Test administration
Administering the single level tests correctly is essential to the security and success of the tests. The NAA's 'Checklist for test administrators' (included in the Test administrators' guide) provides information on:
The NAA recommends that your school uses the 'Checklist for test administrators' in any briefings held before the tests and for training test administrators. It is available from this page.
Test administration case studies
The NAA has worked with a number of schools involved in piloting the single level tests to produce a set of case studies that highlight some of challenges and successes the schools experienced when administering the December 2007 single level tests. The case studies are available from this page.
- Case study 1: Rooms for pupils to take the single level tests
School: Monkspath Primary School, Solihull local authority.The case study explains how Monkspath Primary School managed to find appropriate space for the pupils taking the tests at the same time as ensuring minimum disruption and creating the right atmosphere.
- Case study 2: Administering the wrong test
School: Westoe Crown Primary School, South Tyneside local authority.The case study explains what Westoe Crown Primary School did when they discovered that a pupil was taking the wrong level mathematics test.
- Case study 3: Communicating with pupils and parents
School: Soho Parish Church of England Primary School, Westminster local authority.This case study details Soho Parish Church of England Primary School's approach to communicating with pupils and their parent(s)/carer(s) about the single level tests.
- Case study 4: Organising tests across a spilt site school
School: Seaford Head Community College, East Sussex local authority.This case study illustrates how Seaford Head Community College managed the successful administration of single level tests across a spilt site school.
- Case study 5: Managing pupils not taking the tests
School: Westoe Crown Primary School, South Tyneside local authority.This case study explains what Westoe Crown Primary School did with their pupils not taking the single level tests.
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Before the tests
The Test administrators' guide provides the information needed to prepare rooms and equipment and to administer the tests correctly. Schools will not receive subject-specific guidance with their test materials as it is included in the Test administrators' guide. The Test administrators guide is available from this page.
Three print copies of the Test administrators' guide will be delivered to schools with their test materials.
Attendance registers and the 'Headteacher's declaration form'
Schools will need to complete an Attendance register for each test by following the steps set out below.
Before the test
- Log on to the Key to success website at https://www.keytosuccess.dfes.gov.uk/ using your school's username and password.
- Access the 'Single level tests' area for your school.
- Locate the Attendance register which will be pre-populated with your pupils' details.
- Print off the Attendance register ready for completion before the start of the relevant test.
- Use the attendance codes listed on the Attendance register to complete the 'attendance code' box for each pupil.
After the test
- Log on to the Key to success website using your school's username and password.
- Access the 'Single level tests' area for your school.
- Locate the attendance registers.
- Click on the name of the test to complete the attendance register for that test.
- Only mark those pupils that were absent, left or withdrawn, and then press the 'mark remaining pupils as present' button. This will automatically populate the 'present' fields. Once you have done this press 'save' and return to the homepage to complete the other Attendance registers.
- Hard copies of the Attendance registers should be placed in the first inner script bag for each subject, on top of the first script.
The Attendance register also contains the 'Headteacher's declaration form' which will need to be completed after the tests and returned with the scripts.
It is important to ensure that the information stated on pupils’ scripts matches the details on the Attendance register. The name on the attendance register will be the pupil’s legal name as supplied in the DCSF school census. If a pupil has used a ‘common name’ on their script, a note should be clearly made on the attendance register and the pupil’s script cover, alerting the NAA to this.
Once you have completed the attendance register you should place it with the relevant test scripts in the inner script bags (plain white). You should place the attendance register in the first inner script bag for each subject, on top of the first script.
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During the tests
The Test administrators' guide contains all the information schools need to administer the single level tests on the day, including:
- preparing rooms for the test
- administering the tests
- specific arrangements for the English reading, English writing and mathematics tests
- dealing with unexpected circumstances such as timetable variations, photocopying, unforeseen injuries or disruption during the tests.
We will deliver hard copies of the Test administrators' guide to schools with their consignment of tests. It is also available from this page.
The Modified test administrators' guide is also available from this page. This guidance should be used with the Test administrators' guide and is for anyone involved in administering:
- single level test modified large print (MLP) and braille papers to pupils with significant visual impairment
- standard versions of the single level tests to pupils with hearing impairment and those who use sign language.
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After the tests
This section contains all the information schools will need once the tests have been completed. It explains what do with the completed test papers and how to send the papers for external marking.
Collecting and storing test scripts
After each test, the test administrator should return pupils’ scripts immediately to the headteacher or senior member of staff who is responsible for the tests. The test administrator must not look at the scripts, annotate or review them in any way unless they are completing a transcript or adding a note to the pupil’s script cover with their legal name (in instances where common names have been used). The test administrator must not keep or photocopy the scripts for any reason.
The test administrator should then put the test scripts in the same order as the pupil list on the Attendance registers for each test at each level.
The headteacher or nominated member of staff must store the scripts securely, ideally in a sealed envelope provided by the NAA, and keep them in a locked place until they are ready to be sent for external marking.
The NAA has produced a checklist for schools to guide them through the process of receiving test materials to preparing scripts for marking. It is available from this page.
Getting test scripts ready for collection
After each test, you should check that the test scripts have been collated correctly. Check that you have included every completed test script together with any Pupil use of access arrangements notification forms.
Once you have done this, you should place the test scripts and a hard copy of the attendance register in the inner script bags (plain white). The inner script bags are pre-labelled with your school details, the subject and level of the test and a space to record the number of packs you are placing in the City Link outer bag. You should place the attendance register in the first inner script bag for each subject, on top of the first script.
Once you have done this, you should seal the inner script bags securely and check that they are not damaged in any way. Then on the label record the number of inner script bags you are placing inside the City Link outer bags. For example, 1 of 2, 2 of 2.
Once you have sealed the scripts securely in the inner script bags, you should place the bags inside the pre-labelled City Link outer bags (green and yellow). As you place bags in the City Link outer bags, complete the ‘Dispatch Log’ indicating which script return envelopes by subject and level are in each City Link outer bags and the number of script return envelopes in each bag. You can then keep this ‘Dispatch Log’ as a record of the scripts collection.
Collection of test scripts for marking
A City Link courier will collect the completed test scripts from your school reception on the following days:
- English reading and English writing scripts will be collected from 9am on Wednesday 18 June 2008
- mathematics scripts will be collected from 9am on Thursday 19 June 2008.
Please have your City Link outer bags securely sealed and ensure a responsible person at the front office is aware that they will be collected from 9am each day.
Please contact the national curriculum helpline on 08700 60 60 40 as soon as possible if you did not receive inner script bags and City Link outer bags with your test materials, or if any of the bags are seen to be damaged.
If for any reason you miss the scheduled collection, please contact the national curriculum tests helpline on 08700 60 60 40 and NAA will arrange for a courier to return to collect the scripts. Test scripts should be stored securely until the next scheduled collection date.
If you have any further questions before, during or immediately after the tests then please contact the national curriculum tests helpline on 08700 60 60 40. The NAA has produced a Checklist for test administrators and a Checklist for receiving and storing single level test materials and preparing scripts for collection so you can use to make sure you have completed everything before you send the tests scripts for external marking. The checklists are available from this page.
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