Before the Assessment

Refer to the Checklist for more information.

Summary of steps before the assessment

• Read this user guide and the Professional Responsibilities.
• Ensure you understand how to administer the assessment using the e-assessment system. EQAO provides webinars and self-guided learning modules.
• Meet with the school administrator to review roles and responsibilities, and to plan for the administration, accommodations, etc.
• Coordinate with the school administrator to ensure that the formats of the Alternative Version of the assessment are ordered based on guidelines from EQAO in all the formats that students require.
• Register, activate and log in to your e-assessment account.
• Ensure you are assigned your class(es).
• View student list and click each student’s name to ensure information is accurate (including accommodations).
• Add additional teachers or invigilators to your class(es), if required.  
• Schedule the sample test.
• Confirm students can log in to the e-assessment platform. Provide each student with their OEN and access code for the class.
• If using the lockdown methods, enter the 4-digit or 6-digit  password on each device so students can log in. Your school administrator has this code.
• If using Direct Access or Alternative Access, have students log in through the EQAO website.
• Have students practise using the tools and platform functionality while completing the scheduled sample test.
• Ensure that the End Sample Test button is selected following the administration of the sample test. This will close the sample test session and allow you to open the operational assessment when required.
• Schedule the operational assessment (if not already scheduled by your school administrator).
• Confirm access to resources as needed, including manipulatives, headphones, calculators, and paper and pencils for rough work. Ensure all devices are charged.

Step 1 – Managing your account

REMINDER
You must always log in with the email address and password you used to create your account, from year to year.

Creating your account

1. Follow the directions in the e-mail you received from no-reply@eqao.vretta.com:
   • Enter the invitation code.
   • Fill in your information.
2. Activate your account by following the directions in the account validation e-mail.
3. Click Proceed to Login.

NOTE
Each invitation code can be used only once and is valid only for seven days from the time it is sent out. Should you require an extension, please send an e-mail to eqao-support@vretta.com.

Logging in to your account

1. Go to the EQAO login page.
2. Click the login button under Ontario school administrators and teachers.
3. Input your e-mail.
4. Input your password.
5. Click Sign In.

Logging out of your account

1. Click at the top left of the page.
2. Click Logout.

Resetting your password

1. Go to the EQAO login page.
2. Click the login button under Ontario school administrators and teachers.
3. Input your e-mail.
4. Click Forgot Password.
5. Follow the instructions in the e-mail you just received.

NOTE
Teachers that have an existing account will use the same account for different assessment years. There is only one account associated with a teacher e-mail.

Step 2 – Managing your Classes

To view or manage your classes:

1. Log in to your teacher account.
2. Select Class from the list at the bottom of the screen.
3. In your Class page, you can:
   • find the access code that students will need to log in to the sample test and operational assessment
   • start or schedule an assessment session
   • view any active and completed assessments
   • manage your students
   • add or remove an additional invigilator
   • view and request Individual Student Reports (ISRs)

Step 3 – Adding or removing additional invigilators (as needed)

The main assigned teacher can add new invigilators to their classes(s). When added, the new invigilators will have access to the Invigilation page.

IMPORTANT
The main teacher originally assigned to the class will not see their own name displayed in the additional invigilator list.

1. Click the [Add/Remove] button next to Additional Invigilators.
2. Select or unselect teacher(s) from the list to add/remove to this class. Only teachers with active accounts will be visible in the list. See your school administrator for more details.
3. Click OK.

NOTE
Adding teachers allows them to invigilate the assessment for students in this class.

Note: Above video demonstrates process for OSSLT, but the process is the same for the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics.

Step 4 – Managing your students

Viewing your students

1. Log in to your teacher account.
2. In the Classes/Groupings, click Select Class. 
3. Click Manage Students.

You now see a list of all your students in this grouping and their information, including OENs and accommodations. There is an option to print the list with OENs.

Adding students

You may need to add students to your class after the initial upload. This can be done directly from your Class page. Your administrator can also add new students to your class.

1. Click New Student Account.
2. Add the student’s OEN.
3. Click Lookup.
4. Enter the student’s personal information in the New Student Account form.
5. Click Create New Account.

Adding guest students

NOTE
Home-schooled students and students receiving home instruction are NOT considered guest students and will be included in the school list. The school administrator must select home-school on the student information page for home-schooled students.

A student is a guest student if they are enrolled in another school, for example a virtual school, and needs to complete the sample test or the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics at your school under the supervision of school staff. They will need to provide you with their access code assigned by their virtual or other registered school to be added to your list. A guest student’s results will be accessed by their school where they are enrolled. 

1. Click Add Guest Students.
2. Enter the access code from the student’s assigned class at the school where they are enrolled.
3. Click Add.
4. The guest student should now appear on your list and can now log in with your class access code and their OEN.

REMINDER
The teacher from the home school should NOT schedule the sample test or the operational assessment for students that have been added as guest students in a class at your school.

Note: Above video demonstrates process for OSSLT, but the process is the same of the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics.

Step 5 – Scheduling the sample test

1. Log in to your teacher account.
2. Select a Class.
3. Under Sample Test (Grade 9 math), click Schedule/Start Assessment Session.
4. Choose either Start Now or Schedule for Later.
   • If you choose Start Now,  you may administer the sample test immediately. You will access a table displaying the assessment status for your students. Click Continue to go to the Invigilation page. Here you can unlock the Sample Test as needed.
   • If you choose Schedule for Later, select a future date. You will set start date/time for the sample test. When you have finalized the date, click Schedule Assessment.

Step 6 – Administering the sample test

1. If students are using the SEB lockdown browser to access the assessment, initialize the student devices by opening the SEB using the passcode given to you by your school administrator. Teachers using Respondus or Kiosk will need the four-digit Respondus Password or the six-digit Kiosk Password to disable the lockdown browsers upon exit.
2. Log in to your teacher account.
3. Under Sample Test (Grade 9 math), click Ready to Start.
4. You will find the access code needed for students to log in on the invigilation page,.
5. Assist students with logging into the sample test:
   • Provide students with the access code and their OEN.
   • Once logged in, students must enter their last name to access the landing page of the sample test.
6. On the Invigilation page, you will unlock Sample Test when ready.

TIP
Do not unlock the session for students who are absent who are unsupervised.

7. Monitor the progress of your students from your Invigilation page:  
   • view the status of each student (not started, ready to start, in progress, submitted)
   • pause, lock or unlock the sample test as needed.
8. Click End Sample Test when you are ready to end the session for all students. Multiple sample test sessions may be scheduled as desired. 

The sample test allows students to experience the types of questions and features of the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics, including all tools and accessibility features. Students using assistive technology are encouraged to try it out during a sample test session to increase familiarity.

IMPORTANT
If a student requires accessibility software that is not compatible with the SEB or the Respondus or Kiosk application, please discuss with your school administrator. They may need to use the alternative access if other students are using lockdown access. Refer to Alternative access for specific students with accommodations for details.

NOTE
If the Alternative Version has been assigned to one or more of your students, a sample test is available in the same format. Refer to Alternative Version of the Assessment section. The Braille version will be delivered to the school once ordered and links will be sent for other formats.

Accessing the sample test from the EQAO website 

Anyone can access these sample tests directly from the EQAO website: 

• Sample Test
• Sample Test – Alternative Version including Audio with Full Descriptions of Mathematics Graphics
• Sample Test – Alternative Version including Audio without Full Descriptions of Mathematics Graphics

Students can complete the sample test multiple times. 

Results 

Teachers will not be sent a copy of the sample test results. Students can access their own results after completing the sample test. 

Step 7 – Scheduling the operational assessment

1. Log in to your teacher account.
2. Select a Class.
3. Click Schedule Assessment Session.
4. Choose Schedule for Later.
5. Review the table showing your students and the status of their sessions.
6. Click Continue.
7. You will set start date/time for Session A and B. Session A must be scheduled before Session B. When you have finalized your dates, click Schedule Assessment.