PLACE™ Test Taker Guide for Avant’s Remote Proctored Solution

Overview

The Avant PLACE test is a web-based test that provides schools with the data to place students into appropriate classes. With results that accurately represent your abilities you will have a better chance of being placed in a class level where you will be successful.

• The Avant PLACE test can be taken online anywhere, anytime

• Test items are based on real-world, every-day situations

• The Avant PLACE test measures a test taker’s language ability according to Benchmark Levels that are based on national standards

Remote Proctored Test Taker Steps

OFF-SITE TECHNOLOGY PREPARATION

You are responsible for ensuring the readiness of the computer you will be using for the test and that the following requirements are met:

STEP 1: Visit the Assessment Technology Guide for Remote Proctored Testing page to review technology requirements.

STEP 2: Take a PLACE Sample Test to confirm your computer is configured properly and all technology preparation steps are complete before registering for the test. This will also help familiarize yourself with the layout of the test and the types of questions and prompts that you can expect.

• Confirm that you can record and playback your Speaking test response

• Confirm that you can type your Writing test response in the language you are testing.

PRE-TEST: TEST TAKER ACTIONS

1. Your testing coordinator will send you a Registration link.

2. Click on the link to register

3. After registering for the test you will receive a confirmation email that includes your login information and steps to create your account with Proctortrack.

4. When you receive the email saying your Proctortrack account has been accepted, you will login to schedule a time to take your test.

5. IMPORTANT: Test takers must re-login to Avant when they are scheduled to take their test. Even if they are already in Proctortrack.

Click here to learn more about the process of setting up a PLACE remote proctored test.

COMPLETING YOUR TEST

1. Login at the scheduled time to take the test

2. You will have 2 hours to complete the test. Your 2 hours will begin when you start the assessment. Breaks are not allowed, so properly prepare yourself.

   On average, test takers take approximately 40 minutes to fully complete the assessment.

   • Reading & Grammar: approximately 25 – 30 minutes

   • Writing: approximately 5 – 10 minutes

   • Speaking: approximately 5 – 10 minutes

Your test will include two, three or four skills -depending on the language selected, as follows:

• French, German, Spanish, Japanese – Four skills: Reading, Contextualized Grammar, Writing and Speaking

• Italian, Mandarin Simplified, Mandarin Traditional – Three skills: Reading, Writing and Speaking

• Arabic – Two skills: Writing and Speaking

The test starts with a test taker profile page and then a self-evaluation. The test will flow in the following order: Reading/grammar section, Writing section, and Speaking section (minus any sections not included for a specific language).

READING/GRAMMAR SECTION

• 20 – 30 questions that are computer-scored.

• Read the question and answers before you attempt to read the passage (this will help guide your reading and help you move through the test more quickly).

• For tests that include a Grammar component, the Grammar items are included in this section of the test.

WRITING SECTION

• If you are testing in Japanese, Mandarin Simplified, Mandarin Traditional or Arabic, you will need to load a virtual keyboard. The Writing Input Guide includes directions for loading the virtual keyboards.
• You will have up to 3000 characters (450-700 words) for the Writing response.
• Provide your response using the language you are testing in – do not use English!
• Provide all of the information requested in the prompt and stay on-topic.
• Click NEXT when you are finished with the Writing section response.

SPEAKING SECTION

• To record a response, click Begin Recording. 

• You’ll have up to four (4) minutes for the Speaking response.
  

• When done recording, wait two or three seconds, and then click Stop Recording.

• After recording, click Listen to listen to your recording then do one of the following:

  • If you want to add to the recording, click the + sign.

  • If you want to delete the recording and start over, click on the Trash Can.

  • When the recording is complete, click NEXT to submit your recording.

VERY IMPORTANT

For the Speaking Section, click Listen after recording to verify that your response was recorded properly.

• If the response is inaudible or of poor quality, DO NOT CLICK NEXT.

• If you see the Begin Recording button again after clicking Stop Recording, this indicates no recording was captured

Following these procedures will prevent having a speaking response that cannot be scored. 

Rules for Taking a Remote Proctored Avant PLACE Test

• Use a private testing area and turn off all noise-making devices

• This is a closed-book, closed-notes test

• Physical books, Online, and digital resources are not allowed (cannot refer to PDFs, DOCs, or searching the web)

• Copy-paste, printing, screen capture apps/tools, messaging tools, video conferencing tools, etc. are prohibited

• Scanning or taking pictures with your phone is not allowed

• Digital or handwritten note taking is not allowed

• You will have 2 hours to complete the assessment. Your 2 hours will begin when you start the assessment.

• Food and drinks are not allowed

• Breaks are not allowed so properly prepare yourself

•  Complete all sections of the test until the Test Complete message appears

Completing the Avant PLACE Test

You have not completed the Avant PLACE Test until you see a screen that says “Congratulations! You have completed the test!” Please click the Stop Test link to logout.  The final step will be to END the PROCTORTRACK session. The test taker will do this by clicking on the control panel and then click the “END” button to close the session.

All testing results will be delivered directly to your testing administrator within 3 to 5 business days of test completion. Please contact your testing coordinator to receive your test results.