RESOURCES

Administering the Test

The pressure to meet testing standards has led to some TAKS cheating incidents. Below are some highlights from the 2008 District & Campus Coordinator Manual that will guide you in proper TAKS administration.

Supplemental Testing Materials

Dictionaries

Dictionaries not allowed
   Grades 3–6, all subjects
   Grade 7 reading and mathematics
   Grade 8, all subjects
   Grade 9 mathematics
   Grade 10 and exit-level mathematics, social studies and science
English-language dictionary MUST be provided*
   Grade 7 writing**
   Grade 9 reading
   Grade 10 English language arts**
   Exit-level English language arts**

*There must be at least one dictionary for every five examinees. Examinees may also use a thesaurus or a combination dictionary/thesaurus.

**Examinees may not use a dictionary on the revising and editing portion of either the Grade 7 writing test or the Grade 10 and exit-level ELA tests.

Calculators

No Calculator
Grades 3–8, all subjects
Graphing Calculators MUST be provided*
   Grade 9 mathematics
   Grade 10 mathematics and science**
   Exit-level mathematics and science**

*Districts must provide each examinee with a graphing calculator for the entire administration. Students may use their own calculators. Any graphing calculator may be used except one with a typewriter-style keypad (known as QWERTY) or one that includes a computer algebra system (CAS). All types of memory, including standard memory, ROM and Flash ROM, must be cleared to factory default both before and after testing. In addition, any programs or applications must be removed prior to the test administration.

**Examinees must have access to four-function, scientific or graphing calculators. There must be at least one calculator for every five examinees. Students may use their own calculators. Guidelines for calculator use in the science portion of the test are the same as for the math portion. Examinees may share calculators on the science tests, but the calculator’s memory must be cleared after each examinee uses it.

Mathematics chart
Each examinee must be provided the state-supplied mathematics chart to use during the TAKS mathematics tests. The chart is also printed in each test booklet.

Science chart
Each examinee for the science test at Grades 8, 10 and exit-level must be provided a state-supplied science chart with ruler.

Rulers
Each examinee for the science test at Grades 5, 8, 10 and exit-level must be provided a state-supplied ruler. No other rulers may be used during the test.

Scratch paper
TAKS examinees are not allowed to use scratch paper or write on the separate mathematics chart, science chart or ruler. Examinees may make notes or work problems in their test booklets.

Highlighters and Colored Pencils
Examinees may be allowed to use highlighters and colored pencils in nonscorable test booklets to emphasize important information on a subject-area test.

Testing Accommodations

Allowable Accommodations
The decision to use a particular accommodation with a student should be made on an individual basis and should take into consideration both the needs of the student and whether the student routinely receives the accommodation in classroom instruction and testing. If a student receives special education services, all accommodations must be documented in the student’s individualized education program (IEP).

Signing/Translating Oral Instructions
Instructions given orally before or after the test may be either signed to an examinee who is deaf or hard-of-hearing or translated into the native language of an examinee with limited English proficiency.
Signing the Writing Prompt
The writing prompt may be signed to an examinee who is deaf or hard-of-hearing, but no elaboration on the prompt may be provided.
Colored Transparency/Place Marker/Magnifying Device
An examinee may place a colored transparency or a magnifying device over the test or use a blank place marker with the test and the answer document.
Small-Group/Individual Administration
An examinee may be tested in a small group or receive an individual administration. In an individual administration the examinee may read aloud while working or read the test into a tape recorder during testing and play it back while working. A test administrator must be present in the testing room at all times. All tape recordings must be returned with the nonscorable materials.
Large Print/Braille
An examinee may use a large-print or Braille version of the test.
Methods of Response
If an examinee has a temporary or permanent disabling condition that interferes with his or her ability to record machine-scorable responses, the examinee may respond orally to test items, mark responses in the test booklet or type responses. Test responses must be transcribed by the test administrator to the answer document.
Tape-Recorded Written Composition and Responses to Open-Ended Items
An examinee may have a temporary or permanent disabling condition that interferes with his or her ability to write the composition or the responses to open-ended test items. In these circumstances the examinee may tape-record the responses or essay while composing and then play the tape back for the test administrator to transcribe on the answer document, noting spelling, capitalization and punctuation. Afterward, the examinee must be allowed to read over the responses or essay and indicate where he or she would like to make corrections. All tape recordings must be turned in with the nonscorable materials.
Typed Written Composition and Responses to Open-Ended Items
An eligible examinee may type the written composition or the responses to open-ended test items on a typewriter or a computer but may not use the computer’s spell-check feature or save the document. The test administrator must transcribe the composition on the answer document. The typed version of the work must be returned with the nonscorable materials.

Unallowable Accommodations

Reading assistance
Providing reading assistance on TAKS is not allowed, with the exception of Grade 3 mathematics. (Any student can request the test administrator to read a question, but assistance cannot be given to read an answer.)
Reference Materials
Using foreign-language reference materials/dictionaries is not allowed at any grade level.
Calculators
Calculators on the mathematics tests at Grades 3–8 and the science test at Grade 5 is not allowed. (See Materials for TAKS Testing for acceptable calculator usage.)
Translating
Translating any test item into another language is not allowed.
Rephrasing or Clarifying Test Questions
You may not rephrase or clarify test questions, answer choices, selections or writing prompts.

Taking Breaks

Restroom breaks
During breaks, examinees must not discuss the contents of the test, and test booklets must be closed with answer documents inside.
At Grades 5–10 and exit-level, allow only one examinee at a time to take a break.
At Grades 3 and 4, the entire class may take a break if necessary.

Lunch
Examinees should place their answer document inside their test booklets. The test administrator must collect all test booklets and place them in locked storage. Examinees must not discuss the contents of the test.