My D19 took the PSAT today, the regular testing day for her high school. When she took it as a sophomore, she had accommodations for 50% extra time for ADHD. This time, however, she also had mp3 audio accommodations for dyslexia, which automatically comes with 100% extra time because of the time it takes to listen to the audio. She was given a practice USB drive a few days ahead of time to practice using the audio file, which was fine. She reported to her assigned room, and was the only test taker in that room. Based on what she has told me, it is clear that the proctors were not properly trained in how to administer a test with accommodations. I’ve found the manual for supervisors giving the test with audio accommodations: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-mp3-atc-supervisor-manual.pdf .
They gave her the answer sheet but not the Student Answer Sheet Instructions booklet referenced at the bottom of p. 6 of the manual. They read through the part of the script with the questions about personal identification, such as address, grade etc. But several of the questions want you to choose among alternative answers such as stating your race/ethnicity, parents' level of education, types of clubs/organizations you're interested in, the majors you are interested in, etc. When D questioned how she could answer those without the answer key, the proctor said JUST SKIP THOSE. D estimates she skipped about 5 questions in this section.
Then the actual test started. According to p. 15 of the supervisor's manual, the proctor is supposed to pass out the TEST BOOKLET. It's part of the script to tell them to look at the back and fill in their name but not open it until told to do so. But the proctor did not give her a test booklet, maybe thinking that you don't get one with mp3 audio. But it's clear in the supervisor's manual for administering tests with mp3 audio that you do.
D started listening to the audio files on the laptop provided. The screen of the laptop only shows the list of tracks of audio files. The audio file reads you the text plus the questions and answers. D asked the proctor if she could have a piece of scratch paper to make notes. The proctor looked uncertain but handed her a few sheets of lined paper. D proceeded to work her way through questions until she came to one that called for looking at a graph. D asked the proctor: how am I supposed to see the graph? At that point the proctor grudgingly gave her a test booklet.
Later another proctor came in and took over and immediately yelled at D for having scratch paper and asked where she'd gotten it. D explained and the new proctor confiscated it.
D was about halfway through, and the regular test takers were done, when a FIRE ALARM went off. D had to leave her test and report onto the football field. She returned 23 minutes later and resumed the test.
Another proctor came in and took over and accused her of being over time. The proctor who was being relieved noted that the fire alarm had required extra time and got the new proctor calmed down.
When the math portion started, the proctor handed D a scientific calculator. D asked if she could use her own graphing calculator. The proctor said those weren't allowed. D stood her ground and the proctor finally called someone and l then acknowledged D could use her graphing calculator.
D estimated that she had a total of about 10 different proctors throughout the day. At some times there were as many as 5 adults in the room whispering to each other.
The final proctor didn't give her the last 5 minute warning. When she complained, he said he thought she was done because she wasn't using the audio file. She said: "that's because I was working on math problems!"
Now, based on her sophomore performance, I doubt that even with the mp3 audio that D is going to be close to the National Merit cutoff for our state. So my main concern is that the school get its act together before she takes the SAT. She’s signed up to take the SAT on Nov. 4 with mp3 audio communications, which is just 2 weeks away. In the morning, I plan to email the guidance counselor and the assistant principal in charge of testing accommodations. Any tips or suggestions about this?
If a Student Misses the PSAT/NMSQT® Administration
A student who does not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other requirements for NMSC program participation, may still be able to enter the competition. The student or a school official must write to NMSC as soon as possible after the PSAT/NMSQT administration to request information about procedures for alternate entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. To be considered, a request must be postmarked no later than April 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed. The alternate entry request should include the name and address of the student; the contact information of the person making the request; the name and address of the student’s high school; and a brief explanation of why the student missed the PSAT/NMSQT.
The earlier NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student’s opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements. Upon receiving and processing the request, NMSC will provide alternate entry materials, including instructions for program entry and a form that requires the signature of a school official.
This morning I emailed a letter to the assistant principal in charge of testing supervision, and copied D’s guidance counselor and the principal. I detailed all the problems in the PSAT proctoring, but emphasized that the two most serious problems occurred at the start, and involved not giving her the answer sheet instructions and not giving her the test booklet at the start of the test. I emailed the letter about 7:15 am and the assistant principal called me at about 8:45 am. The AP apologized right off the bat and took responsibility, and didn’t make excuses. (I can think of some people in our government who could learn from this approach.) He also promised it wouldn’t happen again and that everything would go smoothly on November 4 for the SAT. He said that D’s test would be sent to the College Board with an “irregularity report.” I’m not sure what that means for her eventual score. I’m sure she doesn’t want to re- take it unless it somehow turned out she was close to the NMSF cutoff, which seems unlikely. She said that even with all the issues, having the mp3 audio was a huge help compared to the last time she took the PSAT.
@LeastComplicated thanks for that information. I guess I’ll see what they do about her PSAT score and the irregularity report. If for example the College Board cancels her score or something, then maybe we’ll try that procedure.
@Corinthian Sorry, I was reading your post on my IPad in bed last night without my good readers and I failed to see what your main concerns were as stated in your last paragraph. I’m glad that the school staff are committed to correcting this problem for the SAT.
Wishing her luck on Nov. 4th!
BTW - scheduling a fire drill on PSAT day was ridiculous! What a nightmare.
@LeastComplicated I don’t think it was actually a scheduled fire drill. D heard later that it was someone vaping in the restroom. And it happened in the second half of the day when the regular test takers were done, but because D was using extended time she was caught up in it. Thanks for the good wishes.
I would email him on Monday, confirming with specificity that everything your D needs is in place. Get him to confirm, in writing, that there will be no more than two proctors, that he will have personally gone over with the proctor(s) all the rules and procedures that apply to your D and her accommodations (i.e. list specifically that she gets a test booklet, that she can use her graphing calculator, that all time warnings will be given, etc, etc, all the things described above) . I would also tell him (not ask him) that in the case of any unexpected interruptions or delays, your daughter will be noting the time that such interruptions began and ended. Tell her to say it out loud to the proctor. In addition to accounting for the amount of time the fire drill ate up, I would say that the clock should have stopped while a higher authority was consulted about the calculator.
I will definitely get back in touch with him just before Nov. 4 to reiterate all of the above. Part of the problem with the PSAT, I think, was caused by the fact that D was the only person taking the test with audio accommodations, so they’d never given that accommodation before, and the Assistant Principal cobbled together a crew of proctors which included some inexperienced people. Also because of her extra time accommodation, the second half of the test occurred during the regular school day so “relief” proctors kept coming in and out. He assured me that when they administer the SAT, everyone is an experienced proctor who is there for no other purpose than proctoring.
Neighbors of ours whose kid gets testing accommodations takes a Sunday SAT (with Sabbath-observing kids, i.e. Jewish kids, Seventh Day adventists) at a private school a few towns away from us where the principal, AP, etc. take testing protocols very seriously. You might explore whether taking the test in a nearby town where the staff has a lot of experience with all the various formats is an option. No sense experimenting on your D if there is a town close by with a reputation for “best practices” for their proctors where they aren’t figuring it out on the fly.
@blossom we live in a pretty large metro area and I have thought about trying to find a different testing location. I’m just not sure how to go about finding one experienced at audio accommodations. I mentioned the idea to the assistant principal and maybe I’ll reiterate it to him and the GC. They would probably love to have me get her tested elsewhere! With the audio accommodation you have to spread the testing over 2 days because it comes with automatic 100% extra time. You need that much extra time because the audio takes a long time to listen to and you can’t skip portions or speed it up. So the Asst Princpal said they spread the test over two days, Sat/Sun. I’m sure they have other kids with extra time, it’s just the audio accommodations they weren’t used to. For some reason the proctor who started the test apparently made the assumption that “audio” means no test booklet. If the proctor had stuck to the script she would’ve realized she was wrong, but I think because D was the only test taker the proctor somehow felt entitled to omit some of the script.
Does your district have someone who coordinates all the special services across the school system? Ours does- and that person has a wealth of knowledge about which school/which town/which teacher/which principal can do A B and C. I’ll bet she can rattle off the top of her head where the procters who have experience in a particular type of test get staffed. You may be asking the GC something entirely out of left field- but a professional from your town/city who gets paid to coordinate is going to know.