Test Tools

This section provides an overview of the Connecticut Online Testing System’s available tools.

Note: Some tools are available for all tests, while others are only available for a particular test subject, accommodation, 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.
Dictionary To search the Merriam-Webster dictionary or thesaurus, select Dictionary in the global menu.
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. Click 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.

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.
Print Page To print the entire test page, select Print Page in the global menu.
Print Passage To print a reading passage, select Print Passage in the global menu.
System Settings

Students can select the cog wheel icon cog wheel icon in the upper-right corner to adjust the following:

  • Audio volume
  • Text-to-Speech settings (including volume, pitch, and speed)
Zoom Buttons To enlarge the text and images on a test page, select Zoom In. Multiple zoom levels are available. To undo zooming, select Zoom Out.

 

Table 4: Question and Stimulus Tools
Tool Name Instructions
American Sign Language

You can watch videos that translate test content into American Sign Language (ASL). To view ASL videos:

  1. Select American Sign Language from the context menu (American Sign Language Icon).
    • If only one ASL video is available, the video opens automatically.
    • If multiple ASL videos are available, sign language icons American Sign Language Icon appear next to the test content for each video. Select the icon for the test content you wish to translate into ASL.
Glossary (Word List) To open the glossary, click a word or phrase that has a border around it. This tool is only available for certain words.
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 displays a flap in the upper-right corner and a flag icon flag icon appears next to the number on the test page. The Questions drop-down list displays Item Marked for Review Flag for the selected question.
Notepad

To enter notes or comments for a question, select Notepad from the context menu. After you enter a note, a pencil icon note icon appears next to the question number on the test page.

You can only access your notes for a question on that question’s test page.
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.
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 wish to strike out.
  3. To deactivate Strikethrough mode, press the Esc key or click 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 a Speak option from the context menu. Or, right click on the passage, the question, or an option and select a Speak option.

Tutorial To view a short video demonstrating how to respond to a particular question type, 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, review About the Word Prediction Tool.
Expand Passage 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.