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Taking the Star Early Literacy Test

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Before students can take the test, teachers should check the following:

  • Students must be added to the Renaissance database, enrolled in a Star Early Literacy class, and assigned a grade from K–12.
  • Students can only test within the current school year or subscription year.
  • You should use the Star Early Literacy Test Administration Manual to explain the test to the students before they begin testing.
  • We recommend enabling "full screen" mode on your browser to ensure no scrolling is required. Browsers with customizations (bookmark tabs, extensions, etc.) and low-resolution screen settings result in a smaller available space which could result in needing to scroll to see the Next button during testing.
  • If you are administering the test with a tablet computer:
    • Make sure the battery is adequately charged before you begin.
    • Make sure you are successfully connected to Renaissance.
  • Make sure you have a list of all your students' user names and passwords.

Students follow these steps to log in and take a test:

  1. Start the web browser and go to the address provided by your district or school. The Renaissance Welcome page opens.
  2. Select I'm a Student.
  3. The student enters his or her user name and password, and then selects Log In.
  4. On the Home page the student selects Star Early Literacy (the tile with the yellow corner).
    The Star Early Literacy tile.
  5. If the student is asked if they are taking the test inside their school, the student should answer either No or Yes. (If the student is not asked this question, go ahead to the next step.)

    The message reads: Are you inside your school? The No and Yes buttons are at the bottom.
  6. If the student is in more than one Star Early Literacy class, the student should select the correct class, then Next.
    The Choose Your Class window, with two classes shown; the first one has been selected. The Next button is at the bottom.
  7. If Star Early Literacy asks for a monitor password (determined by the Password Requirement Preference), the teacher or test monitor enters it and selects Start.

    The Start Test Window, with a field to enter the monitor password. The Start and Cancel buttons are at the bottom.

    If no password is required, go ahead to the next step.

    • You cannot substitute your Renaissance password for the monitor password.
    • If you forget to enter a password before selecting OK, or you enter the wrong password, you can try again.

      The Password Incorrect window, stating 'The monitor password is incorrect. Please try again.' The OK button is at the bottom.

      However, if you enter the wrong password three times in a row, you will not be able to start the student's test.

      The Too Many Attempts window, stating 'Too many attempts. Can't start test.' The OK button is at the bottom.

      Check the Monitor Password - Star Tests Preference to make sure you are using the correct monitor password.
  8. Depending on the setting of the Demonstration Video Preference, the student may see a demonstration video that shows the student how to choose and enter an answer and how to use the Listen option to hear a question repeated.
  9. The hands-on exercise may follow (depending on the setting of the Hands-On Exercise Preference), which teaches students to properly choose and enter an answer using the mouse, keyboard, or by tapping (if using a tablet).

    Students must correctly answer three questions in a row. The hands-on exercise contains up to 10 questions.

    If the student is unfamiliar with the use of the mouse, keyboard, or tablet, you may help the student during the hands-on exercise until the student becomes comfortable using them.

    Students listen to the instructions, then select the correct object on the screen. Two of the answer choices are blank, which allows the student to focus on how to select an answer (instead of having to figure out the correct answer).

    To select an answer:

    • Mouse: To choose an answer, hover on an image. Using the mouse permits very young students to be evaluated, because they do not have to recognize numbers or letters on the keyboard to answer questions.
    • Keyboard: Press the number (1, 2, or 3) that corresponds to the desired answer.
    • Tablet: Tap the image.
    A box appears around the selected answer. This does not mean that the selected answer is correct. If students are using the keyboard, and the box does not appear around the answer choice, ask the students to use the mouse to select anywhere on the test screen, then use the keyboard to select an answer.

    The test window for a hands-on question. The available answer has been selected and is on the blank line. A clock at the top means time for the question is running out. The Next button is at the bottom.

    The student's selection moves up onto the blank line.

    If the student doesn't choose an answer within 10 seconds of the first instructions, the program repeats the instructions.

    To hear the question again, students click or tap the Listen button or press the L key on the keyboard.

    The hands-on exercise questions have a 35-second time limit.

    If the student has not chosen an answer 25 seconds after the question first appeared, the program asks the student to choose an answer and a clock icon flashes on the screen. If time runs out before the student chooses an answer, the program tells the student to ask the teacher for help. The teacher must select the map in the alert to resume the hands-on exercise.

    The message states: 'This student needs help using the mouse or keyboard. Please show the student how they work. Click on the map to dismiss this alert and resume practice.' The map is in the upper-right corner.

    To enter the selected answer, the student should press enter or Return on the keyboard, or click or tap Next on the screen.

    When the student passes the hands-on exercises, the practice test starts; go ahead to the next step.

    The message states: 'Good job! Now we will go to the practice questions.'
  10. Every Star Early Literacy test begins with a few practice questions. The practice questions ensure that the student is capable of completing the test questions.

    The practice questions have three choices, just like the test questions. Students listen to the questions and select answers just as they did for the hands-on exercise.

    Each practice test question has a 60-second time limit. If the student does not choose an answer within 10 seconds after hearing the question, the program repeats the question.

    If the student still has not chosen an answer 45 seconds after the question first appeared, the program asks the student to choose an answer and a clock icon flashes on the screen.

    If time runs out before the student chooses an answer, the program tells the student to ask the teacher for help.

    If the student answers five practice questions without getting three correct, Star Early Literacy ends the practice and a message tells the student to ask for help.

    Answers are considered correct if the student chooses and enters the correct answer.

    Answers are considered incorrect if the student:
    • Chooses, but does not enter, the correct answer
    • Chooses and enters the wrong answer
    • Chooses the wrong answer, but does not enter it before time runs out
    • Does not choose an answer and time runs out
    After the student answers three practice questions correctly, a message tells the student that the actual test is about to start.

    The message states: 'Great job on the practice. Now we will go to the test.'
  11. The student answers the actual test questions, which are similar to the practice questions. All of the test questions have three answer choices.

    Do not help the student use the mouse, keyboard, or tablet, or select the correct answer to any of the test questions.

    Answers are considered correct if the student:
    • Chooses and enters the correct answer
    • Chooses, but does not enter, the correct answer
    Answers are considered incorrect if the student:
    • Chooses and enters the wrong answer
    • Chooses the wrong answer, but does not enter it before time runs out
    • Does not choose an answer and time runs out
    The student will answer 27 or more test questions. Each question has a 90-second time limit.

    If the student does not choose an answer within 10 seconds after hearing the question, the program repeats the question. If the student still has not chosen an answer 75 seconds after the question first appeared, the program asks the student to choose an answer and a clock icon flashes on the screen.

    If time runs out before the student chooses an answer, the program goes on to the next question and the unanswered question is treated as an incorrect answer.

    After an answer has been entered, students cannot change their answer or go back to a previous question. The next question is presented automatically.
  12. When the test is over, Star Early Literacy notifies the student. Then, the student is automatically logged out so the next student can log in.

    The message states: 'Congratulations! You have finished the test.'
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