Online Test Directions

Math and ELA Smarter Balanced

Pause Rules

Check with your teacher if you want to pause your test.
- A message will ask, “Are you sure you want to pause the test?”
- If you pause the test, you will be logged out.
- You do not lose answers when the test is paused.
- If the test is paused for more than 20 minutes, you cannot go back or change any answers to questions you already answered or marked for review.
When you log back into your test, the test will go to the next question you have not answered yet.
If you don’t do anything for 30 minutes, the test will pause and log you out.

How to Move Through the Test

You may need to move down the screen to see all the information for a question.
You may need to move down the screen to answer every question.
- Some screens have one question. Other screens have many questions.
- You must answer every question on a screen.
You can move between screens using the [Back] or [Next] buttons.
- You can also choose a question number from the [Questions] dropdown list.
Some tests have more than one section.
- At the end of each section, you can review any questions in that section.
- You cannot go back to any questions after you finish a section.

Overview of Test Screen

Sample Test Page

Tools

You can use these tools by selecting the buttons at the top of the screen.

Tools	Description
Questions Dropdown List	Select the [Questions] button to move to a different question. If you mark a question for review, there will be a flag next to the question number.
Progress Bar	The “Progress Bar” shows how much of the test you have finished.
Back and Next	Select the [Back] and [Next] buttons to move between screens. Select the [Back] button to go back to the previous question or screen. Select the [Next] button to go to the next question or screen. You must answer every question on a screen to continue.
Save	The [Save] button lets you save your work when answering a question. Your answers are saved when you move to another question. You do not have to use the [Save] button.
Help	Select the [?] button to open these Online Test Directions.
Pause	Select the [Pause] button to pause the test. If you pause the test, then you will be logged out. Check with your teacher before selecting the [Pause] button.
Line Reader	Select the [Line Reader] button to focus on one line of text at a time. Select where you want the Line Reader to start, then use the up and down arrows to move the Line Reader.
Calculator	Math Only: Select the [Calculator] button to open the calculator. You can use the calculator for some questions on grades 6–8 and high school math tests.
Notes	ELA Performance Task Only: Select the [Notes] button to write notes during part 1 of the Performance Task. These notes will show in part 2 of the Performance Task when you select the [Notes] button again.
Dictionary	ELA Performance Task, Part 2 Only: Select the [Dictionary] button to look up a definition or synonym. Type a word in the box then select “Dictionary” or “Thesaurus.”

Tools

Description

Questions Dropdown List

questions dropdown list

Select the [Questions] button to move to a different question. If you mark a question for review, there will be a flag next to the question number.

Progress Bar

The “Progress Bar” shows how much of the test you have finished.

Back and Next

navigation buttons

Select the [Back] and [Next] buttons to move between screens.

Select the [Back] button to go back to the previous question or screen.
Select the [Next] button to go to the next question or screen. You must answer every question on a screen to continue.

Save

save button

The [Save] button lets you save your work when answering a question. Your answers are saved when you move to another question. You do not have to use the [Save] button.

Help

question mark button

Select the [?] button to open these Online Test Directions.

Pause

pause button

Select the [Pause] button to pause the test. If you pause the test, then you will be logged out.

Check with your teacher before selecting the [Pause] button.

Line Reader

Line reader button

Select the [Line Reader] button to focus on one line of text at a time. Select where you want the Line Reader to start, then use the up and down arrows to move the Line Reader.

Calculator

Calculator button

Math Only:

Select the [Calculator] button to open the calculator. You can use the calculator for some questions on grades 6–8 and high school math tests.

Notes

note button

ELA Performance Task Only:

Select the [Notes] button to write notes during part 1 of the Performance Task. These notes will show in part 2 of the Performance Task when you select the [Notes] button again.

Dictionary

dictionary button

ELA Performance Task, Part 2 Only:

Select the [Dictionary] button to look up a definition or synonym. Type a word in the box then select “Dictionary” or “Thesaurus.”

System Settings

You can change some test settings by selecting the System Settings button.

System Settings	Description
Zoom	Slide the [Zoom] bar to make the words on the screen bigger or smaller.
Optional Font	Select [On] to change the words on the screen to a different font. Select [Off] to change the words back to the original font.

System Settings

Description

Zoom

zoom bar

Slide the [Zoom] bar to make the words on the screen bigger or smaller.

Optional Font

optional font buttons

Select [On] to change the words on the screen to a different font. Select [Off] to change the words back to the original font.

Item Menu

You can use the Item Menu by selecting the three lines .

Item Menu	Description
Tutorial	Select [Tutorial] to see a short video. The video shows how to answer that type of question.
Mark for Review	Select [Mark for Review] on questions you want to look at again later. The box around the question number changes to show a flap in the corner and a flag picture shows next to the question number.
Notepad	Select [Notepad] to type notes for a question. After you type your notes, select [Save and Close]. A pencil picture then shows up next to the question number.
Highlighter	Select [Highlight Selection] to highlight words. There are two ways to highlight. 1: Left-click and drag across words you want to highlight. Then right-click on the words and choose [Highlight Selection]. Then select a highlight color. 2: Left-click and drag across words you want to highlight. Then click the Menu and select [Highlight Selection]. Then select a highlight color. Use [Remove Highlight] to remove some highlighting. Left-click and drag across the highlighting you want to remove. Then choose [Remove Highlight]. Use [Reset Highlighting] to remove all highlighting. Pictures cannot be highlighted.
Strikethrough	Select [Strikethrough] to cross out answer choices for multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. There are two ways to use [Strikethrough]. 1: Right-click an answer choice and choose [Strikethrough]. 2: Open the Menu and choose [Strikethrough]. Select answer choices to cross them out. Select outside the answer area or press the [Esc] key when you are done.

Item Menu

Description

Tutorial

tutorial tool

Select [Tutorial] to see a short video. The video shows how to answer that type of question.

Mark for Review

mark for review tool

Select [Mark for Review] on questions you want to look at again later. The box around the question number changes to show a flap in the corner marked question number and a flag picture shows next to the question number.

Notepad

notepad tool

Select [Notepad] to type notes for a question. After you type your notes, select [Save and Close]. A pencil picture then shows up next to the question number.

Highlighter

highlighter tool

Select [Highlight Selection] to highlight words. There are two ways to highlight.

1: Left-click and drag across words you want to highlight. Then right-click on the words and choose [Highlight Selection]. Then select a highlight color.

2: Left-click and drag across words you want to highlight. Then click the Menu and select [Highlight Selection]. Then select a highlight color.

Use [Remove Highlight] to remove some highlighting. Left-click and drag across the highlighting you want to remove. Then choose [Remove Highlight].

Use [Reset Highlighting] to remove all highlighting.

Pictures cannot be highlighted.

Strikethrough

strikethrough tool

strikethrough tool example

Select [Strikethrough] to cross out answer choices for multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. There are two ways to use [Strikethrough].

1: Right-click an answer choice and choose [Strikethrough].

2: Open the Menu and choose [Strikethrough]. Select answer choices to cross them out. Select outside the answer area or press the [Esc] key when you are done.

Other Tools

You can use these tools on some questions.

Other Tools	Description
Expand	Some screens have information on the left side and questions on the right side. Select the button to make the left side wider. This can make the information easier to see. Select the button to go back to the normal view. Select the button to make the right side wider. This can make the questions easier to see. Select the button to go back to the normal view.
Glossary/Translation	Some words have a gray line above and below them. Select on these words to see a definition, a translation, or both.

Other Tools

Description

Expand

Some screens have information on the left side and questions on the right side.

Select the button to make the left side wider. This can make the information easier to see. Select the button to go back to the normal view.
Select the button to make the right side wider. This can make the questions easier to see. Select the button to go back to the normal view.

Glossary/Translation

glossary word

glossary window

Some words have a gray line above and below them. Select on these words to see a definition, a translation, or both.