemptions

o SAT combined critical reading and math score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on critical reading shall exempt the reading and writing sections of TSI and 500 on Math shall exempt the math section of TSI.

o ACT composite score of 23 with minimum of 19 on the English test shall exempt both reading and writing sections of TSI and/or 19 on math shall exempt math section of TSI

o Student is exempt with high school exit level TAKS minimum scale scores of 2200 in Math and 2200 in English Language Arts with Writing sub-score of 3.

o STAAR end-of-course with a minimum score of Level 2 on the English III shall exempt the TSI Assessment required for reading and writing, and a minimum score of Level 2 on the Algebra II EOC shall exempt the TSI Assessment required for the math section.

o Associate's or Bachelor's degree (from a Texas public institution)

o Student who will enroll in a certificate program of one year or less.

o ESOL Waiver-an institution may grant a temporary waiver from the assessment in order to provide appropriate ESOL/ESL coursework and interventions.

Fact Sheet prepared by the BISD Guidance & Counseling Department –Pilar Janis, Lead Higher Education Counselor K-122013

Q&A AND SHARE SESSION

ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH & EVALUATION DEPARTMENT(956)554-2806

TSI Contacts for Testing Procedures

Beth LibbyJoanna Villarreal