Exam Proctoring Guidelines

Are you required to proctor exams using the TPS guidelines?

• For students taking a High School or Middle School course for TPS transcript credit, it is required that a parent or designated adult proctor each exam using our proctor guidelines.
• Elementary School courses do not require formal exam proctoring.
• Exam proctoring is not required when the course is taken for No TPS Credit (no TPS transcript).
• TPS Summer classes (except HS Study Skills) do not receive TPS transcript credit, so exam proctoring is not required for TPS Summer classes (except HS Study Skills, if taken for credit).

Proctoring Verification Form

• The proctoring verification form should be downloaded here by the proctor immediately before starting any part of the exam (including all parts of multi-part exams).
• The form and this guide must be used to proctor the entire exam in a single sitting that includes all parts of a multi-part exam taken together.

Benefits for the Student of Proctored Exams

• Proctoring is beneficial and important for preparation, avoiding costly mistakes, supporting unexpected problems, and maintaining credibility.
• Exam proctoring contributes to increased learning retention and higher course grades.
• Effective proctoring prepares students for standardized tests and college tests.
• Parent-led proctoring provides an effective and efficient opportunity for busy parents to contribute to and oversee their students’ education.

Please consider more information on the benefits of Proctoring Tests at Home.

Proctoring Guidelines

1. Reporting and Credit
   • If any portion of these guidelines cannot be followed in whole or in part, proctor must report the deviation in writing to TPS Support (support@pottersschool.org).
   • For Middle School and High School courses taken for TPS transcript credit, exam proctoring is an unwaiverable unmodifiable component in the process of taking TPS courses in the home, and correctly proctoring the tests is a factor in the credit for the test. Failure to carefully follow the proctor guidelines for an exam may result in loss of some or all credit for the exam. Parents who plan to use a self-generated homeschool transcript for college applications are welcome to request a course to be placed in No TPS Credit status. This also removes exam proctoring requirements.
2. Exam Preparation
   • Student prepare for the exam by studying the core course materials (lecture notes, textbook, assigned readings). Students should not study from external web sites (particularly not exam prep sites) or from the work of other students (including prior exams from other students).
   • Student report to proctor (parent) when ready to take the test.
   • Proctor review the proctor guidelines and download the latest Proctor Signature Form. The form is also used to guide the process, and should be completed during the process (not just at the end). Do not use old forms — download the form for each exam session.
   • Proctor verify that student is prepared for the exam (academically, mentally, physically) and there is sufficient time to complete and submit the entire exam, including all parts of a multi-part exam, in one unbroken sitting. Do not start a test that cannot be completed and submitted with all parts completed in one sitting without breaks.
   • Proctor establish a quiet environment for test-taking without interruptions, and where the proctor may continually physically observe the student from the start of the test until the test is correctly submitted.
   • Proctor remove mobile phones, tablets, books, notes, and other items not directly related to taking the test and allowed as exceptions for the test. Proctor have student reboot computer and open only the application (usually Word or Adobe Reader) needed to take the test (no extra apps or browser tabs).
   • Proctor instruct student in the testing guidelines.
3. Exam Provided to Student
   • Many tests in TPS have two parts — the multiple choice (MCQ) portion and the written “free-response” (FRQ) portion. Both parts are considered one test for proctoring purposes. They must be taken together and submitted together under one proctor form.
   • Proctor download and provide test questions to student. (The exam questions should not be provided to the student prior to this, including in verbal, modified, summarized or topical form. The student should have no prior information about the exam unless it is provided by the teacher.)
4. Student Take Exam
   • Unless the exam instructions explicitly specify an exception, it is required that the exam is taken in a single sitting with no breaks without books, notes, external web sites or apps, or any other study aids or coaching.
   • Upon completion, student review exam to ensure all questions are completed.
   • Save the document (with unsigned proctor form attached) as a single document (docx or pdf format) with a known name to a known location to prevent loss of work and prepare document for submission.
5. Proctor Signature
   • Proctor review the exam and proctor form to ensure the exam is the complete and correct version of the exam document that was just completed by the student.
   • Proctor ensure that the proctor form is attached to the exam as a single document, enter the times on the proctor form, then sign and date/time the attached proctor form.
6. Exam Submitted and Verified (after submitting)
   • Proctor observe student submitting the combined test and form to StudyPlace.
   • After the exam is submitted, proctor ensures student verifies the correct document was submitted correctly.
     • Locate the newly-submitted assignment in StudyPlace by switching the Assignments view from Upcoming to Recent.
     • Downloading the exam document that was just submitted.
     • Review it to ensure the complete correct version (including correctly completed proctor form) was submitted to the assignment.
     • If the verification reveals an incorrectly submitted exam, the correct version of the correct document including attached signed proctor form should be resubmitted immediately while the uninterrupted proctoring is still established.
7. Exam Materials Collected from Student
   • Proctor collect test questions and all test materials .
   • Proctor destroy all materials. (The submitted documents remain available to the student for the duration of the course.)