Alternative Version of the Assessment

An alternative version of the assessment has been created for students with an IEP, including students with a visual impairment, and for students with special circumstances. This version contains single-selection questions only, and is not adaptive. Students who can access the assessment online and require audio without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics will not require the alternative version.  Schools are encouraged to try the sample test, alternative version sample test with full audio descriptions, and the alternative version sample test without full audio descriptions found at EQAO.com to better understand the differences. 

Please ensure that you have indicated that this student has an accommodation and that you have used the e-assessment system to select the format of the alternative version required. This will ensure that the online version of the test and the requested format of the alternative version match.

The following formats of the alternative version are available for the sample test and the operational assessment: 

There are two ways for students using the alternative version to access the audio format: 

• By separate audio MP3 files; or 
• using the audio directly in the e-assessment platform (built-in-text-to-speech). 

For both ways, there are two audio formats available: 

• audio with full descriptions of all mathematics graphics for students who have a visual impairment: or, 
• audio without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics. 

EQAO requires 5 to 7 business days to process a request for the Braille formats and 3 business days to process a request for all other formats.   

A printable PDF (regular or large print) of the assessment will be included when the Braille format is ordered.

IMPORTANT: All responses to questions in any alternative format must be entered into the e-assessment platform. To input student responses into the e-assessment platform, three options are available if a format of the alternative version is used:

1. The student, if able, can enter their responses directly into the e-assessment platform as the student completes the assessment.
2. The scribe, if one is assigned to the student, can enter the student’s responses directly into the e-assessment platform as the student completes the assessment.
3. The teacher, if the student or scribe is not able to enter any responses into the e-assessment platform as the student completes the assessment, must sign into the e-assessment platform using the student’s sign in information, when the student has completed the session or stage, and transcribe the student’s responses directly into the e-assessment platform. It is important to transcribe the student’s responses exactly as the student has identified.

Requesting the Alternative Version of the Assessment

Requirement to Order the Alternative Version

Ensure that the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or one of the special considerations is selected under the Accommodations tab.

Steps for Ordering the Alternative Version

• 1. Sign in as a School Administrator.

2. Under the Students tab:

• Select an assessment: Grade 9 Mathematics.
• Select the (In Progress) Administration Window.

3. Select the student with special education needs by clicking their OEN, First Name, or Last Name.

4. In the Student Record dialog box, select the Alternative Version Request tab.

5. Fill all the mandatory fields while following the instructions and explanations.

6. Click the Submit Request to EQAO button to send the request.
Important: Clicking the Save button does not send the request to EQAO.

7. Click Save; then OK to close the dialog window.

Important: As a follow up to your request and prior to the assessment, please confirm that the approval has been processed online by checking the Message Centre. This ensures that the questions in the version that the student is using will match the student’s online version. If you have any difficulty, please contact EQAO at info@eqao.com or 1-888-327-7377.

Scenarios 

NOTE
The following scenarios apply for all the assessments, even if the OSSLT tab is selected.

Scenario 1 – Ordering formats of the alternative version for a student with an IEP (hard of hearing):

Step 1 – Identify the accommodation(s)

Step 2 – Order the alternative version

Scenario 2 – Ordering formats of the alternative version for a student without an IEP (temporary or unique circumstances):

Step 1 – Identify the accommodation(s)

Step 2 – Order the alternative version

Scenario 3 – Ordering a format of the alternative version for a student without an IEP (new student – Special considerations):

Step 1 – Identify the accommodation(s)

Step 2 – Order the alternative version

Viewing and Managing Requests 

All the information about the student’s alternative version is in the Alternative Version Requests tab. Use the scrollbar at the end of the table to see all the different columns.