[Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Logo]
Test Administrator’s Manual
High School
February 2012
(Biology)

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Note: Test administrators must comply with the requirements and instructions contained in this manual.



[Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Logo]

This document was prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, an affirmative action employer, is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the public. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Inquiries regarding the Department’s compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws may be directed to the Human Resources Director, 75 Pleasant St., Malden, MA 02148 781-338-6105.

© 2012 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Permission is hereby granted to copy any or all parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes. 
Please credit the “Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.”

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu

[Massachusetts State Seal Logo]


Important Contact Information and Resources

MCAS Test Administration Information and Online Services
MCAS Service Center
Hours: 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Telephone: 800-737-5103

MCAS Policy Information
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 
Student Assessment Services Unit
Web: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/biology
Email: mcas@doe.mass.edu 
Telephone: 781-338-3625


February 2012 Biology Test Administration Schedule

Test		Sessions^1	Allowable Administration Date(s)^2	Session Length (Avg. Number of Minutes) 
Biology		Session 1	February 1				60
Biology		Session 2	February 2				60


^1 Each test session must be administered simultaneously to all students at your school.
^2 Schools may administer make-up sessions after the scheduled dates, through February 3. Your principal will provide you with instructions for administering make-up sessions. 

Note: Review this manual before the Test Administrators’ Training with your school principal. 


Table of Contents
Important Contact Information and Resources i
February 2012 Biology Test Administration Schedule ii

Part I MCAS Test Security Requirements 1
A. Responsibilities of the Principal and Designee 2
B. Shared Responsibilities of Principals, Test Administrators, and Other School Employees Authorized to Have Access to Secure Materials 3
C. Responsibilities of Test Administrators 4
D. Testing Irregularities 6

Part II February 2012 MCAS Biology Test Administration Policies and Procedures 7
A. Supervising Test Administration 8
B. Testing Time 8
C. Test Administration Interruptions 9
D. Approved and Unapproved Resource Materials 9
E. Accounting for Secure Materials 10
F. Damaged or Defective Booklets 10
G. Contaminated Test Materials 11
H. Administering Accommodated Tests 11

Part III Tasks to Complete Prior to Test Administration 13
A. Attend Test Administrators’ Training 14
B. Prepare the Testing Space 15
C. Complete Front Covers of Answer Booklets 15

Part IV Administering the Practice Test 17

Part V Administering the February Biology Test Session 1(Wednesday, February 1) 19
A. Materials Needed for Session 1 20
B. Before Students Arrive 20
C. As Students Arrive 21
D. Administer Session 1 21

Part VI Administering the February Biology Test Session 2 (Thursday, February 2) 27
A. Materials Needed for Session 2 28
B. Before Students Arrive 28
C. As Students Arrive 29
D. Administer Session 2 29

Appendix A Procedures for Administering the Braille Edition of the Test 33
Appendix B Procedures for Administering the Large-Print Edition of the Test 35
Appendix C Procedures for Administering the Test to Students Who Type Their Responses 37
Appendix D Procedures for Signing the Test for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 41
Appendix E Procedures for Approving Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries 43



Part I
MCAS Test Security Requirements

The purpose of the MCAS Test Security Requirements is to protect the validity of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results.

Section A describes responsibilities of principals and designees (i.e., individuals authorized by the principal to assist in coordinating test administration).

Section B describes shared responsibilities of all individuals who have access to secure test materials.

Section C describes responsibilities of test administrators.

Section D provides instructions for reporting testing irregularities and describes the process the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“the Department”) follows for investigation.

Principals and school employees authorized to have access to secure materials must follow the requirements listed below and may not participate in, direct, assist in, encourage, or fail to report any testing irregularity or act of misconduct.

Principals are responsible for ensuring that all test administrators and school employees authorized to have access to secure test materials comply with the requirements and instructions contained in the Test Administrator’s Manuals (TAMs). 

Please note the following definitions for the purposes of this section and this manual:

• “Secure” test materials refers to a test question, student response, or test that has not been made available to the public by the Department. All test questions, student responses to those test questions, test booklets, and answer booklets are confidential and must be kept secure at all times.

• “Access” to test materials refers to handling those materials, but does not include reviewing tests or individual questions. Students may never transport secure test materials.

• “Locked storage area” refers to the locked area that must be used to store all MCAS test materials at all times when materials are not in use. Principals must restrict access to the locked storage area to only those school employees authorized by the principal to handle secure materials. For example, cleaning staff may not have access to the locked area where the principal stores secure materials.

Each principal must complete the Principal’s Certification of Proper Test Administration (PCPA) to certify that the school has followed proper MCAS administration procedures. See Appendix E of the Principal’s Administration Manual (PAM) for the certification statements to which the principal must attest.

A. Responsibilities of the Principal and Designee

1. Authorize school employees to serve as test administrators as well as other school employees to have access to secure test materials, and train them in conducting a proper test administration.
• Several days in advance of testing, provide a copy of the appropriate TAM to every test administrator, and provide a copy of the test security requirements (available at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/biology) to all school employees who have access to secure test materials.
• Train test administrators prior to each administration during which they will administer any MCAS test. The PAM and TAMs describe the policies and procedures necessary to conduct a proper MCAS test administration.
• Train test administrators who provide test accommodations to students with disabilities in the implementation of accommodations in accordance with Appendix B of the PAM and Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS.

2. Develop local policies and procedures to ensure maximum test security at all times.
• Schedule tests to avoid conflicts with recess or lunch (see Part III: Retest and February Biology Test Administration Policies and Procedures of the PAM for more information about scheduling test sessions).
• Ensure that tests are administered on the prescribed days and in the prescribed order.
• Ensure that test administrators administer tests according to section C on the following pages.

3. Keep all MCAS test materials in locked storage when not in use, from the time of receipt until their return.
• Account for all secure test materials at the end of each day of testing and keep them in locked storage when not in use.
• Restrict access to the locked storage area to only those school employees authorized to have access to secure materials.

4. Monitor the receipt and return of all test materials.
• Inventory materials immediately upon receipt and investigate any discrepancies in counts of materials as described in the PAM.
• Return all materials to the testing contractor according to the prescribed packing instructions and the deadlines in the PAM.


B. Shared Responsibilities of Principals, Test Administrators, and Other School Employees Authorized to Have Access to Secure Materials

1. Document the location of secure materials at all times.
• Track secure materials using the sample Test Materials Internal Tracking Form in Appendix E of the PAM or a similar document (principals keep these forms on file for one year).

2. Ensure the security of the testing environment.
• Prohibit visitors to the classroom or testing environment (including parents, researchers, reporters, and school employees not authorized to serve as test administrators), except under emergency conditions.

3. Ensure the security of test questions, test booklets, and other secure materials.
• Do not engage in any of the following activities:
o leaving materials unattended when not in use
o viewing, discussing, or otherwise revealing the contents of test booklets or answer booklets before, during, or after a test administration (see TAMs for exceptions)
o duplicating any portion of test or answer booklets, including but not limited to audiotaping, videotaping, photographing, photocopying, and copying by hand^3

^3 The only exceptions are for test administrators who must transcribe student responses into answer booklets for students with disabilities receiving certain accommodations or for students who did some or all of their work in damaged, defective, or void booklets.

• Do not remove test materials from the school. For example, do not share test booklets and answer booklets with another school or test site, even if another test site is located within the same physical building.^4

^4 The only exception is for principals who receive prior written permission from the Department to test a student in an alternate setting. Alternate setting requests must be resubmitted to the Department for approval for each test administration even if approved for a previous administration.

• Ensure that test booklets and answer booklets are not retained, discarded, recycled, removed, or destroyed.^5

^5 The only exception is for test materials that have become contaminated; see page 11 for procedures.

• Ensure that students are not provided access to secure test questions prior to testing.
• Do not read, review, or change student responses.
• Do not attempt to score unreleased test questions.

C. Responsibilities of Test Administrators

1. Receive training from the principal/designee in administering test sessions properly and securely.
• Review the TAM and all relevant test security requirements before administering test sessions.
• Attend the training session led by the principal/designee before each test administration.
• Understand and follow the policies and procedures related to administering tests to students with disabilities.

2. Administer all tests according to appropriate policies and procedures.
• Administer tests on the prescribed days and in the prescribed order.
• Follow the directions and read the scripts in the TAMs (and any subsequent updates provided to principals by the Department) verbatim to students.
• Remove or cover any classroom displays that provide information related to the content being assessed or to test-taking strategies (see page 15).
• Provide students with all required test materials as listed in the TAMs. Supplemental or reference sheets are not allowed (except as approved by the Department).
• Prevent the use of unapproved materials (see pages 9–10 for lists of approved and unapproved materials). Note that results will be invalidated for students who use cell phones during testing.

3. Focus full attention on the testing environment at all times.
• Continually monitor the testing process by moving unobtrusively about the room.^6

^6 While monitoring the classroom, a test administrator may view students’ booklets for the sole purpose of confirming 
that students are working in the correct session. A test administrator may not monitor a student’s placement of 
responses and may not review booklets to confirm whether a student has marked all his or her responses. 

• Ensure that students are not left unsupervised during testing, including during breaks and transitions to test completion locations.
• Students must work only on the session being administered. If a test administrator observes a student working in the incorrect session of the answer booklet or reviewing the incorrect session of the test booklet, this is a testing irregularity that must be reported immediately to the principal.

4. Ensure that students provide answers that are strictly their own and do not participate in any form of cheating.
• Ensure that students do not consult notes, textbooks, or other teaching materials; do not share test questions with other students; and do not consult other students, staff, or anyone else during testing.

5. Do not provide a student with answers to any test question or make suggestions for responding to any test question.
• Test administrators must not:
o Answer verbally or nonverbally any question that relates to the secure content of a test unless specifically authorized to do so by instructions in the TAMs.
o Provide clues, hints, and/or actual answers in any written, printed, verbal, and/or nonverbal form (including chalkboards, charts, and bulletin boards).
o Coach^7 a student during testing or alter or interfere with a student’s responses in any way. However, at any time during a test session, a test administrator may repeat a portion of the TAM script if necessary for clarification.

^7 Examples of coaching include, but are not limited to, the following: providing answers to a student; changing a student’s responses; providing synonyms for unknown words; influencing a student’s responses by offering hints, clues, cues, facial expressions, nods, voice inflections; or providing any other manner of assistance that could impact a student’s answers. Suggesting to a student that he or she write more on a question, check his or her work, or reconsider or review a question constitutes coaching.

o Alter, explain, simplify, paraphrase, or eliminate any test question, reading passage, writing prompt, or multiple-choice answer option.
o Ask or permit a student to go back to any test session after his or her test and answer booklets have been collected. 

6. Do not read, review, or change student responses.

7. Follow proper procedures for students with disabilities.
• Provide testing accommodations as prescribed in Appendix B of the PAM and in Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS.
• Ensure that students are not provided with accommodations that were not approved by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 team or that are not listed as approved in Appendix B of the PAM.


D. Testing Irregularities

Testing irregularities are incidents that represent a deviation from prescribed testing procedures. Testing irregularities may include student impropriety, test violations, educator misconduct, or the mishandling of secure test materials.

In order to ensure the security and confidentiality of the MCAS program, the Department may conduct announced and unannounced monitoring visits to schools to observe the procedures followed during test administration.

1. Reporting an Irregularity

To report a testing irregularity, principals must contact their superintendents and the Department. Test administrators and other school employees must contact their principal or superintendent and the Department at 781-338-3625.

On occasion, the Department receives allegations of testing irregularities from individuals who do not wish to identify themselves. The individual must provide the Department with sufficient information related to the matter, including the following:
• a description of the alleged incident
• the name of the school involved
• the name(s) of the individual(s) committing the inappropriate practices
• the specific test(s) affected
• in student-specific reports: the student’s name and grade

The Department will expect school and district employees to cooperate and investigate the allegations to determine whether they can be supported.

2. Investigations into Irregularities

In cases where it is alleged that an MCAS administration was compromised, the Commissioner will write to the superintendent, ask that he or she conduct a local fact-finding investigation into the alleged irregularity, and require that he or she submit a written report, based on the results of the investigation to the Department, within an established timeline.

After receiving the superintendent’s written investigative report, the Commissioner may request that the superintendent provide additional information or documentation prior to making a final determination on the matter and notifying the superintendent of this determination. All such correspondence is subject to disclosure under Massachusetts public records law.

If misconduct by a licensed educator is found, as the Massachusetts educator licensing authority, the Commissioner may open a further investigation that has possible licensure consequences.

3. Penalties

Penalties for testing irregularities and/or misconduct could include the following:
• delay in reporting of student, school, or district results
• invalidation of student, school, or district results
• removal of school personnel from any future role in MCAS test administrations
• possible employment and/or licensure consequences for licensed educators

Penalties imposed by the Department do not limit the local district’s authority to impose its own penalties.



Part II
February 2012 MCAS Biology Test Administration Policies and Procedures


A. Supervising Test Administration

It is the test administrator’s responsibility, once authorized by the principal to serve in this role, to oversee his or her assigned test sessions. This responsibility includes the following:
• understanding and enforcing the test security requirements (see Part I)
• reading the scripts contained in this manual verbatim to students
• following all other instructions contained in this manual and provided by the principal
• administering tests to students with disabilities using accommodations according to their IEPs or 504 plans and accurately transcribing student work, if applicable


B. Testing Time

1. Policy on Testing Time

Session Length
Test sessions are designed to be completed within 60 minutes, as indicated on page ii. However, all MCAS test administrations are untimed.

Prescribed Test Administration Dates
The February Biology test has prescribed test administration dates. 

Requirements and Recommendations for Scheduling Testing
It is important for all testing to occur during regular school days and to begin at the start of the regular school day, to ensure equivalent testing conditions in schools across the state and to ensure that all students, including students with disabilities and English language learner (ELL) students, are afforded an equal opportunity to benefit from untimed tests. The Department suggests that schools schedule a two-hour block for each test session. Students who require time beyond two hours may take it, as long as they are working productively. Students may be moved to test completion rooms but must be supervised at all times during the transition.

If testing must occur on an “early release” day, arrangements must be made for test administrators to stay with students who have not finished their work until the time at which school would end on a regular school day. No test session may extend beyond the end of the regular school day, and any individual test session must be completed on the same day in which it begins. 

Breaks
Breaks may not be scheduled in the middle of a session. It is recommended that students be provided snacks, drinks, and the opportunity to use the restroom before the beginning of the test session. During the session, students must be supervised at all times. However, they may be permitted to use the restroom one student at a time.

2. Concurrent Administration Requirement

Each test session must be administered simultaneously to all students taking that test in your school. The only exceptions to this concurrent testing requirement are the administration of make-up sessions and the administration of tests to students whose IEPs and 504 plans specify that they must test at a different time of day or take frequent breaks. 


C. Test Administration Interruptions

Circumstances over which you have no control (e.g., power failures) may interrupt testing. If such an interruption does occur during testing, instruct students to close their answer booklets and place them inside their test booklets. Collect and secure the booklets. In the event of an emergency, be sure to follow your school’s safety instructions. When normal conditions are restored, redistribute booklets to their original owners and resume testing. No interruption should reduce the total amount of time that students are given to complete the interrupted test session. Report any major disruption to your principal, who then must report the disruption to the Department.

Your principal will provide guidance on handling regular interruptions, such as students requesting to use the restroom or to go to the nurse’s office. Test administrators are responsible for maintaining test security according to the requirements in Part I while any student is out of the room.

D. Approved and Unapproved Resource Materials 

During testing, students are permitted to use only those resource materials and tools approved in this manual. 

1. Approved Resource Materials 

The following are approved for student use: 
• #2 pencils 
• pens and highlighters in test booklets only (No writing instrument other than #2 pencils may be used in answer booklets.) 
• printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for students who currently are or ever were ELL students only (see Appendix E for more information) 
• calculators (see below for more information) 

Calculators 
The Biology test was designed to be taken without the aid of a calculator. Students may have calculators with them for the Biology test, but schools are not required to provide calculators.
• Students may provide their own calculators. 
• Test administrators must ensure that students do not have access to calculator instructions or formula sheets that accompany calculators. 


2. Unapproved Resource Materials 

Unapproved materials include, but are not limited to, the list of materials that must be covered or removed from the testing space as well as the following: 
• cell phones (see the next page for more information) 
• English-language dictionaries 
• extra paper (e.g., scrap paper, flags, sticky notes, blank sheets, handwritten notes) 
• notebooks 
• textbooks 
• electronic devices (e.g., e-book readers, music players for one student’s personal use or the whole class, PDAs, pocket translators) 
• computers 
• editing devices (e.g., spelling or grammar checkers) 
• graphic organizers 
• thesauruses 
• encyclopedias


Cell Phones 
It is the responsibility of the principal and test administrators to ensure that students do not have access to cell phones during testing. Results will be invalidated for students who use cell phones during testing. During the Test Administrators’ Training, the principal will inform test administrators whether students will be instructed before each test session to turn off their cell phones and place them underneath their chairs or follow another procedure to ensure that students do not have access to cell phones, and whether test administrators will read the optional script or a locally developed script with instructions for students. 

Note: Students with disabilities may be allowed, under certain circumstances, to use as test accommodations certain tools and materials that are otherwise prohibited. If a student in your assigned group will use accommodations to take the test, the principal will notify you. Test accommodations must be recommended by the student’s IEP or 504 team and documented on the student’s answer booklet by the principal or designee. 

E. Accounting for Secure Materials

It is the responsibility of the test administrator to account for secure test materials by inventorying the materials received for students assigned to you. (See pages 20 and 28 for a list of the materials you should receive.) It is also your responsibility to document on the Internal Tracking Forms the receipt and return to your principal of a specific quantity of secure test materials. All secure materials assigned to you must be returned to the principal following each test administration. 

The school and district will be held responsible for any secure materials that were received at the school but not returned.

F. Damaged or Defective Booklets

If a student’s assigned answer booklet becomes damaged or is discovered to be defective at any time during testing, it must be replaced. In such cases: 
1. Collect the damaged/defective booklet from the student. 
2. Issue the student a replacement answer booklet. All information on the front cover of the replacement booklet must be completed. 
3. Instruct the student to continue working in the replacement answer booklet. 
4. Fill in the VOID ANSWER BOOKLET circle on the back cover of the student’s damaged/defective answer booklet. 
5. Write “VOID” in large letters across the front cover. 
6. Set the void booklet aside to be returned to your principal along with the student’s replacement answer booklet at the end of the test session. 
7. Notify your principal that you are returning a damaged answer booklet. Your principal must ensure that all of the student’s answers marked in the void answer booklet are accurately transcribed into the student’s replacement answer booklet.

Students will not receive credit for any work in void answer booklets that was not transcribed into replacement answer booklets.

G. Contaminated Test Materials

If a test booklet, answer booklet, or other test material becomes contaminated with bodily fluids, contact the principal or designee immediately for instructions.

H. Administering Accommodated Tests

Your principal will inform you if your group of students includes one or more students being tested with accommodations. The table below shows where you can find more information about specific accommodations.

Special Edition/Accommodation		Instructions to Follow
Braille (accommodation 12)		Appendix A 
Large-print (accommodation 11) 		Appendix B
Typed responses (accommodation 23) 	Appendix C
Signing the test for a student who is deaf	Appendix D 
or hard of hearing (accommodation 17)
Kurzweil 3000 CD (accommodation 18)	Special instructions contained in Kurzweil CD packet



Part III
Tasks to Complete Prior to Test Administration

A. Attend Test Administrators’ Training

Before testing, your school principal will schedule a training session for all test administrators to explain the testing procedures that will be followed at the school. Read this manual before the training to familiarize yourself with security requirements, policies, and procedures. Following is a list of essential topics that must be covered at the training session.

Test Security
The principal will emphasize the following:
• the school’s procedures for distributing and tracking secure test materials before, during, between, and following test sessions, using internal tracking forms
• the need to closely monitor students during testing to ensure that they are not using cell phones for any purpose, including text messaging, accessing the calculator function or Internet, and photographing test questions
• whether test administrators will read the recommended script regarding cell phone use in the “As Students Arrive” section of the TAM or a locally developed script instead. The use of cell phones during testing for any purpose is prohibited and must be reported to your principal. Results will be invalidated for students who use cell phones during testing.
• the requirement that students may not return to a test session once it has been completed

Administration Schedule and Logistics
The principal will inform test administrators of the school’s policies, procedures, and logistics regarding the following:
• MCAS testing schedules (e.g., prescribed testing dates), including the administration of practice tests, if applicable
• students who arrive late
• test completion sessions when students require additional time to complete a test session
• assignment of a specific, appropriate testing space and a specific group of students
• supervision of students during test sessions and between test sessions (e.g., transporting students and test materials to test completion areas), make-up sessions, and breaks
• how test administrators may contact the principal or designee during testing, if necessary
• standard and nonstandard MCAS test accommodations for students with disabilities
• whether Student ID Labels will be applied before test sessions or whether they will be applied by students after answer booklets are distributed
• materials that become contaminated
• new policies and procedures at the school

For each test session, test administrators are required to do the following:
• read the scripts in the TAM verbatim to students, including students taking make-up sessions and students starting late
• write on the board the test administrator’s name (students must write this on the front covers of their test booklets)
• ensure that students do not have access to unapproved materials
• return to the principal lists of all students assigned to them who were not tested so that they can be scheduled to take make-up tests


Test Administration/Resource Materials
The principal will familiarize test administrators with test administration materials, approved and unapproved resource materials, and related policies, including the following:
• Writing instruments other than #2 pencils may be used only in test booklets. Students may use only #2 pencils in answer booklets. (The use of highlighters in answer booklets is prohibited.)
• Printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries that contain no handwriting are allowed for current or former ELL students.


B. Prepare the Testing Space 

Before each test session, the testing space must be prepared as follows: 
• Ensure that the room is free from noise or distractions and is adequately lit, ventilated, and furnished so that students can work comfortably and without disruption.
• Ensure that each student will have adequate work space, and be sufficiently separated from other students to support a secure test environment. 
• Cover or remove from the testing space all materials containing content in the subject area being tested, including any materials that might help students answer test questions. Examples include, but are not limited to, posters, maps, charts, graphic organizers, word lists, and definitions. 
• Prepare a sign that reads “MCAS Testing—Please Do Not Disturb” to be posted on the door during each MCAS administration session. 


C. Complete Front Covers of Answer Booklets

Your principal will inform you at the Test Administrators’ Training whether Student ID Labels are to be applied to answer booklets before testing sessions or whether they are to be applied by students immediately after answer booklets are distributed. To ensure the proper application of labels, the Department recommends that labels be applied by test administrators.

Labels with incorrect State-Assigned Student Identifiers (SASIDs) must not be applied to answer booklets. If your school did not receive Student ID Labels for some students, or received labels with incorrect SASIDs, all information requested on the front covers of answer booklets must be completed by those students according to the instructions in step 9 on page 23 of this manual. 

Labels may be used if the information other than the SASID is incorrect.

Sample answer booklet covers with a Student ID Label and without a label are provided in the PAM. See your principal with any questions.



Part IV
Administering the Practice Test

The administration of the practice test is optional.

Your principal will provide you with a schedule for administering the practice test if it will be administered at your school. Large-print and Braille editions of the practice test are also available, and your principal will provide them if applicable. The test should take approximately 20 minutes to administer and review. See the instructions included with Kurzweil materials for information about how to access sample test questions for the Kurzweil edition.

The format of the practice test closely resembles the format of the actual test.

Follow the instructions below to administer the practice test.

1. Distribute the practice test to each student and say:
“Do not open the practice test until I instruct you to do so.”

2. When the tests have been distributed, say:
“I have just handed out a practice test that will help you understand how and where to answer questions on the MCAS Biology test. The practice test has the same kinds of questions that you will see on the real test, but your answers to questions on this practice test do not count toward your MCAS score.

You may open your test, read the directions, and begin the practice test.”

3. You may assist students during the practice test session. Be sure that students in your group clearly understand how to
• fill in multiple-choice answer circles completely and correctly.
• answer open-response questions completely, including how to respond to open-response questions that have more than one part to answer and label.

This is the only session in which you may help the students while they are answering questions. After students have completed their work on the practice test, you may review their answers with them. You may not answer student questions once students have begun the actual MCAS tests.

4. When students have completed the practice test, collect the tests for return to the principal.



Part V
Administering the February Biology Test Session 1 (Wednesday, February 1)

A. Materials Needed for Session 1

1. Prior to testing, you will receive the following materials for students assigned to you:^8

^8 If applicable for any student in your assigned group, you will also receive Braille test materials, large-print test materials, and/or Kurzweil 3000 CDs. See the appendices and/or the Kurzweil CD packet for more information. 

• This manual
• February 2012 Biology test booklets
• February 2012 Biology answer booklets
• A list of students’ SASIDs, if applicable
• Student ID Labels, if labels were not previously applied to answer booklets
• If your principal has instructed you to apply Student ID Labels to answer booklets before testing, do so before students arrive for testing.
• A tracking form to assist you and your principal in maintaining the security of test materials
• Optional: practice tests (if not previously administered)

2. You will also need the following materials available in your testing space prior to testing:
• “Do Not Disturb” sign
• Printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for students who currently are or ever were ELL only
• #2 pencils
• Students are permitted to have calculators with them during the Biology test (see page 9 for further information). Test administrators must ensure that students do not have access to calculator instructions or formula sheets that accompany calculators. 

3. You will likely receive more materials than needed for your group of students. Notify your principal immediately if you need additional materials. Set aside unassigned materials and keep them secure until you return them to your principal.

Remember that all test booklets (including large-print booklets, Braille booklets, Kurzweil CDs, and Braille Administrator’s Copies) and answer booklets are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal.

B. Before Students Arrive

1. Make sure the testing space has been appropriately prepared (see page 15).
2. Post the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside of the door of the testing space.
3. Write your name on the board. 
4. Write the names of your school and district on the board.
5. Write on the board: “You will answer questions 1–30 in this session.” 


C. As Students Arrive

1. Collect books from students who brought them to read in the event they finish their work before the end of the test session.

2. Approve any bilingual dictionaries brought by eligible ELL students to use during the test session according to the guidelines in Appendix E.

All other dictionaries are prohibited during this session.

3. Make sure that students do not have access to cell phones or other electronic devices during testing. These devices are strictly prohibited and the use of cell phones for any purpose will result in the invalidation of test results.

If your principal has instructed you to do so, read the recommended script:

“Before we begin testing, you need to know that cell phones and other electronic devices like music players are not allowed for any reason. You may not use your cell phone to make or receive calls or to send or receive text messages. Please turn your cell phone off and place it under your chair.”

Pause to make sure that students have turned cell phones and other electronic devices off and have placed them under their chairs.

4. Make sure that students’ desks are clear, except for approved bilingual dictionaries for eligible ELL students, #2 pencils, and calculators. Students may also have highlighters and pens to use in their test booklets.

D. Administer Session 1 [Calculator Icon]

To ensure that all students across the state have access to the same information and receive the same instructions, test administrators must read the following script verbatim to their students.

1. Say to the students:
“We are about to begin Session 1 of the MCAS Biology test. The results of this test will be used to help improve your academic performance and to partially determine whether you will receive a high school diploma. Your test results will also be reported to your parents or guardians and to the school. It is very important that you try to do your best work during this and every test session.

This is the first of two test sessions. You will take Session 1 today and Session 2 tomorrow.

I will now distribute your answer booklets. Please do not open them until I instruct you to do so.”

2. Distribute answer booklets. If Student ID Labels have already been applied to the answer booklets, make sure that you give each student his or her assigned answer booklet.

3. Once answer booklets have been distributed, say:

“Please pick up your answer booklet and QUICKLY flip through the pages to see if there are missing pages, completely blank pages, or pages that were printed upside down.

Raise your hand if you have an answer booklet with missing pages, blank pages, or upside-down pages.”

4. Collect any defective booklets and fill in the VOID circle on the back cover of each. Then write “VOID” in large letters across the front cover of each. Set aside these booklets to be returned to the principal. Give new booklets to those students who had defective booklets. (See pages 10–11.)

5. If students will apply their own Student ID Labels, distribute the labels now. Instruct students to verify that the information on their labels is correct before they apply them. Any student who has a Student ID Label with incorrect information should return his or her label or prelabeled answer booklet to you. If the student’s SASID is correct on the label, the student may use the labeled answer booklet. If the SASID is incorrect or the student does not have a label, additional information must be completed on the front cover of an unlabeled answer booklet, according to the instructions in step 9 of this section.

6. When all Student ID Labels have been applied, say:

“Before beginning this test session, you will provide some information on the front cover of your answer booklet. It is extremely important that you complete all of this information CORRECTLY, and that you use ONLY a #2 pencil in your answer booklet. You may NOT use a pen or any other writing instrument.

At the top of the front cover, print the school name on the first line and the district name on the second line. I have written the school and district names on the board.”

Pause and check that students are completing the information correctly on the front covers of their answer booklets.

7. Then say:
“Below the information you just printed is the title ‘Student Name Grid.’

Print the letters of your LAST name in the boxes below that title. Write one letter in each box, starting in the first box on the left. Between the printed words ‘Last Name’ and ‘First Name,’ you will see a dividing line. If your last name is longer than the space provided, fill in as much as will fit in front of the dividing line. If your last name has a hyphen or space, write the two names together as one word, without the hyphen or space.”

Pause for students to complete this section.

8. Then say:
“Print the letters of your FIRST name, starting with the box to the right of the dividing line. Do NOT write your nickname or use a different spelling of your name than usual. If your first name has a hyphen, write the two names together as one word, without the hyphen. Print your middle initial in the last box, under ‘MI.’ ”

Pause for students to complete this section.

9. If all of the students in your assigned group are using answer booklets with Student ID Labels, skip to step 10. Otherwise, continue with step 9.

Say to the students:
“If your answer booklet does not have a Student ID Label on the lower right corner, you will now fill in the circles under each letter that you printed under the ‘STUDENT NAME GRID.’

Whenever you fill in circles, it is important to COMPLETELY fill the circles and make DARK MARKS. It is also important to erase COMPLETELY any mark you want to change and any stray marks on the page.”

Pause and check that students are completing this task correctly. Say:

“On the upper right side of the page, there is a section labeled ‘BIRTHDATE,’ with abbreviations for the months of the year. Fill in the circle to the right of the MONTH in which you were born. For example, if your birthday is in August, you will fill in the ‘8’ circle to the right of A-U-G.

Next, print the two numbers for the DAY on which you were born, one in each box underneath the word ‘DAY.’ If your birthdate is a single number, print a zero first. For example, if your birthday is on the second of the month, you will print the numbers ‘zero, two’ in the boxes underneath ‘DAY.’

Now print the numbers of the YEAR in which you were born in the boxes underneath ‘YEAR.’
Last, underneath each number you printed, fill in the circle that contains the same number.”

Pause and check that students are completing this task correctly. If students will be filling in their own SASIDs, say:

“Locate the box labeled ‘STATE-ASSIGNED STUDENT IDENTIFIER.’ I will provide each of you with your State-Assigned Student Identifier number so you can write the information and fill in the appropriate circles.”

10. Then say:
“I will now distribute the test booklets. Please do not open your booklet until I instruct you to do so.”

11. Once the test booklets have been distributed, say:
“Now pick up your test booklet and QUICKLY flip through the pages to see if there are any missing pages, completely blank pages, or pages that were printed upside down.

Please raise your hand if you have a test booklet with missing pages, blank pages, or upside-down pages.”

12. Collect any defective booklets and write “VOID” in large letters on the front cover of each. Set aside the booklets to be returned to the principal. Give new booklets to those students who had defective materials.

13. Once this is done, say:
“On the front cover, print your name on the first line, above ‘Student Name.’ Print my name on the second line, above ‘Test Administrator Name (Session 1).’ Print the school and district names on the third and fourth lines. The school and district names are written on the board for you to copy.”

Pause and check that students are completing this task correctly.

14. When ready, say:
“During this test session, you will answer questions 1–30, which consist of multiple-choice and open-response questions.

To answer a multiple-choice question, you will choose the best answer—either A, B, C, or D—and mark your choice by filling in the circle in your answer booklet. Remember to fill in the circle completely and make a dark mark. It is also important to erase COMPLETELY any mark you want to change.

To answer an open-response question, you will write on lines that are in a large answer box on the page. Words that you write outside the answer box will NOT be included in your score.

There is a small grid in your answer booklet on each page where you will answer an open-response question. Some open-response questions require you to use these grids. If a question does not require you to use the grid, you may still use it or you may write over the grid if you wish.

Your answers to open-response questions will not be scored for spelling or grammar. You should try your best to use proper spelling and grammar, but your score will not be lowered if you make a mistake in spelling or grammar.

Remember to read open-response questions CAREFULLY and answer them COMPLETELY. If an open-response question has more than one part or asks for more than one answer, be sure to answer EVERY part of the question, and label each part of your answer ‘a,’ ‘b,’ etc.

Please open your test booklet to the inside front cover for important instructions. The information in the box on the right-hand page will help you to answer open-response questions. You are allowed to turn back to this page at any time during testing to remind yourself of how to answer open-response questions. Please read the information in the box now.”

Pause while students review the information.

15. Say to the students:
“The Biology test was designed to be taken without the aid of a calculator. You may have your calculator with you if you wish, but you should not need it to answer the questions.

You may not use an English-language dictionary during this test session.

You must mark all of your answers in your answer booklet. Answers written in your test booklet will not be scored, and your test booklet will be destroyed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education after testing.

No scrap paper is allowed. You may use highlighters or pens to help you in your test booklet, BUT you must write ALL of your responses in your answer booklet using a #2 pencil ONLY. If you use any other writing instrument or leave any stray marks in your answer booklet, your answers may not be scored.

It is also important for you to know that figures, diagrams, and illustrations in your test booklet are not necessarily drawn to scale.”

16. Then say:
“This test session is scheduled to be 60 minutes long. If you have not finished answering the questions at the end of that time, you will be given more time to finish.

Once you begin the test, each test booklet page for this session will say ‘GO ON’ at the bottom right corner of the page. Keep answering questions until you have answered the last question on page 13 of your test booklet, which says ‘STOP’ at the bottom.

If you finish answering the questions before the end of the test session, you should review your work for this session. Remember that you may turn back to the beginning of the test booklet to review the information there. However, you may NOT look ahead to Session 2. Any answers you make during this session to questions from Session 2 may not be scored.

Be aware that the use of cell phones for any purpose is strictly prohibited. Cheating in any form is forbidden and will result in a failing score.”

17. Then say:
“Open your answer booklet to page 2. You will mark your answers for Session 1 beginning on this page.
Now open your test booklet to page 1, which says ‘Session 1’ at the top. You may begin Session 1 now.”

18. Circulate among the students while they take the test to see that they are working steadily, are not using cell phones, and are in the correct section of their test booklets and answer booklets. It is your responsibility to ensure a secure testing environment.

19. When the session time is half over, say to the students:
“The session time is half over. Remember to use the information in the box at the beginning of your test booklet as you review your answers to open-response questions. Make sure that you do not skip any questions in this test session. When you are finished answering all of the questions in Session 1 and reviewing your work, return your test materials to me.”

20. At the end of the session, say to the students:
“This is the end of the time scheduled for this session. Before I collect your booklets, I want to remind you that you were supposed to answer questions 1 through 30 during this session, the last response to a question should be on page 4 of your answer booklet, and you should make sure you have not skipped any questions. Remember, once you hand me your test materials, you will not be permitted to go back to Session 1.”

Pause to allow students to check whether they have skipped any questions. 

21. Then say:
“Please put your pencil down and close your booklets. If you need more time to answer any questions, raise your hand.”

22. Note which students need more time and then pick up each student’s booklets. Verify that you have a used answer booklet and a used test booklet from each student. For students who need more time to finish, follow the instructions given by your principal. Remind students of when Session 2 will begin tomorrow.

23. Make a list of all students in your assigned group who were not tested. These students will need to take Session 1 during the make-up period. If all the students assigned to you took Session 1, notify your principal of this.

24. Verify that any students who filled in circles for their names, dates of birth, and SASIDs on the front covers of answer booklets have done so correctly. If not, correct the information on the front covers at this time.

25. Group booklets into the following separate piles:
• used test booklets
• used answer booklets
• void answer booklets
• void test booklets
• unused test materials
• practice tests (if applicable)
• contaminated test materials, if applicable (Remember to notify your principal or designee.)

26. Complete appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal.

27. Immediately return all test materials and the list of students to your principal.

Remember that all test booklets (including large-print booklets, Braille booklets, Kurzweil CDs, and Braille Administrator’s Copies) and answer booklets are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal.



Part VI
Administering the February Biology Test Session 2 (Thursday, February 2)

A. Materials Needed for Session 2

1. Prior to testing, you will receive the following materials for students assigned to you:^9

^9 If applicable for any student in your assigned group, you will also receive Braille test materials, large-print test materials, and/or Kurzweil 3000 CDs. See the appendices and/or the Kurzweil CD packet for more information.

• This manual
• February 2012 Biology test booklets
• February 2012 Biology answer booklets
• A list of students’ SASIDs, if applicable
• Student ID Labels, if applicable
• A tracking form to assist you and your principal in maintaining the security of test materials

2. You will also need the following materials available in your testing space prior to testing:
• “Do Not Disturb” sign
• Printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for students who currently are or ever were ELL only
• #2 pencils
• Students are permitted to have calculators with them during the Biology test (see page 9 for further information). Test administrators must ensure that students do not have access to calculator instructions or formula sheets that accompany calculators.

3. You will likely receive more materials than needed for your group of students. Notify your principal immediately if you need additional materials. Set aside unassigned materials and keep them secure until you return them to your principal.

Remember that all test booklets (including large-print booklets, Braille booklets, Kurzweil CDs, and Braille Administrator’s Copies) and answer booklets are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal.

B. Before Students Arrive
1. Make sure the testing space has been appropriately prepared (see page 15).
2. Post the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside of the door to your testing space.
3. Write your name on the board.
4. Write the names of your school and district on the board.
5. Write on the board: “You will answer questions 31–59 in this session.” 

C. As Students Arrive
1. Collect books from students who brought them to read in the event they finish their work before the end of the test session.

2. Approve any bilingual dictionaries brought by eligible ELL students to use during the test session according to the guidelines in Appendix E.

All other dictionaries are prohibited during this session.

3. Make sure that students do not have access to cell phones or other electronic devices during testing. These devices are strictly prohibited and the use of cell phones for any purpose will result in the invalidation of test results.

If your principal has instructed you to do so, read the recommended script:

“Before we begin testing, you need to know that cell phones and other electronic devices like music players are not allowed for any reason. You may not use your cell phone to make or receive calls or to send or receive text messages. Please turn your cell phone off and place it under your chair.”

Pause to make sure that students have turned cell phones and other electronic devices off and have placed them under their chairs.

4. Make sure that students’ desks are clear, except for approved bilingual dictionaries for eligible ELL students, #2 pencils, and calculators. Students may also have highlighters and pens to use in their test booklets.

D. Administer Session 2 [Calculator Icon]

To ensure that all students across the state have access to the same information and receive the same instructions, test administrators must read the following script verbatim to their students.

1. If there are students in your assigned group who do not have answer booklets with the front covers completed, these students will need to do so. Instructions for completing the front covers of answer booklets appear in this manual on pages 21–23 (steps 2–9). Then say to the students:
“We are about to begin Session 2 of the MCAS Biology test. This is the last of two test sessions.

I will now distribute your answer booklets. Please do not open them until I instruct you to do so.”

Distribute the answer booklets to their original owners. Note: It is your responsibility to ensure that each student receives his or her own original answer booklet.

2. Once the answer booklets have been distributed, say:
“Make sure you have your own answer booklet. If you have someone else’s answer booklet, raise your hand now.”

If any students raise their hands, give them their correct materials.

3. When ready, then say:
“I will now distribute the test booklets. Please do not open your booklet until I instruct you to do so.”

Distribute the test booklets to their original owners. Note: It is your responsibility to ensure that each student receives his or her own original test booklet.

4. Once the test booklets have been distributed, say:
“Make sure you have your own test booklet. If you have someone else’s booklet, raise your hand now.”

If any students raise their hands, give them their correct booklets.

5. Then say:
“On the front cover, print my name on the second line, above ‘Test Administrator Name (Session 2).’ My name is on the board for you to copy.”

6. When ready, say:
“During this test session, you will answer questions 31–59, which consist of multiple-choice and open-response questions.

To answer a multiple-choice question, you will choose the best answer—either A, B, C, or D—and mark your choice by filling in the circle in your answer booklet. Remember to fill in the circle completely and make a dark mark. It is also important to erase COMPLETELY any mark you want to change.

To answer an open-response question, you will write on lines that are in a large answer box on the page. Words that you write outside the answer box will NOT be included in your score.

There is a small grid in your answer booklet on each page where you will answer an open-response question. Some open-response questions require you to use these grids. If a question does not require you to use the grid, you may still use it or you may write over the grid if you wish.
Your answers to open-response questions will not be scored for spelling or grammar. You should try your best to use proper spelling and grammar, but your score will not be lowered if you make a mistake in spelling or grammar.

Remember to read open-response questions CAREFULLY and answer them COMPLETELY. If an open-response question has more than one part or asks for more than one answer, be sure to answer EVERY part of the question, and label each part of your answer ‘a,’ ‘b,’ etc.”

7. Say to the students:
“The Biology test was designed to be taken without the aid of a calculator. You may have your calculator with you if you wish, but you should not need it to answer the questions.

You may not use an English-language dictionary during this test session.

You must mark all of your answers in your answer booklet. Answers written in your test booklet will not be scored, and your test booklet will be destroyed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education after testing.

No scrap paper is allowed. You may use highlighters or pens to help you in your test booklet, BUT you must write ALL of your responses in your answer booklet using a #2 pencil ONLY. If you use any other writing instrument or leave any stray marks in your answer booklet, your answers may not be scored.

It is also important for you to know that figures, diagrams, and illustrations in your test booklet are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Please open your test booklet to the beginning and review the information in the box. You are allowed to turn back to this page at any time during testing to remind yourself of how to answer open-response questions, but you may not turn back to Session 1 in your test booklet or answer booklet.”

Pause while students review the information.

8. Then say:
“This test session is scheduled to be 60 minutes long. If you have not finished answering the questions at the end of that time, you will be given more time to finish.

Once you begin the test, each page for this session will say ‘GO ON’ at the bottom right corner of the page. Keep answering questions until you have answered the last question on the page that says ‘STOP’ at the bottom.

If you finish answering the questions before the end of the test session, you should review your work for this session. Remember that you may turn back to the beginning of the test booklet to review the information in the box there. However, you may not review the first session. Any answers you make during this session to questions from Session 1 may not be scored.

Be aware that the use of cell phones for any purpose is strictly prohibited. Cheating in any form is forbidden and will result in a failing score.”

9. Then say:
“Open your answer booklet to page 6. You will mark your answers for Session 2 beginning on this page.

Now open your test booklet to page 16, which says ‘Session 2’ at the top. The first question in this session is 31. You may begin Session 2 now.”

10. Circulate among the students while they take the test to see that they are working steadily, are not using cell phones, and are in the correct section of their answer booklets. It is your responsibility to ensure a secure testing environment.

11. When the session time is half over, say to the students:
“The session time is half over. Remember to use the information in the box at the beginning of your test booklet as you review your answers to open-response questions. Make sure you do not skip any questions in this test session. When you are finished answering all of the questions in Session 2 and reviewing your work, return your test materials to me.”

12. At the end of the session, say to the students:
“This is the end of the time scheduled for this session. Before I collect your booklets, I want to remind you that you were supposed to answer questions 31 through 59 during this session, the last question you answered should be on page 9 of your answer booklet, and you should make sure you have not skipped any questions. Remember, once you hand me your test materials, you will not be permitted to go back to Session 2.”

Pause to allow students to check if they have skipped any questions. 

13. Then say:
“Please put your pencil down and close your booklets. If you need more time to answer any questions, raise your hand.”

14. Note which students need more time and then pick up each student’s booklets. Verify that you have a used answer booklet and a used test booklet from each student. For students who need more time to finish, follow the instructions given by your principal.

15. Make a list of all students in your assigned group who were not tested. These students will need to take Session 2 during the make-up period. If all the students assigned to you took test Session 2, notify your principal of this.

16. Group booklets into the following separate piles:
• used test booklets
• used answer booklets
• void answer booklets
• void test booklets
• unused test materials
• contaminated test materials, if applicable (Remember to notify your principal or designee.)

17. Complete appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal.

18. Immediately return all test materials and the list of students to your principal.

Remember that all test booklets (including large-print booklets, Braille booklets, Kurzweil CDs, and Braille Administrator’s Copies) and answer booklets are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal.



Appendix A
Procedures for Administering the Braille Edition of the Test

Use the instructions below when administering the Braille edition to a student with a disability whose IEP or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 12.

1. Your principal will provide you with the Braille Administrator’s Copy and all of the materials listed on the Braille Special Instructions sheet in the shrink-wrapped packet of Braille test materials.

You will be provided these materials to review up to four days before the first test session. It is important that you have the opportunity to become familiar with the Braille test questions and Braille transcriptions, and understand any differences between the Braille edition page numbers and page number references given in this manual. Your review must occur at the school under the supervision of the principal or designee.

2. After the student has completed testing, you MUST transcribe the student’s answers verbatim into his or her standard answer booklet, unless the student has accommodation 23 listed in his or her IEP or 504 plan and will be submitting typed responses. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for his or her work.

All information requested on the front cover and inside and outside back covers of the student’s standard answer booklet must be properly completed by the principal or designee.

3. Immediately after testing, return all test materials to your principal using appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal.

Remember that all test materials, including the Braille Administrator’s Copy, are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal. Materials must not be removed from the school.



Appendix B
Procedures for Administering the Large-Print Edition of the Test

Use the instructions below when administering the large-print edition to a student with a disability whose IEP or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 11.

1. Your principal will provide you with the materials listed on the Large-Print Edition Special Instructions sheet in the shrink-wrapped packet of large-print test materials.

2. After the student has completed testing, you MUST transcribe the student’s answers (including multiple-choice responses) verbatim into his or her standard answer booklet, unless the student has accommodation 23 listed in his or her IEP or 504 plan and will be submitting typed responses. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for his or her work.

All information requested on the front cover and inside and outside back covers of the student’s standard answer booklet must be properly completed by the principal or designee.

3. Immediately after testing, return all test materials to your principal using appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal.

Remember that all test materials are secure and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal. Materials must not be removed from the school.



Appendix C
Procedures for Administering the Test to Students Who Type Their Responses

Follow the instructions in this appendix to administer the test to a student with a disability whose IEP Team or 504 team has determined that he or she will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 23 (student uses a word processor, Alpha-Smart, or similar electronic keyboard to type answers to open-response questions).

General Information

For each question, a student’s response must be submitted entirely
• typed on paper and inserted inside the student’s answer booklet; or
• written by the student or transcribed into the student’s answer booklet.

All of the responses for an individual student do not need to be submitted using the same method. Regardless of which method is used, submit only one response per question. Draft typed responses are to be marked “DRAFT” and the principal must return them in the nonscorable shipment. 

Test Administration Instructions
Instruct students to save their work often, in case of computer malfunctions.

Security Information
Test administrators are responsible for
• maintaining the security of all computers used by students who receive accommodation 23;
• ensuring that any spell- or grammar-checking device is disabled;
• ensuring that students do not have access to the Internet or any files on the computer hard drive or network during testing;
• ensuring that no response is edited by anyone other than the student and only during the test-taking period; and
• deleting all student responses that were temporarily saved on any local computer or computer disk, at the end of test administration, after all student responses have been printed for submission with an answer booklet. Student responses are secure and confidential and must not be accessible to unauthorized individuals.

Information about the Biology Test Administration
Some Biology open-response questions request that students respond by creating a graphic (e.g., creating a drawing or figure; plotting coordinates on a grid). Students may also choose to create a graphic in response to an open-response question, even if the question does not specifically require one.

Prior to each test session, instruct students using accommodation 23 to raise their hands if they come to a question for which they wish to provide a graphic response and are unable to create one on the typed response page.

In such cases, a student may either write the graphic portion of his or her response in the answer booklet or request that the test administrator scribe the graphic response into the answer booklet exactly as dictated by the student. If the student also typed any portion of his or her response to the same question, you must later transcribe verbatim the portion that was typed into the student’s answer booklet. It is suggested that you use a piece of paper to mark the student’s answer booklet for later transcription.

Information Required for Each Page
You must provide the following information on each page of each student’s response. The required information listed below may be handwritten, typed, or printed on a label and affixed to each page.
• student name
• student SASID
• answer booklet serial number (the 10-digit number located on the lower right corner of the front cover)
• subject
• question number

A sample template for a typed response is included on the next page.

Margins must be set to one inch. Do not enter any text into header or footer sections.

The font size must be a minimum of 8-point and a maximum of 12-point when the typed responses are submitted.

Line spacing should be single.

A separate page must be submitted for each response. A maximum of one page may be submitted for each open-response question.

Plain white paper (8 ½” x 11”) must be used.

The typed response pages must be placed inside the student’s standard answer booklet without clips, tape, or staples.

Your principal or designee will submit the typed responses using instructions in the PAM.

After Test Administration

A student’s responses to multiple-choice questions cannot be submitted as typed responses; they must be marked by the student or transcribed into his or her standard answer booklet. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for his or her work.

All information requested on the front cover and inside and outside back covers of the student’s answer booklet must be properly completed by the principal or designee, including the circle for accommodation 23 on the inside back cover.

Immediately after testing, return all test materials to your principal using appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal.


[Sample MCAS Typed Response Template
Student Name: Jonathan Ward
Student SASID: 1012345678
Answer Booklet Serial Number: 1234567890
Subject: Biology
Question Number: 35
In this area, this student will type the response to the test question.
A maximum of one page may be submitted for each open-response question.
Margins must be set to one inch.
The font size must be a minimum of 8-point and a maximum of 12-point.
Line spacing should be single.]



Appendix D
Procedures for Signing the Test for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Use the instructions below when administering the test to a student with a disability whose IEP Team or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 17 (signing the test).

1. All test questions must be signed exactly as written, except in cases when doing so would reveal an answer to a question. If a sign visually defines the concept being tested, it must be finger-spelled. The test administrator must not provide assistance to the student regarding the meanings of words, intent of any test questions, or responses to test questions.

2. The test must be administered in a separate setting, either individually or to a small group (2–5 students).

3. Under secure conditions supervised by the principal, sign interpreters may review test materials up to four days prior to test administration. Test materials may not be removed from the school and must be returned to the testing contractor by the principal following test administration.

4. If a student does not enter his or her own responses in a standard answer booklet, the student’s answers MUST be transcribed verbatim into a standard answer booklet after testing has been completed. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for his or her work. If the student is also using typed responses, see Appendix C for further information. All information requested on the front cover and inside and outside back covers of a standard answer booklet for these students must be properly completed by the principal or designee.

Remember that all test materials are secure and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal. Materials must not be removed from the school.



Appendix E
Procedures for Approving Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries

Any student who currently is or has been identified as an ELL student in the past may use an authorized bilingual word-to-word dictionary on all MCAS tests.

Dictionaries permitted for this purpose are strictly limited to those that provide word-to-word translations. Dictionaries that include definitions, synonyms, antonyms, phrases, and other information are prohibited. 

Approval must be limited to dictionaries that do not contain handwriting. Electronic dictionaries are also prohibited.

A list of authorized bilingual dictionaries and glossaries, updated in fall 2011, is available on the Department’s website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/biology. The list of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries authorized for use on MCAS tests has been updated to include word lists that provide specialized terms for the Mathematics and Science and Technology/Engineering tests. See the principal to request approval of any other bilingual word-to-word dictionary.
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