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Taking a Star Reading Test

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

  • Students must be added to the Renaissance database, enrolled in a Star Reading class, and assigned a year from 1–13. 
  • Students can only test within the current school year or subscription year.
  • We recommend enabling "full screen" mode on your browser to ensure no scrolling is required. Browsers with customisations (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.
  • You should use the Star Reading Test Administration Manual to explain the test to the students before they begin 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 school network or school. The Renaissance Welcome page opens.
  2. Select I am a Student.
  3. The student enters their user name and password, and then selects Log In.
  4. On the Home page the student selects Star Reading.
  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.)

  6. If Star Reading asks the student to choose a class, the student should select the class name, then select Next. (This happens when the student is enrolled in more than one Star Reading class.)
    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 Reading asks for an authorisation 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 authorisation 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 authorisation password.
    • If you forget to enter a password before selecting Start, you will be reminded to enter it, and you can try again.
    • If you enter the wrong password, you can try again.

      The Password Incorrect window, stating 'The authorisation 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. Cannot start test.' The OK button is at the bottom.

      Check the Authorisation Password - Star Tests Preference to make sure you are using the correct authorisation password.
  8. If the student has not taken a Star Reading test in the past 180 days, the student must answer a few simple practice questions to make sure they understand how to answer them.
    • Three or four possible answers are shown below each question. The student can choose an answer by pressing 1, 2, 3, or 4 on the keyboard, clicking an answer with the mouse, or tapping an answer (if the student is using a tablet).
    • Star Reading highlights the chosen answer. The student can choose a different answer, but only before entering it—once the choice has been entered, it cannot be changed.

      A sample practice question; an answer has been selected, but it has not been entered yet by selecting the Next button at the bottom. A clock at the top means time for the question is running out.
    • Once the student is satisfied that they have chosen the correct answer, the student enters the answer, either with the keyboard (by pressing Enter or return), with the mouse (by clicking Next), or by tapping Next (on a tablet).

    Note: Although scores are not based on how quickly students answer questions, practice questions and test questions do have time limits (these time limits can be extended).

    A clock appears on the screen when the student has 15 or fewer seconds left to answer the question.

    • During the practice, if the student does not choose an answer to a question before time runs out, or if the student has chosen an answer but does not enter it before time runs out, Star Reading considers it an incorrect answer.

    The student will be notified if time runs out on a question; the test will move on to the next question.

    • After the student answers three practice questions correctly, a message tells the student that the test is about to start.

      The message states: 'Great job on the practice. Let us go to the test.

      If the student answers seven practice questions without getting three correct, Star Reading ends the practice and will not start the test for that student. The student is instructed to ask for help.

      The message states: 'The practice is over. Please ask the monitor to help you the next time you practise.
  9. The test starts; the test questions are similar to the practice questions. The methods used for choosing and entering answers are the same as those for the practice questions, except:
    • If the student has chosen an answer, but does not enter it before time runs out, Star Reading will count the chosen answer as the student's answer to the question.
    • If the student has not chosen an answer before time runs out, Star Reading considers it an incorrect answer.
    For years 4–13, some of the test questions will be longer passages, like the one shown below. The student will have more time to answer these questions.

    An example of a longer test question.
  10. When the test is over, have the student select OK. The program will log the student out.

    The message states: 'Congratulations! You have finished the test.' The OK button is at the bottom.
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