Test Tools

This section provides an overview of the 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.

Formula

To view the on-screen formula sheet, select Formulas in the global menu.
Language Toggle

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

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

To emphasize an individual line of text in a passage or question, select Line Reader in the global menu. If the enhanced line reader mode is enabled, all content except for the line in focus is grayed out for greater emphasis.

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

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

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

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

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.

Depending on the tool’s settings, advanced editing features, such as word and character count, spell check, and text formatting options may be available. Table 6 lists the different editing tools that may be available.

Furthermore, the text entered in this tool can be copied and pasted into text response areas or into item-specific note fields of items displayed on that page.
Pause To pause a test, select Pause button. If you pause the test, then you will be logged out.
Periodic Table To view the on-screen periodic table, select Periodic Table in the global menu.
System Settings

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

  • Audio volume
  • Background and text color

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

Students testing on mobile devices cannot use this tool to adjust volume. To adjust audio volume on mobile devices, students must use the device’s built-in volume control.

Zoom Buttons To enlarge the text and images on a test page, select Zoom In. There are several zoom levels. To undo zooming, select Zoom Out.

 

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

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

  • Select American Sign Language from the context menu.
    • 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, select 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. If multiple color options are available, select an option from the list of colors that appears.

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

You cannot highlight text in images.
Mark for Review To mark a question for review, select Mark for Review from the context menu. The marked question number shows a flap in the upper-right corner. A flag icon flag icon appears next to the number. The Items dropdown list shows a Item Marked for Review Flag for the selected question.
Notepad

To enter notes or comments for a question, students select Notepad from the context menu.

Students can only access notes for a question on that question’s test page.

Depending on the tool’s settings, advanced editing features, such as word and character count, spell check, and text formatting options may be available. Table 6 section lists the different editing tools that may be available.

Furthermore, the text entered in this tool can be copied and pasted into text response areas of items displayed on that page as well as the notes tool in the global menu, if available.
Print Item To send a print request for an individual question, select Print Item from the context menu. After sending the request, a printer icon printer icon appears next to the question number on the test page.
Select Previous Version To 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. Select the appropriate response and click Select.
Strikethrough

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

There are two options for using this tool:

Option A :

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

Option B :

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

Text-to-Speech (TTS)

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

Tutorial To view a short video on how to answer a particular type of question, select Tutorial from the context menu.

 

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

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

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