Contents


Overview of the Test Site

All tests have navigation and test tools. Some test tools are available only for specific tests or questions.

Sample Test Page

Sample Test Page showing Global Menu area with controls and tools at the top, a stimulus section on the left with text and a table, and a question section on the left with a question and answer prompts.

There are two main types of test tools available:

Global Tools Instructions

Help (?) button

To view the on-screen Instructions and Help window, select ? in the upper-right corner.
Calculator

To use the on-screen calculator, select Calculator in the global menu.

This tool is available for the following tests:

  • EOC Algebra 1 and 2
  • Smarter Balanced Mathematics grades 6, 7, 8, and 11
  • HSA-Alt Mathematics grades 3-8 and 11
Dictionary

To search the Merriam-Webster dictionary or thesaurus, select Dictionary in the global menu.

This tool is available for the following test:

  • ELA Performance Task
Formula

To view the on-screen formula sheet, select Formula in the global menu.

This tool is available for the following test:

  • EOC Algebra 2
Line Reader

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

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.

Global Notes

To enter notes in an on-screen notepad, select Notes in the global menu.

This tool is available for the following test:

  • ELA Performance Task
Periodic Table

To view the on-screen periodic table, select Periodic Table in the global menu.

This tool is available for the following tests:

  • HSA Science
  • Biology EOC Exam
System Settings

To change audio volume or color settings, click the cog wheel icon cog wheel icon in the upper right corner.

Language Toggle

This tool is available for the following tests for students testing in the Spanish language:

  • Smarter Balanced Mathematics
  • HSA Science
  • Biology EOC Exam
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.

 

Context Menu Tools Instructions
American Sign Language

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

  1. From the context menu, select American Sign Language.
    • 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.

This tool is available for the following tests for students using the ASL accommodation:

  • Smarter Balanced ELA
  • Math CAT
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.
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.

This tool cannot be used while the Line Reader tool is in use.

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. The Items 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.

Select Previous Version

To view and restore responses previously entered for a Text Response question, select the Select Previous Version option from the context menu. A list of saved responses appears. Choose the appropriate response and click Select.

Strikethrough

For selected response 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.
Tutorial

To view a short video demonstrating how to respond to a particular question type, select Tutorial from the context menu.

 

In addition to the global tools and context menu tools, there are additional tools that may be available to you based on your test settings.

Other Tools Description
Word Prediction When this tool is enabled, suggested words pop up in a menu as you type a written response. You can select a word in the pop-up menu instead of typing it out manually.

Test Rules

Navigation Rules

Accessing the Navigation Bar for HSA-Alt Assessments

Pause Rules

For Smarter Balanced ELA and Mathematics, HSA Science, and EOC Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Biology 1 tests:

For ELA Performance Task tests:

For HSA-Alt Assessments:


About Print-on-Demand and Text-to-Speech

About Print-on-Demand

To send a print request to the Test Administrator, choose from the following options:

About Text-to-Speech

For the Smarter Balanced ELA CAT, Text-to-Speech is an accommodation that requires state-level approval. For other tests, Text-to-Speech is available as a designated support that does not require state-level approval. The following tests allow you to listen to test content as a designated support:

NOTE: Text-to-Speech is not automatically enabled for any tests. TAs and/or TCs must pre-set the TTS designated support for the above tests via the TIDE system or the TA Live Site prior to the start of student testing.

To listen to content with the Text-to-Speech tool: