STAMP Guides for Testing Coordinators
Proctoring Guide
Avant Assessment’s online language proficiency tests must be taken in a proctored environment with a proctor who is authorized by the organization sponsoring the test. Read about Test Security and Integrity to learn more.
Who can be a proctor?
Acceptable proctors may include school/college educators, hiring managers, and supervisors.
Acceptable proctors may include school/college educators, hiring managers, and supervisors.
Parents, guardians, relatives, or anyone with whom the test taker has a personal relationship are NOT allowed to be proctors.
Proctor's Responsibilities
The proctor will verify a test taker’s identity and will ensure academic integrity guidelines during language assessments are followed. The use of dictionaries, textbooks, cell phones, paper, pens, or other support materials – paper-based or electronic – are not allowed. Test takers’ responses must be spontaneous. Therefore, they are not allowed to write or type a speaking response and read them as a recorded response.
Proctors must follow the procedures below to help ensure the security and the validity of each assessment.
STAMP is a computer-based assessment and requires the following equipment:
Internet Connection
Computer or Laptop
Keyboard
Headphones
Microphone
Prior to the beginning of the assessment, complete the following steps:
Determine your testing schedule and make lab arrangements:
Laptops in classrooms may be used for testing if lab time is unavailable. We highly recommend scheduling make-up exams and test completion time for test takers who may need more time than anticipated. Avant will make every attempt to notify users of upcoming scheduled maintenance or other known interruptions to service.
Have the test codes and passwords ready:
For Avant Login Page Users
Prior to the testing, testing coordinator will receive Proctor/Results Logins for each testing group. See Getting Started section. There will be:
- A test taker test code and password to access an assessment
- A teacher test code and password to monitor assessment progress and scoring.
The proctor will provide test takers with the code and password at the beginning of assessment.
For Clever Users
Make sure that all steps for Testing Coordinators and Teachers are completed prior to the beginning of testing. Test takers will log in using Clever login information.
Ensure test takers have their IDs ready:
Take a Sample Test for the language(s) you are testing to confirm the following:
Test takers’ equipment is configured properly and all technology preparation steps are completed before the beginning of assessment. Refer to the Test Taker Technology Guide to troubleshoot any issues and make sure the system is properly configured.
You can type your Writing response in the language you are testing. Refer to our Writing Input Guide to see which languages require special keyboards.
IMPORTANT: If you purchased the handwritten option, please review The Handwritten Writing Guide.
Test Takers can record and playback Speaking responses. See Headset Guide for more information.
In sample tests test takers will experience how the assessment flows and the types of questions for all levels of difficulty, but test takers will not receive a score at the end and they will not experience the computer-adaptive technology as in the actual test.
IMPORTANT: Sample tests allow test takers to experience these security features:
- The following functions are disabled while taking the test: right-click, back button, copy/paste.
- Off-page clicking is not allowed. The test taker will be logged out and each instance will be tracked in our system. A test taker will need assistance logging back in to the actual test.
Review the Test Taker Guide:
In situations where a teacher is not available to prepare test takers, we recommend reading the Test Taker Guide and sharing it with test takers to reduce issues on the day of testing.
Review the Avant Assessment Testing Accommodations:
Testing accommodations for Avant’s language assessments are intended to help all individuals access each section of the test successfully. Avant Assessment’s accommodations policy is intended to comply as closely as possible with Federal, State and local accommodations rules. Avant will work with school districts, colleges and universities to gain compliance with regulations under section 508 and other applicable standards and administrative rules.
At the beginning of the assessment, make sure to complete the following steps:
Verify a test taker’s identity by checking a photo ID (if the test taker is unknown to the Proctor).
- Where appropriate, have a list of authorized test takers and/or ask test takers to provide photo ID.
- Have Test Takers’ ID numbers available, if they are being used for the Test Taker ID field on the profile page.
Ensure test takers are familiar with Rules for Taking an Avant Test.
Follow the link to display Rules for Taking an Avant Test.
Make sure to point out that off-page clicking is not allowed. Test takers will be logged out and each instance will be tracked in our system. Test takers will need a proctor’s assistance to log back in to continue the test.
Inform test takers how much time is allowed for this assessment session.
On average, STAMP 4S test takers need around 120 minutes to fully complete the assessment.
Avant STAMP provides a variety of assessments testing skills in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking – either all four or a combination of these skills:
Reading: approximately 30 multiple choice questions (35-40 minutes).
Writing: 3 prompts (20-25 minutes).
Listening: approximately 30 multiple choice questions (35-40 minutes).
Speaking: 3 prompts (20-25 minutes).
Test takers will have up to 3000 characters (450-700 words) for each Writing response and four (4) minutes of recording time for each Speaking response.
IMPORTANT: Provide test takers instructions for stopping the test at a certain point or directions to continue until the test is complete.
Assist test takers in accessing an assessment.
For Avant Test Website Users
The test proctor should provide test takers with the information below:
- The address for the Avant Test Website (app.avantassessment.com).
- The testing group’s Test Code.
- The testing group’s Password.
The information can be written on a whiteboard or projected on a screen. If you decide to distribute this information to test takers on slips of paper, be sure to collect the paper after testing.
For Clever Users
Make sure that all steps for Testing Coordinators and Teachers are completed prior to the beginning of testing. Test takers will log in using Clever login credentials. Review the instructions for Clever test takers here.
Assist test takers with Login Name field (if needed).
For Avant Test Website Users
Login Name should be:
- Between 1-25 characters long.
- Any combination of letters, numbers, or any of the following special characters: @ (at symbol) _ (underscore) – (hyphen) . (period) , (comma) ‘ (single quote).
- Unique within the testing group (do not use the Login Name “student”).
Test takers should memorize their login name. If test takers need to stop and continue the test at a later time, they will need to enter their login name exactly as they did the first time.
If a test taker has taken the test previously using the same test code, we recommend using the same login name, with the number 2 added at the end.
For Clever Users
Clever test takers will log in using Clever login credentials. Review the instructions for Clever test takers here.*
You can use the report to determine how a test taker’s Login Name was entered and track the test takers’ progress throughout the test. See View Test Results section in the left menu.
Assist test takers with the Profile Page (if needed).
For Avant Test Website Users
After test takers enter a Login Name and log in, the Test Taker Profile screen will appear where test takers will need to enter First Name, Last Name and Test Taker ID.
Please note that Test Taker ID is different from Login Name. However, Test Takers can use the same combination for both Login Name and Test Taker ID. Some institutions have the test takers enter their student ID for one and their school issued email address for the other for data tracking purposes.
For Clever Users
Once test takers access the assessment within Clever, the following fields will be automatically pre-filled with the school district’s data: First Name, Last Name, Grade, Test Taker ID.
Proctors can assist test takers with other fields on this page. Review the instructions for Clever test takers here.
During the assessment, make sure to complete the following:
Remain in the testing area throughout testing.
Remain in the testing area and monitor test takers. Proctors should NOT do the following while monitoring test takers:
- Use cellphones or other electronic devices for personal reasons.
- Grading papers.
- Reading.
- Any other activity that will take attention away from monitoring the testing.
Circulate among the test takers.
Circulate among the test takers to ensure they are following instructions and progressing smoothly.
Monitor the progress of test taking
Monitor the progress of test taking accessing Results Report (such as who has finished and who still needs to work on another section of the test). Refer to Monitor Test Progress section for more information.
Assist test takers in resuming the assessments (if needed).
If a test taker needs to resume the test due to lost connection (or any other reason):
- The login information will need to be entered exactly as originally entered.
- Assessment should resume from the point at which the test taker left off.
- If the profile screen appears instead, the test taker must STOP the test. This indicates that the Login Name entered this time is different than it was originally entered.
- If necessary, the teacher or proctor can access Results Report to look up the test taker name.
Provide occasional reminders of the time remaining.
Provide occasional reminders of the time remaining and make sure test takers are on track to complete the test in the allotted time.
Breaks can be taken in-between sections.
Breaks can be taken in-between sections. Please assist test takers at resuming the assessment after a break.
Make sure that support materials are NOT used.
Make sure that the following is NOT used: paper, pens, pencils, cell phones, dictionaries, textbooks, additional windows or applications (such as Word, email or web browsers) or other support materials. Refer to Rules for Taking an Avant Test for more information.
Any infractions to the rules are to result in the immediate logging out of the individual test taker’s test by the proctor (by closing the browser), and the suspension of testing for that individual test taker. Such incidents shall be reported to the testing coordinator.
To protect the integrity and validity of the assessment proctors must know with what areas of the assessment proctors can and cannot assist test takers.
Proctors CAN assist test takers with:
- logging in.
- answering their profile questions.
- selecting the writing input language.
- proper use of their headsets.
- computer issues.
- resuming a test.
translation assistance of ‘Situation’ and ‘Question’ elements only
Proctors CANNOT assist test takers with:
- translating any of the authentic text or authentic audio.
- translating any of the multiple choice answer options.
- with anything that is related to the content of the test items.
Refer to Avant Assessment Testing Accommodations for more information.
After the assessment, make sure to complete the following steps:
Ensure that test takers have completed the test.
Access Results Report to monitor test taker logins to ensure that test takers have completed the test and that they have not created unnecessary duplicate test logins.
View test results.
After testing is completed, the test proctor or test coordinator may log in to the Avant Login Page to view test results.
Reading and Listening scores are available immediately.
Writing and Speaking scores are typically available from 7 to 10 business days after test completion. Scores may be available sooner, so check the test results screen periodically to determine the rating progress. Click on any score to see additional details or to access Writing and Speaking responses. During busy testing times (March-June), scoring may take longer. Please plan accordingly.
After rating is complete, the proctor or test coordinator may print individual test taker reports or download an Excel (.csv) file of test results. See Download Results section.
Do not allow the test takers to access the report page or see other test taker scores.