Test Tools

This section provides an overview of the Test Delivery System’s available tools.

Note: Some tools are available for all tests, while others are only available for a particular test subject, accessibility feature, or type of question.

Table 3 lists the tools available in the global menu at the top of the page, while Table 4 lists the tools available for individual items and stimuli in the context menu. Table 5 lists any additional tools available in the Student Testing Site.

Table 3: Global Tools
Tool Name Instructions
Calculator To use the on-screen calculator, select Calculator in the global menu.

The graphing calculator is available on the following tests:

  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  • Integrated Mathematics I
  • Integrated Mathematics II

The scientific calculator is available on the following tests:

  • Grades 6 to 8 Mathematics

Formulas

To view the on-screen reference sheet, select Formulas in the global menu.

Available on the following tests (sheet specifics vary by test):

  • Grades 4 to 8 Mathematics
  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  • Integrated Mathematics I
  • Integrated Mathematics II
Language Toggle

For items and stimuli on the test that have content in two languages, such as English and Spanish, you can select the language in which to display the content for easier readability. By default, the item will be presented in the language specified at the beginning of the test. To switch the language, select Language Toggle in the global menu.

For more information, review About the Language Toggle Tool.
Line Reader

To emphasize an individual line of text in a passage or question, select Line Reader in the global menu.

This tool is not available while the Highlighter tool is in use.
Masking

The Masking tool temporarily covers a distracting area of the test page. To use this tool:

  1. Select the Masking button in the global menu.
  2. Select and drag across the distracting area.

To close the Masking tool, select the Masking button again. To remove a masked area, select X in the upper-right corner of that area.

Note: This tool requires you to have the Masking accessibility feature turned on.

Notes

To enter notes in an on-screen notepad, select Notes in the global menu. These notes are available globally and can be accessed from any page in the test.
System Settings

When available, students can select System Settings System Settings button in the upper-right corner to change some test settings. These may include:

  • Audio volume
  • Text-to-Speech settings (including volume, pitch, and speed/rate)

After making changes, students must select Apply. To reset the settings to default, students select Reset All.

Test Clock To hide the Test Clock, select the Test Clock clock icon icon in the upper-right corner. The Test Clock continues counting while it is hidden. To display the hidden Test Clock, select the Test Clock clock icon icon again.
Zoom Buttons To enlarge the text and images on a test page, select Zoom In. There are several zoom levels. To undo zooming, select Zoom Out.

 

Table 4: Question and Stimulus Tools
Tool Name Instructions
Highlighter

To highlight text, select the text on the screen and then select Highlight Selection from the context menu.

To remove highlighting, select Reset Highlighting from the context menu.

You cannot highlight text in images.
Mark for Review To mark a question for review, select Mark for Review from the context menu. The marked question number shows a flap Item number displaying bent flap to indicate the item has been marked for review in the upper-right corner. A flag icon flag icon appears next to the number. The Items dropdown list shows a Item Marked for Review Flag for the selected question.
Print Item To send a print request for an individual question, select Print Item from the context menu. After sending the request, a printer icon printer icon appears next to the question number on the test page.
Select Previous Version To open and restore responses previously entered for a Text Response question, click Select Previous Version from the context menu. A list of saved responses appears. Choose the response you want and click Select.
Strikethrough

For multiple choice and multi-select questions, you can cross out an answer option to focus on the options you think might be correct.

There are two options for using this tool:

Option A :

  1. To activate Strikethrough mode, open the context menu and select Strikethrough.
  2. Select the answer options you want to cross out.
  3. To deactivate Strikethrough mode, press the Esc key or select outside the response area.

Option B :

  1. Right-click an answer option and select Strikethrough.

Text-to-Speech (TTS)

To listen to passages and questions, select the Text-to-Speech button Text-to-Speech button beside the context menu and select a Speak option. Or, right-click on the passage, the question, or an option and select a Speak option.

To listen to their whole written answer to a question, students select the Text-to-Speech button Text-to-Speech button on the formatting toolbar above the answer. To listen to part of their written answer to a question, students select the text, select the Text-to-Speech button on the toolbar, and then select a Speak option. For constructed-response items with a notepad, to listen to their notes, students select the TTS button in the notepad.

For more information, refer to the About Text-to-Speech section.
Text-to-Speech Tracking When this tool is enabled, words and the surrounding line of text become highlighted as text-to-speech reads them aloud.
Tutorial To view a short video on how to answer a particular type of question, select Tutorial from the context menu.

 

Table 5: Other Tools
Tool Name Instructions
Co:Writer Word Prediction

When this tool is enabled, suggested words will pop up in a menu as students type a written response. Students can select a word in the pop-up menu instead of typing it out manually.

For more information, refer to About the Word Prediction Tool.
Expand Passages

To expand the passage section, select the double arrow icon double arrow icon in the upper-right corner of that section. The passage section will overlap the question section for easier readability. To collapse the expanded section, select the double arrow icon double arrow icon again.
Reading Mode

Reading Mode opens a pop-up window that lets you view two pages of a reading passage at a time. To open Reading Mode, select the open book icon reading mode icon below a reading passage.

To exit Reading Mode, select the close icon Exit Reading Mode icon in the lower-right corner of the pop-up window.

Speech-to-Text

This tool allows students testing with the appropriate accessibility features to dictate responses to constructed-response items. To use this tool, select the microphone icon Speech-to-text microphone icon in the formatting toolbar of the item response area and begin speaking. The dictated response will be transcribed in the item response area.

For more information, review About Speech-to-Text.