KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION Facilitated by: Law School Admission Council Susan DeMarco Frances Mercedes Terri Neuman In collaboration with MaryRuth Pierce, University of Delaware
2 KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION Pretest Planning Well-Monitored Break Complete Accountability Be Ready for the Unexpected
3 Pretest Planning When do you contact, confirm test schedules and train staff? – Well in advance Training – Do staff receive training? – LSAC offers training Do you assign specific roles for staff? When do you reserve rooms?
4 Pretest Planning Do you designate the check-in area ahead of time? Do you confirm availability of area for check-in? Are there campus tours scheduled for that day? Will anyone else be using that area?
5 Pretest Planning What are the necessary tools? – Roster, Supervisor Irregularity Report (SIR), scissors/slitter, tape Do you have a resolution table? –And…what is a resolution table? –Location of table –Contact information numbers handy-LSAC Test Administration, campus security, facilities, and emergency numbers Where to store materials? Were arrangements made with the central receiving department?
6 Prior to the test –Do you contact campus event services to reserve the rooms? Do you visit the testing rooms? What you are assessing –Are lighting, heating, and air conditioning in working order? –Are desks / tables set up correctly? –Are other activities going on? –Construction –Other campus events Do you post signs? –Directional/prohibited items, etc. Pretest Planning
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9 Do you make general announcements? –Ziploc bags –ID –Admission ticket –Prohibited items Do you post roster with room assignments? –Location, location, location –Lets students view room assignment before check-in –Random or assigned seating –Sample Roster Posting –Example: A – G – seating – caveats? –No more than first three letters of last name Pretest Planning
10 Samples of roster signs for room assignments –Last (Family) Name starting with: AA - GA, GE - LA, LE - PU, RA – YU –Last (Family) Name starting with: A - G, H - L, M - R, S – Z –Last (Family) Name starting with first three letters: Alo - Geo, Hal - Lol, Mas - Run, Sab – You Pretest Planning
11 Pretest Planning Day of test check-in Do you schedule a pretest meeting with staff? Do you reconfirm roles with staff? Do you have an ID-thumbprint table?
12 Pretest Planning When the testing room and the check-in areas are not in close proximity, do you… –Escort test takers to the testing rooms individually? –Escort test takers in a group to the testing rooms? Do you have seating assignments? –Preplanned or first come first seated Are you able to identify and separate groups of friends?
13 KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION Pretest Planning Well-Monitored Break
14 Well-Monitored Break Break –How is it handled? –Do you monitor the break time? What are the challenges/solutions? –Collection and counting of materials –Specify break area –Rest rooms –Elevators, stairs (post signs–Test takers should not use these during the break)
15 Well-Monitored Break What is the importance of assigning specific roles and responsibilities to staff? –Avoid delays or confusion among staff –Professionalism Who collects, counts, and secures test materials during break? –Assigned staff
16 Well-Monitored Break Who will remain with books at all times during break? –Assigned staff Post proctors near rest rooms, stairs, elevators, etc. Proctors should be visible to test takers at all times
17 Well-Monitored Break Do you specify the vicinity of the break area? –Monitor– how far and where test takers are allowed to go during the break –Easier for test center staff to observe, be vigilant, and listen to test takers throughout the break What should be avoided? –Access to computers, pay phones –Leaving testing area, leaving the building What should test center staff look for during the break? –Electronic devices, talking about the test / communicating with people outside room
18 KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION Pretest Planning Well-Monitored Break Complete Accountability
19 Complete Accountability When are test takers dismissed? –Only after books have been collected and accounted for Count books when room supervisor(s) hand them in to you Recount test materials before packaging Place secure seals on bins Label and ship Contact LSAC with tracking information
20 Complete Accountability If there is a discrepancy… –Have a different person do a recount –Test takers must remain seated until count is correct or LSAC advises otherwise –Notify testing company immediately –LSAC
21 KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION Pretest Planning Well-Monitored Break Complete Accountability Be Ready for the Unexpected
22 Be Ready for the Unexpected Unexpected test-day events –Homecoming –Marching band –Power outages –Emergency closing due to weather Contact testing company immediately –Caller/center identification –Reason for closing –If possible, plan make-up test
23 Be Ready for the Unexpected What if there are fire drills, lawn mowers, bands, alarms, HVAC problems? –Can any of them be stopped or delayed? –First priority is safety of staff and test takers Are details written on SIR, including what rooms were affected? Is there a Plan B? –Always
24 KEY ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION Pretest Planning Well-Monitored Break Complete Accountability Be Ready for the Unexpected
25 Thank You! Any questions or suggestions, contact the LSAC Test Administration Group at