Managing Appeals/Invalidations
In the normal flow of a test opportunity, a student takes the test in TDS and then submits it. Next, TDS forwards the test for scoring, and then the test scores are reported in CRS.
Appeals/Invalidations are a way of interrupting this normal flow. A student may want to retake a test or have another test opportunity. A test administrator may want to invalidate a test because of a hardware malfunction or an impropriety. This section describes how you view, create, and approve appeals/invalidations.
Table 15 provides descriptions of each appeal/invalidation type.
Table 15: Types of Appeals/Invalidations
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Grace Period Extension
(GPE)- Writing Only
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Allows the student to review previously answered questions upon resuming a test after expiration of the pause timer. The appeal should be used for Writing tests tests in which the student has exceeded the 30-minute pause limit. Writing tests must be completed the same day they were started unless there is an accommodation or other extenuating circumstance.
- If resuming the test within 30 minutes, students can resume their Writing test.
- Without a GPE, students resuming the test after 30 minutes cannot review previously answered questions. Note, due to Writing tests having one item, students will be taken to the Submit Test page upon resuming the test after exceeding the pause rule.
- Upon receiving a GPE, students can review previously answered questions upon resuming the test. The normal pause rules apply to this opportunity. Note, a grace period extension should not be applied if the test session ended normally or if the student was given time to review his or her answers before logging out of a test.
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Invalidate a test
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Eliminates the test opportunity, and the student has no further opportunities for the test.
You can submit these test invalidations until the end of the test window.
Tests should be invalidated when a student’s performance is not an accurate measure of his or her ability (for example, the student cheated or used inappropriate materials, instruction related to the test is provided during the administration, students are guided to the correct answers, test questions are discussed with students). If a test is invalidated, the student is not given another opportunity to take the test.
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Restart a test
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Allows the student to restart a test opportunity (removing all responses on the test) or allows the data entry operator to restart the data entry process. You can submit these invalidation requests until the end of the test window.
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Re-open a test
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Reopens a test that was completed, invalidated, or expired. A Grace Period Extension (GPE) is automatically applied.
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Report Test Irregularity
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This appeal is used to report an irregularity that occurs during testing and does not impact the test opportunity. If something about a test session was irregular but does not rise to the level of needing one of the listed appeals, you can use irregularity notes to record the incident. This might be used if a student’s cell phone rings, testing is interrupted by a fire drill, etc.
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Note: If the available appeals do not apply to the specific test that requires an appeal submission, please contact WDE with a detailed description of your appeal request for further assistance. Please note, Restart a Test appeals must be provided to WDE at least one day prior to the end of a test window so that students can complete their test opportunity or data entry can be completed for paper-based tests.
An appeal/invalidation's status can change throughout its life cycle. Table 16 lists the available statuses.
Table 16: Appeals/Invalidations Statuses
| Error Occurred |
An error occurred while the appeal/invalidation was being processed. |
| Item Information Sent |
Information regarding a Report Test Irregularity appeal/invalidation was sent to the designated recipients. |
| Pending Approval |
Appeal/Invalidation is pending approval. |
| Processed |
Appeal/Invalidation was successfully processed and the test opportunity has been updated. |
| Rejected |
Appeal/Invalidation was rejected. |
| Rejected by System |
Test Delivery System was unable to process the appeal/invalidation. |
| Requires Resubmission |
Appeal/Invalidation must be resubmitted. |
| Retracted |
Originator retracted the appeal/invalidation.
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| Submitted for Processing |
Appeal/Invalidation submitted to Test Delivery System for processing. |
Table 17 lists the valid combinations of appeals/invalidations and test statuses. For example, you can invalidate a test that is in one of the following statuses: completed, denied, expired, paused, reported, scored, or submitted.
Table 17: Available Appeals/Invalidations by Test Status
| Approved |
|
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
| Completed |
✓ |
✓
|
✓ |
✓ |
|
| Denied |
✓
|
✓
|
|
✓ |
✓
|
| Expired |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
| Invalidated |
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓ |
|
| Paused |
✓ |
✓ |
|
✓ |
✓ |
| Pending |
|
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
| Processing |
|
✓
|
|
✓ |
|
| Reported |
✓ |
✓
|
✓ |
✓ |
|
| Review |
|
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
| Scored |
✓ |
✓
|
✓ |
✓
|
|
| Started |
|
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
| Submitted |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
| Suspended |
|
✓
|
|
✓ |
|