[blindkid] ACT/(PLAN = Pre-ACT) & SAT/PSAT Questions

Wed Oct 17 05:39:21 UTC 2012

Thanks Pat,
The braille PSAT & pre-test arrived today (down to the wire!)
V was excited to share that the graphics for the PSAT pretest were MUCH
better than those of the PLAN.
Based on what we shared of our experience with the PLAN, the district
called the PSAT folks & they actually do allow the proctor to clarify.
Does anyone have any insight into why braille PSAT test-takers have to
miss a day of classes, rather than take it on Saturday like the rest of
the kids?

Eric 

On 10/16/12 6:06 AM, "Pat Renfranz" <dblair2525 at msn.com> wrote:

>Sorry- PSAT. I assume the SAT and AP exams would be similar, but don't
>know--like you say, one stops assuming at some point.
>
>In our case, the Braille practice tests came with the 2012 test; if the
>school doesn't have the practice tests yet, do they have the real test?
>
>Whoever is transcribing answers onto the answer sheet needs to know how to
>enter "student-produced response questions" in the PSAT math section.
>There
>are specific instructions on how to do so in the test guide, but I would
>not
>assume any given teacher/proctor would review the guide, thinking the test
>is all multiple choice.
>
>Another thing to be aware of: the College Board uses different language
>for
>extended time than other tests she has been exposed to: "100% extended
>time"
>means double time, 200% is triple. People at the school don't seem to
>understand this, so we will be having a discussion with them today. It
>feels
>like we are re-inventing the wheel.
>
>The pre-ACT test situation sounds patently unfair.
>
>Good luck to Vejas on Wednesday!
>Pat
>
>
>On 10/15/12 11:29 PM, "Eric Vasiliauskas" <icdx at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Pat. Which braille practice test are you referring to: ACT? SAT?
>PSAT?
>> or PLAN?
>
>V takes the PSAT Wednesday (since all kids who take the PLAN in
>> Braille
>format have to take it on Wednesday instead of Saturday like
>> everyone
>else, he will pretty much miss all his classes that day ->
>> who's
>insightful decision was that?) We still haven't received the pretest
>> that
>is supposed to accompany the Braille PSAT - the school is hoping it
>> will
>come tomorrow…
>
>For all you with younger kids - exposure to (& mastery
>> of) graphics of all
>sorts is important: on the PLAN (Pre-ACT) my son says that
>> virtually the
>whole science section was based on graphics: charts, tables,
>> graphs, etc.
>For this they are on their own & can't ask for clarification.
>
>V
>> states that a number of the graphics in the PLAN were not labeled
>properly,
>> making them hard or impossible to understand. He says there was
>one bar graph
>> in which all the bars were short & the all the same size.
>
>Also there was a
>> portion of the language arts section that was confusing.
>The directions
>> referred to underlined words or phrases. V kept searching
>for the braille
>> underline symbol, then after a while realized that for the
>PLAN test they
>> decided to note underlining by embossing a LINE embossed
>ABOVE the words or
>> phrases. This would not seem to conform to my
>understanding of accepted
>> transcription standards.
>
>The combination of the above 2 irregularities is
>> what makes me question if
>they actually used a certified transcriber for the
>> PLAN test. (I learned
>to stop assuming long ago :-(
>
>We'll see how Wednesday
>> goes…
>Eric
>
>
>On 10/15/12 6:58 PM, "Pat Renfranz" <dblair2525 at msn.com>
>> wrote:
>
>>Eric,
>>Not sure about proofing, but C has been using the 2010 Braille
>> test for
>>practice, and she says the graphics are excellent. They are prepared
>> on a
>>very high end type of swell paper, so lines are lines, and dots are
>> dots.
>>There is also a description of the figure, so that she knows what to
>> look
>>for (example: this is circle with an equilateral triangle drawn
>> within
>>it).
>>She has not noticed any problems with the Braille. The line
>> numbering
>>system
>>used on the verbal section is a little difficult, but
>> useable.
>>C's test will be proctored by the TVI. Her TVI considers this to be
>> part
>>of
>>the school "experience," not as extracurricular.
>>Pat
>>
>>
>>On
>> 10/14/12 11:52 AM, "Eric Vasiliauskas" <icdx at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi
>> All,
>>> My son took the PLAN (pre-ACT) on Saturday & will be taking the
>> PSAT
>>> Wednesday. This is the first time our district is administering
>> these
>>>to a
>>> braille-using student (at least in this century).
>>> On behalf
>> of my son, I¹d appreciate any insights/thoughts you have on
>>>the
>>>
>> following:
>>> 1.     Based on what my son shared about the graphics &
>> formatting, do
>>>any
>>> of you know if the Braille version of these National
>> Standardized Tests
>>>are
>>> produced & proofed by certified transcribers?
>>>
>> 
>>> 2.    Who in your experience typically proctors these tests? How
>> often
>>>is
>>> the TVI?
>>> 
>>> 3.    How much clarification is the proctor
>> allowed to give? My son had
>>>been
>>> specifically instructed that he could
>> not ask for any clarifications,
>>>but it
>>> seemed like for some of the
>> graphics, not all the information was there
>>>or
>>> presented properly in the
>> braille version.
>>> 
>>> 4.    What do you perceive the role of the TVI to be
>> leading up to these
>>> tests, preparing for these tests, & potentially in
>> their administration
>>>(is
>>> this considered in the TVI world to be an
>> "extracurricular" activity or
>>>part
>>> of a student's educational
>> experience)?
>>> 
>>> Thank you,
>>> Respectfully,
>>> EricV
>>> 
>>> 
>>>
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