Signing In to the Student Testing Site

This section describes the student sign-in process for the student testing application. A student follows this procedure when starting a new test or resuming a paused test.

If the student does not know what SSID and name to use (full name or preferred name) as it appears in TOMS, a TA or TE can retrieve it in the Test Administrator Site (refer to the subsection How to Look Up Students).

Step 1: Signing a Student In

To sign a student in to a test session:

  1. The student launches the secure browser on a testing device. The Student Sign-In screen appears (refer to figure 1).

    Student Sign In screen, which includes fields for the student's first name, SSID, and the test session ID.

    Figure 1. Student Sign In screen

  2. The student enters the first name and the SSID as it appears in CALPADS. The test session ID must be entered as it appears on the Test Administrator Interface.

  3. The student selects the [Sign In] button. The Is This You? screen appears (shown in figure 2).

    Is This You? screen in the student interface, followed by sample student information.

    Figure 2. Is This You? screen

Common Student Sign-in Errors

The TDS generates an error message if a student cannot sign in. Table 1 lists the most common student sign-in issues, with possible resolutions:

Table 1. Student Sign-in Errors
Message Cause Solution(s)
This session is not available for testing The student entered the session ID incorrectly or signed in to the wrong site. Verify that the student correctly entered the active session ID. Also, verify that both the TA or TE and the student are using the correct sites. For example, students signed in to the Student Training Site cannot access sessions created in the Test Administrator Interface. As shown in figure 1, a message displayed in the bottom-left corner of the Student Sign-In page indicates which site the student is on, the practice and training site or the operational site. If a student is on the wrong site, the student can select the button included in the message to proceed to the correct site.
No match Student name was not entered correctly. Verify that the student has entered the student’s name exactly as it appears in the Student Lookup tool. Spaces or accented characters must also be included; special characters in names may be added by typing the Unicode character (for example, by pressing the [Alt] + keypad [0201] to create the “É” in “JOSÉ” on Windows devices).
No match for student ID SSID was not entered correctly. Verify that the student used a correct SSID. Use the Student Lookup tool to verify the student’s information. Refer to the subtopic How to Look Up Students for additional information.
Session has expired The session ID corresponds to a closed session. Ensure that the student enters the correct session ID and verify that the session is open. For more information about test sessions, refer to the subtopic Creating a Test Session.
You must test in a session in your own school The student is not associated with the school, or the TA or TE is not associated with the student’s school. A student must test at the school of enrollment. A TA must be assigned the CAASPP Test Administrator role for all schools whose students participate within a test session.
No tests are available at this time The student does not have demographic information that would make the student eligible for an assessment entered into TOMS or the entered information has not yet reached the TDS, or the tests the student is registered for are not included in the test session. Verify that the test for which the student is registered is included in the session.
Unsupported Browser/OS Combination The online testing system cannot determine whether the student is taking the test through the correct secure browser. Ensure the latest version of the secure browser is installed and that the student launched the secure browser instead of a standard web browser. If the latest version of the secure browser is already running, then log the student off, restart the device, and try again.
Unable to Establish a Connection with the Test Delivery System The secure browser cannot connect to the TDS. This is most likely to occur if there is a network-related problem. Check whether the network cable is plugged in (for wired connections) or whether the Wi-Fi connection is live (for wireless connections). Also check whether the secure browser must use specific proxy settings; if so, those settings must be part of the command that launches the secure browser. Finally, verify that a firewall allows access to the TDS.
Test Environment Is Not Secure This message can occur when the secure browser detects a forbidden application running on the device (refer to the subsection Security of the Test Environment). If this message appears on an iPad, ensure that Assessment Mode is enabled. Refer to the CAASPP and ELPAC Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for Online Testing or contact the technology coordinator.

Step 2: Verifying Student Information

After a student signs in, the Is This You? page (i.e., screen) appears (figure 3). The student verifies personal information on this page.

Is This You? screen in the student interface, followed by sample student information.

Figure 3. Is This You? screen

To verify personal information:

  1. If all the information is correct, the student selects [Yes]. The Your Tests page appears (figure 4).
  2. If any of the information displayed is incorrect, the student must not proceed with testing. The student should select [No]. A TA or TE must notify the CAASPP test site coordinator that the student’s information is incorrect.

Step 3: Selecting a Test

The Your Tests page (i.e., screen) displays all the tests a student is eligible to take (refer to figure 4). The student (or the TE for the CAA) can only select tests that have been selected by the TA or TE and still need to be completed.

Tests are shaded in a light color with an arrow icon pointing at the test name. When starting a new test opportunity, the arrow is solid. When resuming a test opportunity, the arrow is striped.

Your Tests screen from which a student selects a test.

Figure 4. Sample Your Tests page

To select an available test:

  1. The student or the TE (for a CAA) selects the required test name. The request is sent to the TA or TE for approval, and the Waiting for Approval message appears (figure 5).

    Waiting for Approval screen; text reads 'Your Test Administrator needs to review your requested test and your test settings. This may take a few minutes.'

    Figure 5. Waiting for Approval screen

  2. If a student’s required test is not displayed, the student should select [Return to Login]. Verify the test session includes the correct tests and add additional tests, if necessary.

Step 4: Verifying Test Information

After the TA or TE approves the student for testing, the student (or the TE, for a CAA) should verify the test information and settings on the Your Test Settings page (i.e., screen) (refer to figure 6 for the Choose Settings screen that is available in a practice test).

Choose Settings screen for the High School ELA Practice Test

Figure 6. Choose Settings screen

To verify test information:

  1. If the settings are correct, the student (or the TE, for a CAA) selects [OK].
  2. If the settings are incorrect, the student (or the TE, for a CAA) selects [Request Changes]. The TA or TE must report the incorrect test settings to the CAASPP test site coordinator, who will update them as required in TOMS and reschedule the student’s testing. After a student’s test settings are corrected, the student must sign in and request approval again.

Step 5: Sound and Video Check

Audio/Video Check

The Audio/Video Checks page (i.e., screen) appears for the Smarter Balanced, CAST, CAAs for ELA and mathematics, and CSA (refer to figure 7)—the CAA for Science has a video check only. A student verifies seeing the sample video and hearing the sample audio in the “Sound and Video Playback Check” section. The screen is in Spanish for the CSA.

Sound and Video Playback Check screen.

Figure 7. “Sound and Video Playback Check” section of the Audio/Video Checks page

To check audio and video settings:

  1. The student plays the video and listens to the audio by selecting the [Play] arrow [Play arrow icon] icon.
  2. Depending on the sound and video quality, the student does one of the following:
    1. If the student can hear the sound and view the video, the student selects [I could play the sound and video]. A green check appears at the upper-right corner of the panel and the Instructions and Help page appears.
    2. If the student cannot hear the sound and view the video, the student selects [I could not play the sound or video]. The Audio/Video Playback Problem panel appears, giving the student two options:
      1. The student can select [Try Again] to return to the Sound and Video Playback Check page.
      2. The student can select [Log Out]. The TA or TE should troubleshoot the device and headphones or move the student to another device with working audio and video.

Text-to-Speech Check

The “Text-to-Speech Sound Check” section of the Audio/Video Checks page (i.e., screen) (figure 8), which appears if a student has the text-to-speech designated support assigned. On this section of the screen, the student verifies that text-to-speech is working properly on the student’s device. A student can only use text-to-speech within a supported secure browser.

Text-to-Speech Sound Check page.

Figure 8. “Text-to-Speech Sound Check” section of the Audio/Video Checks page

To check text-to-speech functionality:

  1. A student selects the [TTS Speaker] speaker [TTS speaker icon] icon and listens to the audio.
    1. If the voice is clearly audible, the student selects [I heard the voice]. A green check appears at the upper-right corner of the panel and the student can proceed.
    2. If the voice is not clearly audible, the student adjusts the settings using the sliders and selects the [TTS Speaker] icon again.
    3. If the student still cannot hear the voice clearly, the student selects [I did not hear the voice] and closes the secure browser. A TA can work with the student to adjust audio or headset settings (for more information, refer to the subsection Troubleshooting Audio Issues). The student can sign in again when the issue is resolved.
    4. To continue without testing text-to-speech, the student selects [Skip TTS Check].

Recording Device Check

The “Recording Device Check” section of the Audio/Video Checks page (i.e., screen) appears if a student has the speech-to-text setting (figure 9) or if the student is taking the speaking domain of the CSA (where the screen is in Spanish). On this screen, the student’s voice is recorded and the student verifies that the recorded audio is heard. Note that a student can only use the speech-to-text resource when logged on with an SSID into an active session.

Recording Device Check screen.

Figure 9. “Recording Device Check” section of the Audio/Video Checks page

The student should log off if the recording device does not work. The TA or TE should troubleshoot the recording device or set up a different one.

To check speech-to-text functionality:

  1. The student selects the [Recording] microphone [Recording microphone icon] icon and speaks to record.
  2. The student selects the [Stop] square [Stop recording icon] icon to stop recording.
  3. The student selects the [Play] arrow [Playback button] icon to listen to the recorded audio.
    1. If the recorded audio is clearly audible, the student selects [I heard my recording]. A green check appears at the upper-right corner of the panel and the student can proceed.
    2. If the recorded audio is not clearly audible, the student selects [I did not hear my recording] to open the Problem Recording Audio panel.
      • If the student still cannot hear the recorded audio clearly, the student can select [Try Again] to return to “Recording Device Check” and retry.
      • The student can select [Select New Recording Device]—which only appears for students testing on computers or tablets with multiple recording devices—to open the Recording Input Device Selection panel and select a different recording device.

Troubleshooting Audio Issues

Prior to testing, ensure that audio is enabled on each device and that headsets are functioning correctly. If audio issues occur, take one of the following actions:

  • Ensure headphones are securely plugged in to the correct jack or USB port.
  • If the headphones have a volume control, ensure the volume is not muted.
  • Ensure that the audio on the device is not muted (often via a control panel or settings window). This requires logging off the secure browser to check the device’s volume settings and then logging back on to the secure browser.

If the student is still experiencing issues, contact the CAASPP test site coordinator or school technology coordinator.

Step 6: Viewing Test Instructions and Starting the Test

The Instructions and Help page (i.e., screen) is the last step of the sign-in process (refer to figure 10). A student may review this page to understand how to navigate the test and use test tools.

The Instructions and Help Page with buttons to View Test Settings and View Help Guide with the Begin Test Now button indicated.

Figure 10. Instructions and Help page

To proceed and begin the test:

  1. After reviewing this page, the student selects [Begin Test Now]. The test opportunity officially begins or resumes.