I have a concern about one of the test questions my students showed me. Is it possible for me to comment on the question?

Yes!  Here’s is the information regarding submitting comments.

When a student is taking a test, you may notice a Comment button below each question.  The comment button allows teachers (or the person administering the test) to submit comments or concerns regarding test question content. If a student encounters an issue with a test question, the teacher should click on the Comment button to report the problem.  You will enter the password and type in a description of the issue.

Don’t worry–the comment feature is password protected to prevent students from filing comments   The password is located under Test Delivery > Test Session > 5th bulleted item directly above where you approve students for testing.

Algebra CAT test and reports

An Algebra CAT test is now available for assignment for students, and is the default assignment for Grade 9 students.  Middle schools really should not be using this CAT.

Some of my students took the VARDT test in 07-08. Are their scores available for me to review?

If a student took the VARDT test in 07-08 while attending a school in Henrico, their scores from last year will be available for review.

Is there an easy way for students to log out in the middle of the test if they cannot finish?

A pause button has be added which allows students to close the test and complete it at a later time.

The student is returned to the login page after pausing or completing a test, rather than the browser automatically closing.

Do the protractor and ruler rotate this year?

The ruler and protractor have been replaced with new versions that are easier to move and rotate.

Scores ending in 99–is that a good thing?

A score ending in 99 on any of the 5 strand scores (the ones that makeup a student’s total score on the CAT test) indicates a pattern of understanding could not be made based on the student’s answers. Usually this means a student is guessing.

In order to gain a better understanding of the student’s strengths and weaknesses, you should assign strand tests for the student in that category

Suppose a 6th grade student scores 1699 in Number and Number Sense, which appears exceptional on the teacher report, yet scores low on all other strands. The teacher should assign strand tests in Number and Number Sense to determine what specific skills and concepts to remediate.

How do I transfer students?

Currently, teachers cannot move a student’s information from one school to another within the VARDT system (even if the student transferred from another HCPS school).

However, if you call tech support at 1-866-697-3026, they will perform the transfer. If the student has moved from another HCPS school, the VARDT history will be transferred. If it’s from another school system, the information will not follow.

What type of reports are available for teachers?

2 types of reports are available:

1. CAT Test Report: includes a total score as well as scores for the 5 core strands (Number and Number Sense; Computation and Estimation; Measurement and Geometry; Probability and Statistics; and Patterns, Functions and Algebra).  The student’s strengths and weaknesses by SOL are identified in this report.

2. Individual Strand Test Reports

What is a CAT assessment?

CAT is an acronym for Computer Adaptive Test.  Questions are delivered based on a student’s ability level.  Items are selected based on a student’s response to the previous question.

What information do my students need to have when logging on to take a test?

Students need to know 3 things to login:

1. their first and last name
2. the month and day of their birthday (they don’t have to enter the year)
3. the test session number (this is provided by the teacher)