Alternative Version of the Assessments

Alternative Versions of the Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions are available in multiple formats for students with special education needs or special considerations. The alternative version of each assessment contains single-selection questions only. It does not contain technology-enhanced items such as drag and drop, checklists or drop-down type questions.

If a student requires the alternative version of the assessment because their accommodations noted on their IEP or special consideration prevents them from accessing the online assessment, it must be requested by the school administrator in the e-assessment system under the Alternative Version Request tab.

For test security, printed copies or electronic copies of the PDF must be shredded or deleted after the administration of the assessments. Braille formats of the assessments (not student responses) should be returned to EQAO following the instructions included with the assessments.

TIP
The  Alternative Version Request  tab functions only when the student information is entered in the Accommodations  tab and the student profile is completed and saved.   

Alternative Version formats

If a student requires the Alternative Version of the assessment because their accommodations noted on their IEP or special considerations prevent them from accessing the assessment with various types of selected-response questions, such as drag and drop, drop-down menu, ordering, and multiple-selection, it must be requested using the Alternative Version Request tab.

The following formats of the Alternative Version are available for the sample tests and the assessments and contain single-selection questions only:

• Online format of the Alternative Version
• Braille format (contracted or uncontracted, with printable regular- or large-print PDF)
• A printable PDF format (regular or large print)

There are two ways for students using the Alternative Version to access the audio format:

• by using available audio MP3 files with* or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics
• by using the audio directly in the e-assessment platform (built-in-text-to-speech) with* or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics

*Audio with full descriptions of all mathematics graphics is created specifically for students with visual impairments.

NOTE
The Braille, PDF and online formats of the Alternative Version contain identical assessment content.

IMPORTANT
EQAO requires five to seven business days to process a request for the Braille formats and three business days to process a request for all other formats.   

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

Student responses

For the mathematics component, all responses must be entered into the e-assessment platform.

For the language component, all single-selection responses must be entered into the e-assessment platform and a response format must be selected for the open-response questions.

If a paper response format is selected for the open-response questions, student responses can either be scanned and uploaded into the e-assessment platform if the regular-print version is used OR must be transcribed into the e-assessment platform if the large-print version is used. 

Three options are available to enter student responses into the e-assessment platform 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. If the student or scribe is unable to enter any responses into the e-assessment platform as the student completes the assessment, the school administrator or teacher must sign into the e-assessment platform using the student’s sign-in information, when the student has completed the assessment, and transcribe the student’s responses directly into the e-assessment platform, including the responses to the Student Questionnaire. It is important to transcribe the student’s responses exactly as the student has identified.

Once the school has confirmation that the alternative version of the assessment is assigned to the student, the teacher will select the response format for the open response questions (paper or online response) according to the needs of the student.

If the student or scribe will handwrite the student’s response on the Assessment Response Sheet:

1. Login to the teacher account.
2. Follow the steps to ensure the student is assigned the “paper response” format. Refer to Assigning Paper or Online Response Formats.
3. Follow the steps to print the Assessment Response Sheets. Refer to Printing Assessment Response Sheets.
4. Distribute the appropriate Assessment Response Sheets to the student(s).
5. The student or scribe will handwrite/print the student’s response.
6. When complete, follow the steps to scan, upload and verify the Assessment Response Sheets. Refer to Printing, Scanning and Uploading.

If the student or scribe will handwrite the student’s response on the optional Assessment Response Sheet for Larger Printing:

1. Print the Optional Assessment Response Sheets for Larger Printing from the user guide. 
2. Login to the teacher account.
3. Follow the steps to ensure the response format for the student is set to “online response” to allow for transcription. Refer to Assigning Paper or Online Response Formats.
4. The student’s response must be transcribed from the optional Assessment Response Sheet for Larger Printing into the online assessment. 

If the student or scribe will respond directly into the online test:

1. Login to the teacher account.
2. Follow the steps to ensure the student is assigned the “online response” format. Refer to Assigning Paper or Online Response Formats.
3. The student or scribe will complete all questions directly in the online test, including the open response questions.

Refer to the Guidelines for Scribes for more information about scribing.

 

Refer to the Printing, Scanning and Uploading Process section for details.

Highlights of the Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions and Alternative Version (all formats)

	Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions	Alternative Version Formats
		Online Alternative Version	Printable PDF format	Braille
Assessment model	Mathematics: Multi-stage computer adaptive testing model (adapts to the individual student’s performance as the student progresses through each assessment session) Language: Linear test design	Mathematics and Language: Linear test design** (same set of questions presented to all students and is not adaptive)	Mathematics and Language: Linear test design**	Mathematics and Language: Linear test design**
Accessing the assessment	Login through EQAO website (direct access) or through the Alternative Secure Access (SEB, Kiosk)	Login through EQAO website	Compressed folder sent through Message Centre	Braille: Sent by courier to the school E-Braille:  compressed sent through Message Centre (requires specialized equipment)
Assessment questions and types of questions	Open-response questions and various types of selected-response questions, such as drag and drop, drop-down menu, ordering and single- and multiple-selection.	Open-response questions and single-selection (multiple-choice) questions only	Open-response questions and single-selection (multiple-choice) questions only	Open-response questions and single-selection (multiple-choice) questions only
Audio (text-to-speech) and	Audio through the e-assessment platform without full descriptions of mathematics graphics	Audio through the e-assessment platform with* or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics Compatible with assistive technology software (e.g. Google Read & Write, JAWS)	Audio through the e-assessment platform with* or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics OR MP3 audio files with* or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics Compatible with assistive technology software (e.g. Google Read & Write, JAWS)	Audio through the e-assessment platform with or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics) OR MP3 audio files with or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics Compatible with assistive technology software (e.g. Google Read & Write, JAWS)
Additional accessibility tools and features	Built-in accessibility tools (e.g., zoom in/out, high contrast)	Built-in accessibility tools (e.g., zoom in/out, high contrast)	PDF is available in large-print format with larger font size (18 pt font) and images	Teachers can provide students with visual impairments with three-dimensional objects that represent those pictured in questions

Requesting the Alternative Version of the assessment

Step 1 – Validating the requirements 

Ensure that the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or one of the special considerations is selected under the Accommodations tab. Use the Alternative Version Request tab to request the required format.

Step 2 – Requesting the Alternative Version 

1. Sign in as a School Administrator.
2. Under the Students tab:
   • Select Primary or Junior
   • Select the (In Progress) Administration Window.
3. Select the student with special education needs by clicking their OEN, First Name, or Last Name.
4. Ensure that either IEP or one of the Special Considerations is checked with their appropriate accommodations in the Accommodations tab.
5. In the Student Record, under Alternative Version Request tab:
   • Select Yes if the student needs an Alternative Version.
   • If an assessment session has not yet been scheduled, enter the tentative date following the YYYY/MM/DD format.
   • Braille: select Yes or No.
   • Printable PDF: select Yes or No.
   • Audio MP3: select Yes or No.
   • Select with or without full descriptions of all mathematics graphics.
   • Online format only: select Yes or No.

NOTE
If you choose Yes for the printable PDF format, choose a printable PDF format and the audio format.

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 dialogue window.
8. Confirm that the approval has been processed online by checking the Message Centre. If you have any difficulty, please contact EQAO at info@eqao.com or 1-888-327-7377.
9. Monitor the status of your Alternative Version requests by using the Requests tab in your account.

REMINDER
Once the approval for the Alternative Version has been processed by EQAO, the student’s online version of the assessment and the requested format of the Alternative Version will match.  

The alternative version of the sample test will be provided as a compressed folder, if a PDF is ordered, through the Message Centre in the same format requested by the school. 

Sample Alternative Version requests 

Sample 1: Alternative Version, student with an IEP

Sample 2: Alternative Version, student without an IEP

Viewing and managing requests 

All the information about the student’s Alternative Version are in the Requests tab. Please monitor as needed.

Once the request status is approved, the student will be assigned the Alternative Version of the online format as well as any other format that was requested. This means that questions in the online student assessment will be identical to the requested format (e.g., Braille or PDF).

Cancelling the Alternative Version request

Pending Status

If your request for an Alternative Version is showing as Pending in the status in the Requests tab, and you need to cancel the request, you would proceed to the student information page.

1. Sign in as a School Administrator.
2. Select the Students tab.
3. Select the student for whom you need to cancel the Alternative Version request.
4. Click the Alternative Version Request tab.
5. Click Cancel the Request.
6. Once cancelled, the student’s version is changed accordingly.

TIP
Do not schedule or start a student’s assessment session until the request is showing as Cancelled in the status column of your Alternative Version Request table.

Approved Status

If your request for an Alternative Version is showing as Approved in the status column of the Requests tab, you cannot make a cancellation in the system. To cancel an approved request, you will need to contact info@eqao.com. EQAO requires a minimum 48 hours to process a cancellation.