SPRING 2016

SAT School Day

Supervisor’s Planning Guide
for the Redesigned SAT
 About the College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that
connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the
College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the
membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading
educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in
education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students
prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in
college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced
Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community
through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools.
For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.

Contents
1 Introduction

1 What Is Changing for the Redesigned SAT

1 Contract Types and the SAT Essay

2 Test Facts

2 Coordinating Test Day

3 Nonstandard Testing

3 Important SSD Dates

3 Roster Accommodations

4 NAR Accommodations Administered by the SSD Coordinator

4 Breaks for Students with Extended Time

5 Planning Ahead for Test Day

5 Planning for Testing Time

5 Setting the Schedule

7 Planning for Rooms and Staffing

8 Planning for Seating and Room Assignments

9 Communicating with Students and Parents

9 SAT® School Day Training

Back Contact Information

Cover
 Introduction
Thank you for helping your eligible students test in the familiar surroundings of
their own high schools on a school day. This document is intended to give the test
center supervisor details ahead of time to help plan for test day. Be sure to work
closely not only with your school administration (as detailed below) but also with
the school’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) coordinator. You will
receive information about SAT® School Day, online supervisor training, and training
materials in the coming weeks.
Also included in this Planning Guide are implementation tips from educators with
SAT School Day experience. Use and adapt these tips to facilitate implementation
in your school.

What Is Changing for the Redesigned SAT

The SAT you will administer in March or April 2016 has been redesigned to focus on
the skills and knowledge that current research indicates are essential for career and
college success. Here are a few basic changes to prepare for:
» The Math Test is divided into two portions: one that permits calculator use, and one
that does not.
» Students should be encouraged to give their best answer for every test question,
since there is no penalty for guessing.
» For standard test-takers, the first break (after the Reading Test) will be 10 minutes. For
extended time test-takers, this break will be 5 minutes, and additional breaks will be
provided.
» The Essay Test may or may not be included in your school’s contract. (See the
Contract Types explanation below.)
» The online Attendance Roster has been enhanced to better assist you in making room
assignments. Note that the SSD coordinator will continue to use the NAR for a roster
of students testing under his or her supervision.

Contract Types and the SAT Essay

SAT School Day contracts may be for:
» SAT (students will not take the Essay)
» SAT with Essay (all students take the Essay)
» SAT Essay as optional (students can register for SAT or SAT with Essay)
For a contract with SAT Essay as optional, you will need to allocate different rooms
for students who have chosen SAT and those who have chosen SAT with Essay.
Students must register for the option they prefer — they cannot change their option
on test day.

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 Test Facts
The redesigned SAT is composed of three sections, which will follow the same order

in every test book.

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Includes a Reading Test and also a Writing and

Language Test. Each test is composed of multiparagraph passages and multiple-choice

questions. Time allotted:

» 65 minutes for Reading Test

» 35 minutes for Writing and Language Test
Math: Includes multiple-choice and student-produced response questions based on
the math that college-bound students typically learn during their first three years of
high school. Divided into two portions: one that permits calculator use, and one that
does not. Time allotted:
» 25 minutes for Math Test – No Calculator
» 55 minutes for Math Test – Calculator
Optional Essay (in separate booklet): Asks students to produce a cogent and clear
written analysis using evidence drawn from a challenging source text. Time allotted:
» 50 minutes.
Administrative time in the testing room: Plan for approximately 15 to 30 minutes
before, and 5 minutes after, the test for administrative details.

Coordinating Test Day

You will need to closely coordinate with your school’s administration to ensure that
testing can take place smoothly. Here are some important steps to consider:
1. Plan ahead for the secure receipt and storage of testing materials.
2. Reserve an area where test-takers can assemble before and after testing.
3. Estimate the number of rooms needed based on known enrollment of eligible
students. Decide whether to designate a late-arrivals room to accommodate groups
of students who arrive late for testing.
4. Designate an area for testing that is clearly separated and marked, preferably at TIP: Post signs in strategic
a distance from other activities unrelated to SAT School Day that are taking place areas to designate testing
on test day. areas. Posting rosters can
5. Work with school administrators to review teacher schedules and determine who also help students quickly
will administer the test (associate supervisors) or act as proctors. locate their testing rooms.
i Teachers of classes that are not meeting due to testing would be likely
candidates to serve in this capacity.
i Remember to allow for additional proctors according to the requirements given TIP: Use your experienced
on page 7 to assist teachers and relieve staff in need of a break. staff members. Invite staff
who have acted as Saturday
i If you need to supplement your own school staff with additional personnel,
follow the same guidelines you would for any substitute teaching position in site proctors and test center
the school. supervisors to also serve as
supervisors or proctors for
i Once you have finalized your staff, create a schedule of test-day room
SAT School Day.
assignments.
IMPORTANT: School staff members who are relatives of students taking
the SAT cannot administer the test.

6. Arrange to have bells and announcements silenced on test day and to reschedule
the lunch period for test-takers. Be sure to clearly communicate all changes in
school routines to the general school population and to other staff.

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7. Plan for how your school will be offering the assessment. Depending on the state or
district agreement, students may be taking the SAT with Essay, and some may be
taking the SAT. Additionally, your contract type may allow students to add the SAT
Essay at their own expense. Students taking the SAT with Essay must be seated
separately from students taking the SAT. Supervisors should take care to make sure
correct test materials are used.
8. If your school is participating in SAT school Day as part of a statewide
administration, there may be administration processes and deadlines that are
unique to your state. If this is the case, you will receive Supplemental Instructions.
Be sure to review them carefully as you plan for test day.

Nonstandard Testing
As you prepare for the administration, you may be called upon to provide a variety
of accommodations to students with documented disabilities who have been
approved by the College Board. College Board approval is required to receive testing
accommodations.The earlier students apply, the more likely they will be able to
ensure that the College Board receives the necessary information and documentation
to support their request for accommodations.
The approval process is overseen by the Services for Students with Disabilities
(SSD) staff.The online portal at collegeboard.org/ssd guides the school staff and
parents through the process. Note: Students who are already approved to receive
accommodations on other College Board tests (such as the PSAT/NMSQT®) do not
need to reapply for approval.
A general overview of accommodations is given below. Accommodated students
must adhere to all College Board testing administrative procedures, requirements,
and timing regulations.

Important SSD Dates

Accommodations Request and Documentation
SAT School Day Test Date (Where Required) Must Be Received by:

March 2, 2016 Jan. 13, 2016

April 12, 2016 Feb. 24, 2016

Roster Accommodations
Sometimes a student’s accommodations do not require nonstandard testing time
or materials, for example: wheelchair access or a sign language interpreter. Your
online Attendance Roster will indicate that these students should test in the standard
testing room. Providing these accommodations is largely a matter of planning for the
physical arrangement of your room.
The online Attendance Roster will also clearly indicate which students are approved
for Roster accommodations on the SAT that require a nonstandard testing room,
such as extra breaks or longer breaks or 50% extended time on the SAT with no Essay
(students taking the SAT with Essay who are approved for 50% extended time for
Reading will test over two days under the supervision of the SSD Coordinator).
All students taking the SAT in the Roster nonstandard administration room(s) must
use the SAT test book with the pink cover. The SAT School Day Testing Manual,
which you will receive in a future shipment of test materials, includes special scripts
to be used with these test books (with matching pink tabs).
Contact the SSD office (see the back cover for contact information) if you have any
questions about providing proper accommodations.

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 Nonstandard Administration Report (NAR)

Accommodations Administered by the SSD

Coordinator

Students approved for 100% extended time, breaks as needed, the use of a computer
for the Essay, or nonstandard materials such as Braille or Assistive Technology
Compatible (ATC) test formats, will be tested in rooms set up and supervised by
the SSD coordinator. These students will not appear on the online Attendance
Roster, but on the NAR generated online by the SSD coordinator. If your contract
includes the testing of State Allowed Accommodations (SAAs), students with these
accommodations will also appear only on the NAR.
Roster and NAR accommodations cannot be administered in the same room.They
use different testing materials and different scripts in the manual. If applicable in
your administration, SAA test-takers also must test in separate rooms from all other
standard and nonstandard test-takers.

Breaks for Students with Extended Time

In the redesigned SAT, there are several longer sections that require a stretch break
in the middle of the section. You will need to plan to give extended time test-takers
a 5-minute stretch break in these sections, as well as between sections. The breaks
for extended time, which also apply to students approved for extra breaks, are as
follows:
» Five-minute break halfway through Section 1 (extended time for reading)
» Five-minute break after Section 1 (shorter than standard)
» Five-minute break between Sections 2 and 3 (extended time for reading and/or math)
» Five-minute break after Section 3 (all test-takers)
» Five-minute break halfway through Section 4 (extended time for reading and/or math)
» Two-minute break after Section 4 (all test-takers for SAT with Essay)
» Five-minute break halfway through Section 5 (extended time for reading and/or writing)
Students who are approved for extended time for reading receive the extra time and
breaks on all sections of the test. If they are taking the SAT with Essay, they will stop
testing on Day 1 after Section 3 and resume on Day 2 at Section 4.
Students approved for math-only extended time receive extra time on the Math Test
(Sections 3 and 4) and the additional break before the Math Test. Students approved
for writing-only extended time receive extra time on the SAT Essay (Section 5) and
the extra breaks that apply to that section.
Students with different timing needs will be listed on your Roster in separate groups,
and should be tested in different rooms.

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 Planning Ahead for Test Day

Planning for Testing Time

Standard timing
For the SAT, students testing with standard timing receive a total of

3 hours 15 minutes of testing/breaks:

» Three hours of testing

» One 10-minute break and one 5-minute break
For the SAT with Essay, students testing with standard timing receive a total of
4 hours 7 minutes of testing/breaks:
» Three hours and 50 minutes of testing
» One 10-minute break, one 5-minute break, and one 2-minute break

Nonstandard timing (not inclusive of all types)

For the SAT, students testing with 50% extended time for reading (entire test) receive
a total of 4 hours 56 minutes of testing/breaks:
» Four hours 31 minutes of testing
» Five 5-minute breaks
For the SAT with Essay, students testing with 50% extended time on math-only
receive a total of 4 hours 53 minutes of testing/breaks:
» Four hours 31 minutes of testing
» Four 5-minute breaks and one 2-minute break

Two-day testing (supervised by the SSD coordinator)

The tests for students who take the SAT with Essay with 50% or 100% extended time
for reading or the SAT with 100% extended time for combined math and writing are
administered over two days under the supervision of the school’s SSD coordinator
(as summarized in the SAT School Day Guide for SSD Coordinators). For two-day
testing, plan for Day 1 testing to end around 12:00 p.m. for 50% extended time test-
takers, and around 12:55 p.m. for 100% extended time test-takers.

Administrative time
You need to add approximately 15 to 30 minutes of procedural time (depending on
whether you are administering the SAT or SAT with Essay), to perform administrative
tasks such as admitting and seating students, distributing tests, filling out personal
information on answer sheets, etc.

Setting the Schedule

Rescheduling lunch
Lunch will need to be rescheduled to conform to the schedule that follows. Please
note: While students may eat snacks during the scheduled breaks, schools may not
stop testing to offer a lunch break. Schools that do so will have their students’ scores
canceled.

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General overview of the schedule
The schedule shown below gives a general concept of how your testing schedule
might look. Bear in mind that your school may have other factors that affect the start
time, such as a larger testing population or later bus arrivals. To account for schedule
differences, schools can deviate from the schedule below by up to 30 minutes.
If a school requires a schedule change of more than 30 minutes, the Test Center
Supervisor must contact SAT School Day Customer Support. Be sure, however, to
plan to begin testing as early as possible, and at a coordinated time. All students
should begin testing in the same hour.

6:45 a.m. Staff reporting time and facility preparation.

7 a.m. Review staff assignments and room assignments.
Distribute materials to staff.
7:15 a.m. Staff report to their rooms and prepare for arrival of students.
7:30 a.m. Students report to the area designated for them
to assemble before and after testing.
8 a.m. Close testing room doors.
8–8:30 a.m. Distribute materials and read preliminary instructions.
8:30 a.m. Begin testing.

Approx. Time Standard Room Approx. Time Nonstandard Room

11:45 a.m. Pencils down for SAT 12:00 p.m. Day 1 testing for
SAT with Essay ends
after Section 3 for
50% extended time
12:55 p.m. Pencils down for 12:55 p.m. Day 1 testing ends
SAT with Essay after Section 3 for
100% extended
time for SAT and
SAT with Essay
1:30 p.m. Pencils down for SAT
for 50% extended time
8:00 a.m. Begin Day 2 testing.

11:05 a.m. Pencils down for

SAT with Essay for
50% extended time
11:20 a.m. Pencils down for
SAT for 100%
extended time
12:00 p.m. Pencils down for
SAT with Essay for
100% extended time

NOTE: Extended times shown are for the entire test (reading).

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Planning for Rooms and Staffing
Fair testing requires well-lit, comfortable surroundings, with ample room between
test-takers (at least 4 feet, measured left to right from center of desk to center of desk)
and minimal opportunities for sharing of information.

Guidelines for staffing your rooms

Try to choose rooms for standard testing that can fit at least 25 test-takers (while still
maintaining the required 4 feet between test-takers). Nonstandard (extended time
and other accommodations) testing involves smaller numbers of test-takers in each
room, but the same 4-foot requirement applies. Plan to assign room proctors to assist
associate supervisors in testing rooms that have more than 34 students.
To estimate the total number of rooms you will need to staff on test day, use the
following staff/test-taker ratios:

Standard Testing Rooms

Start with one associate supervisor per room, then for each room, add room
proctor(s) if needed:

Number of Students Number of Proctors

1–34 0
35–50 1
51–100 2
101–150 3
151–200 4
201 or more 5 + 1 proctor for each additional 50 students

Nonstandard Testing Rooms

Start with one associate supervisor per room, then for each room, add room
proctor(s) if needed:

Number of Students Proctors

1–10 0
More than 10 1

Guidelines for staffing the halls

You should always have at least one hall proctor to monitor the hallways and assist
staff who are in the testing rooms. For every five rooms, add an additional hall
proctor, using this chart as a guide:

Number of Testing Rooms Hall Proctors

1–5 1
6–10 2
11–15 3
More than 15 1 proctor for each additional 5 rooms (e.g., 4 proctors
for 15 to 19 rooms, 5 proctors for 20 to 24 rooms, etc.)

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 Planning for Seating and Room Assignments
Regardless of the type of testing, standard or nonstandard, you need to apply the same TIP: Check all of the testing
requirements, listed below, for seating. Use the sample seating plans to arrange your rooms twice: the day before
rooms to meet these requirements. Note that if you have to use round tables, you can the administration and on
only seat one student per table (students cannot be facing in different directions). test day at least an hour
before students arrive. Staff
Seating requirements should ensure that all seating
†Use chairs with backs.
guidelines have been applied
†Face seats in the same direction.
in each testing room.

†Place chairs directly behind those in the preceding row.

†Separate each student by a minimum of 4 feet from right to left (measure from

center of desk).
†Ensure unimpeded access to every student by staff.
†Seat only one student at a table that measures 6 feet in length or less.
†Seat students at least 4 feet apart and facing the same direction if tables longer
than 6 feet are used.
†Provide large, smooth writing surfaces, preferably desks or tables.
†Tablet-arm chairs must have a minimum writing surface of 12 × 15 inches (30 × 38
centimeters).
†Study carrels, lapboards, language laboratory booths, and tables with partitions
or dividers are not acceptable.

Samples of Approved Seating Plans: X = One Student

Developing preliminary room assignments

If you have students who require 100% extended time or other NAR accommodations TIP: Provide room
that would normally be administered in school-based (as opposed to center-based) assignments to teachers
testing, your SSD coordinator will arrange for and supervise their testing. You’ll need who see test-takers on a daily
to coordinate your use of rooms and staff to ensure a smooth test day experience. basis, such as homeroom or
Here are some ideas to help you get started on determining what rooms to use for grade-level English teachers,
testing: at least 24 hours before test
» Select rooms in one section of the school to minimize disturbances from ongoing
day so they can share the
classes. Avoid using science rooms, computer labs, or other rooms with specialized information with students
equipment. during class time.

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» Work with the administration to create a schedule of test-day room assignments for
all affected classrooms. Review the schedule of morning classes that would normally
meet in the assigned testing rooms.
i Determine which classes primarily contain students who will be testing. TIP: Find ways to use time
The school will need to cancel these classes for test day and assign the few effectively for nontesting
nontesting students to study hall. students. For example, plan
i Determine which classes primarily contain nontesting students or have a mock AP Exams or course
mixture of testing and nontesting students. The school will need to determine if/ reviews.
where to relocate these classes for test day.
» Decide whether to plan for a late-start room in order to accommodate groups of
students who arrive late for testing. (Once testing is already in progress, late-start
rooms can only accept students if they can be seated before the first break takes place.)
» Ensure that students go to the correct testing room. Give supervisors room
assignments prior to test day and post students’ names and their room assignments
in strategic locations, such as in the hallways and on doors of testing rooms. TIP: Communications
channels to consider:
– Sending email blasts and
Communicating with Students and Parents automated phone calls
Clear communication with students and their parents well ahead of test day, through – Posting announcements
a variety of channels, is key to ensuring acceptance. Communicating also can help on school and district
ease the concerns students have about such details as where to report on test day, websites, including
what time testing will start and end, and when they will be able to eat lunch. Early in social media sites
your planning, select an area in the school for students to assemble before and after
testing. Arrange to communicate with families, particularly about the delayed lunch. – Promoting SAT School
Remind them that students will have opportunities to eat snacks. Day at a student
The College Board will send emails to registered students who have provided email assembly
addresses reminding them to: – Hosting an informational
» Gather everything they need for test day (Admission Ticket, No. 2 pencils, calculator, etc.) event such as a Parent
» Breakfast
Get a good night’s sleep
» Eat a hearty breakfast on test day
» Bring nutritious, easy-to-eat snacks (they’ll have two opportunities to eat)
Please proactively communicate with parents about the need to adhere to the same TIP: Build excitement around
schedule that all students who take the SAT are expected to follow. SAT School Day to encourage
timely registration. Hold a
contest to see which class
SAT School Day Training completes registration first.
Several weeks before test day, you will receive an email from the College Board
giving you information about the mandatory online training. You will also receive a
shipment of materials to help your planning. Your SAT School Day Implementation
Planning Kit will include:
» Samples of materials used on test day, such as the Supervisor’s Report Form, Testing
Room Materials Report form, Supervisor’s Irregularity Report form
» Reference sheets of guidelines and tips
» Copies of The SAT School Day Testing Manual for your reference and for training your
support staff
» A supply of flyers for your testing rooms
Also included will be information about accessing your testing Rosters as well as
a training schedule. The training is critical to your successful administration of the
SAT; even if you have administered the test before, you are required to complete the
training before administering the SAT or SAT with Essay.

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 Contact Information for Supervisors Not for parents or students
SAT School Day Customer Support: 855-373-6387
Email: [email protected]

Test Administration Services

Supervisor’s Help Line: 800-257-5123
Email: [email protected]
On the Web: ets.org/supervisor (authorized access only)

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office

Phone: 844-255-7728 (toll-free number for educators)

TTY Number: 609-882-4118

Fax: 866-360-0114 (for faxing applications for accommodations)

Email: [email protected]

Contact Information for Students and Parents Please share this

information, and this
SAT Customer Service: 866-756-7346
information only, with
Email: [email protected] parents and students.
On the Web: sat.org
SSD Office: 212-713-8333
Email: [email protected]
On the Web: collegeboard.org/ssd

Contact Information for Counselors

SAT Educator Help Line: 888-SAT-HELP (728-4357)
Email: [email protected]
On the Web: collegeboard.org/educators

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