Test Administration and Security Flashcards

During a GMAS online administration, a Test Examiner notices that a student has a smartwatch on their wrist, which is explicitly forbidden. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action for the Test Examiner to take?

Answer: Quietly instruct the student to power off the device and place it in a designated secure area or have it collected.

The correct procedure is to address the prohibited item immediately and quietly to maintain test security without overly disrupting other students. The device must be secured. Ignoring it risks a security breach, while immediate invalidation is premature without determining if the device was used to cheat. The primary goal is to secure the testing environment first and then report the incident to the School Test Coordinator for further action, which may or may not result in invalidation depending on the investigation.

Which of the following materials is considered secure and must be strictly accounted for before, during, and after a GMAS administration?

Answer: Student test tickets and any used scratch paper.

Student test tickets contain login credentials, and used scratch paper may contain responses or notes about test items; both are considered secure materials that must be collected and accounted for to prevent any breach of test content. While the TAM must be handled properly, the test tickets and scratch paper are directly tied to the live test session and student responses, requiring the highest level of security and accountability.

A student reports to the Test Examiner that their computer has frozen in the middle of a GMAS EOG test. Which of the following is the correct procedure for the Test Examiner to follow?

Answer: Note the time of the issue, contact the School Test Coordinator or technology support, and follow their guidance for rebooting the testing client.

When a technical issue occurs, the Test Examiner's role is to document it and seek immediate assistance from the School Test Coordinator or designated tech support. The online testing platform is designed to save student progress, so restarting the secure browser or moving to another machine should allow the student to resume where they left off. Test Examiners should not attempt to resolve significant technical issues on their own or alter the testing conditions without direction.

According to the Georgia Department of Education's policies, which of the following actions by a test administrator constitutes a testing irregularity that must be reported?

Answer: Failing to read the test script verbatim as written in the Test Administration Manual.

Test security and administration protocols require that the directions and scripts provided in the Test Administration Manual be read exactly as they are written to ensure a standardized testing experience for all students. Any deviation, such as paraphrasing or omitting parts of the script, is a procedural error that qualifies as a testing irregularity and must be reported to the School Test Coordinator.

A new teacher is assigned to be a Proctor for a GMAS administration. What is the primary responsibility of a Proctor in the testing room?

Answer: To actively monitor the testing room and assist the Test Examiner in ensuring test security.

The primary role of a Proctor is to serve as an additional monitor in the testing environment. They assist the Test Examiner by observing students to prevent cheating, ensuring students are following procedures, and maintaining a secure and quiet atmosphere. The Test Examiner is responsible for reading directions and handling secure materials, though a Proctor may assist under the Examiner's direct supervision.

A student becomes ill during a GMAS test session and needs to leave the room. What is the first step the Test Examiner should take?

Answer: Secure the student's testing materials, note the time, and contact the School Test Coordinator.

If a student must leave due to illness, the immediate priorities are the student's well-being and test security. The Test Examiner must first secure the student's test materials (e.g., pause the online test, collect scratch paper) to ensure no content is compromised. They must then document the time the student stopped testing and immediately contact the School Test Coordinator, who will provide instructions on how to proceed, which may involve a makeup session. This is considered a test irregularity that must be documented properly.