The Test Administration Instructions linked at the bottom of this page provide further detail, including teacher scripts and troubleshooting tips.
Preparation
The following steps need to be completed ahead of time:
- Check the technical requirements and run the browser exam from a student device to identify any potential technical issues.
- Schedule your testing date and time. It is best to administer tests in the morning and not immediately before or after an exciting school event.
- Ensure that all students are listed within your school's online assessment account and have been assigned the necessary tests.
- Review and assign appropriate test levels to all students according to their ability (non-Adaptive tests only).
- Download or print a list of your students' login details.
- Make note of your school's online assessment login page, or make sure that the URL is saved on student devices, or available to your students as a link. The address will be similar to https://oars.acer.edu.au/your-school-name.
Instructions
- Tests should be administered under standard testing conditions with invigilation.
- Students' screens should be monitored as part of test invigilation.
- Students are permitted to use pen/pencil and paper to make notes during the test.
If you determine that some students require changed testing conditions due to specific learning needs, these changes should be recorded for future reference. The process for determining and implementing any changes to test conditions should be consistent between classes and across the school.
Delivery
- Students will not be automatically locked out of the tests after the allowed time passes. You must monitor and manage the time, including accommodating toilet breaks or other interruptions that may occur.
- Student responses are automatically saved each time they navigate to another question.
- If technical problems cause the need to postpone the completion of the tests, students may close the browser without losing their progress.
- iPads and tablet devices must be held in landscape orientation.
Adaptive testing
The nature of adaptive assessment means that students will likely see different items (questions), and different numbers of items, in their tests. To reduce student anxiety, it is important to explain that there will be differences between students' tests and to assure them that they will all have enough time to attempt their questions.
All students will see a total of 35 items in their PAIS Reading Adaptive test.
The multi-stage structure of PAIS Reading Adaptive is not obvious to students, so students should simply be discouraged from skipping items without reading them.
Students must view (not necessarily respond to) at least half of the items in Stage 3 of their test in order to receive a scale score.
Tests submitted prematurely will be flagged as 'Invalid: insufficient items viewed' and excluded from the reporting. These tests may be re-opened to allow students to complete them.
Changes to administration conditions
If you determine that some students require changed testing conditions due to specific learning needs, these changes should be recorded for future reference. The process for determining and implementing any changes to test conditions should be consistent between classes and across the school.