Highlights of ACCUPLACER

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1 Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Tests Next-generation ACCUPLACER placement tests are designed to more effectively help institutions place students in classes that match their skill level. Some new features include: A greater focus on a range of content areas, text complexity, and writing modes Ability to assess rhetoric, synthesis, and vocabulary skills Longer text (up to 400 words) and paired text Shift to more authentic tasks such as revising and editing within a wide range of texts Math content aligned to state college and career readiness standards This initial launch will include five new placement exams and the associated COMPANION version of each: Next-Generation Reading Next-Generation Writing Next-Generation Arithmetic Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions NOTE: ACCUPLACER users will have the option of administering either the existing tests or the nextgeneration tests, but not both at the same time. Co-mingling of the current tests and next-generation tests will not be allowed when creating branching profiles, placement rules, or composite scores. The co-mingling rules are detailed in the User Guide. To learn more about the tests, please visit the ACCUPLACER website to access next-generation test specifications, sample questions, as well as a free web-based study app for students. 1

2 In addition to the five new placement tests, the September 2016 release also includes a number of new and enhanced features to include: Updated Individual Score Report (ISR) design Automated Scoring of COMPANION Forms (paper/pencil) Web Services 2.0 Six additional WritePlacer prompts Test Center Management improvements w FAST track admin feature update w Review proctor workload User profile updates w Opt-In to marketing communications w Addition of last access date Updated Individual Score Report (ISR) Design The ACCUPLACER platform now provides users with the capability to customize the data that appears on the student s ISR. Users can select from a K-12 theme, a Higher Ed theme, or build their own theme. The interface allows users to drag and drop the content desired for display while simultaneously allowing users to determine the presentation order on the report. Users will be able to preview the report in advance to validate its appearance. For those users who like the current design, don t worry, the Classic look will still be there. Users must opt-in to using this new design. For more details regarding the setup of a new ISR design, please refer to the User Guide and the You Tube video found within the Resources section of the platform. 2

3 Automated Scoring of COMPANION Forms This feature, currently only available for next-generation tests, will allow a user to download and print the next-generation ACCUPLACER COMPANION test forms, as well as answer sheets, at no cost to your institution. Proctors will be able to create an image of the answer sheet using any scanner or office copier. The images of those completed answer sheets are then uploaded into ACCUPLACER. From there, the answer sheets will be scored within the platform, and the ISR will be immediately available. Each multiple choice test scored will consume one unit in the system. For more details regarding the use of this auto-scoring feature, consult the COMPANION guide and the You Tube video found within the Resources section of the platform. 3

4 Web Services 2.0 With version 2.0 of web services, users will be able to re-download scores, re-generate scores, specify proxy settings for communicating with the ACCUPLACER server via a proxy, and enjoy enhanced troubleshooting capabilities via the Audit Log. Using the Re-Download Scores option allows a user to retrieve score files that have been previously downloaded. Using the Re-Generate Scores option allows a user to re-create one or more score files. The new score files will reflect any changes in the database since the original score file was downloaded. The most common use for this will be to retrieve WritePlacer scores that have come back from human scoring. The original score file will indicate a score pending for WritePlacer, and re-generating the score file after human scoring has completed will incorporate this new score information. The Audit log provides an indication of the last successful download time and a way to search for specific records you may be looking for. Additionally, users will be able to utilize a custom report format, where they can select the individual data elements they want to see when downloading scores with version 2.0. Lastly, there will be an option to include all data files into one folder or one folder per site. The output format in version 2.0 will not change and users can still perform on demand score downloads. The existing client will be supported for a period of five weeks after the release of web services 2.0. This will allow you to continue processing your live testing using the existing client while you implement the new version. The current version of the client will no longer work for data downloads after October 16, For more details regarding the use of web services 2.0, consult the Score Web Service Guide and the You Tube video found within the Resources section of the platform. 4

5 Six Additional WritePlacer Prompts We are excited to announce the addition of six new WritePlacer prompts bringing the total number of available prompts to 19! The new topics are Established Rules, Be Original, Pursue External Goals, Nontraditional Solutions, Books Provide Lessons, and Optimism or Realism. To use the new prompts, go to Test Setup > WritePlacer Settings > and either edit an existing WritePlacer setting or create a new one to include these new prompts. Test Center Management Updates FAST TRACK ADMIN FEATURE This feature has been updated so that once a student accepts the privacy policy and validates their personal information, the branching profile selection and test session launch will be available (under the Awaiting Approval tab) to an authorized user of the Test Center Management dashboard. This further streamlines the start of testing for a student. 5

6 REVIEW PROCTOR WORKLOAD The Test Center Management dashboard has been expanded to allow access for institution administrators (IAs) to review work being done by proctors and site managers at various sites. The IA will be able to select a site from their institution and then review the site manager, proctor, or proctor reporter workloads (e.g., active sessions, sessions started today, sessions completed). 6

7 User profile updates OPT IN TO MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS After the release, when a user logs in to the platform for the first time, they will be prompted to indicate their preference to receive marketing communications from ACCUPLACER. New institution requests will also prompt users for their preference to receive marketing communications. This selection can be changed at a later date in the Profile option accessed in the upper right hand portion of the screen. LAST ACCESS DATE To improve user management controls, under the Manage Profiles - User Profiles menu option, the user can now see the last time a user accessed the system. 7