How to Work with IT Staff on Technical Readiness

Work with technology staff at your school or district to make sure your test center is ready for test day. Connect them to detailed specifications and instructions so they can:

Help you choose testing rooms with good Wi-Fi.
Configure the network for testing.
Install Bluebook™ for students who attend your school and want to test on their school-managed devices.

Networks

Technology staff should understand that:

Students and staff, including guests, need to connect to Wi-Fi on test day, even if they use personal devices.
Network traffic to and from College Board and the Apple app store must be permitted.
Bluebook testing requires at least 100 Kbps for each student testing at the same time over the same network.
Students need a connection at the start and end of the test but can keep testing if their connection drops momentarily.

Readiness Tasks

You'll need someone to complete these network readiness tasks:

Make sure each testing room has enough wireless coverage and range to support the expected number of test takers.
Set up guest access, open ports and protocols, and enable firewall exceptions.
Give you basic network information and troubleshooting tips to use on test day.

Ask Questions

Make sure you get answers to these questions:

Can attending students and guests access Wi-Fi with personal devices?
If they can, what’s the network name and password?
If they can't, how can we make sure guest access is ready on test day?
Who can I contact on test day if there's a network problem?

Devices

Here’s what technology staff should know:

Students use Bluebook, the College Board testing app, to take the test on a device they bring to your test center.
Mac and Windows devices, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks are all supported.
Students are told to download Bluebook and complete exam setup before test day.
Once Bluebook is downloaded, they can take full-length practice tests.
Students who test on school-managed devices must get help downloading Bluebook at the school they attend.
Devices borrowed from College Board arrive at the test center with Bluebook installed.

Readiness Tasks

If students who attend your school want to test on a school-managed device, you may need someone in IT to:

Install Bluebook for them.
Check devices against minimum hardware specifications and other requirements.
Upgrade devices to a supported operating system.

Ask Questions

To ensure students using school-managed devices are prepared, here's what to ask:

Are students able to download Bluebook to school-managed devices themselves? They'll need write access to their local folder.
If students can’t download Bluebook themselves, how should they ask for help?

FAQ

What happens if students have problems with internet connectivity on test day?

We built Bluebook™ to withstand internet outages. Students need a connection at the start and end of the test but can keep testing if their connection drops momentarily. If the internet disconnects during testing, students can continue—their work will be saved, and they won't lose testing time.

Can you tell me more about the technology monitor and the help room?

For digital testing, test coordinators recruit a technology monitor and designate a help room near the testing rooms.

The technology monitor helps with connectivity issues and assists students in the help room on test day.

While most student issues are resolved when the student restarts Bluebook™ or their device, proctors can minimize disruptions by sending students to the help room.

We'll provide technology monitors with training and a troubleshooting guide when we get closer to the 2024 launch of the digital SAT in the U.S.

What if a student arrives at my test center without a device or is unprepared in some other way?

Students are responsible for downloading Bluebook™ and setting it up before test day. However, you can let them download Bluebook in their testing room.

Dismiss students who arrive without a device unless they were approved to borrow one from College Board. They can contact College Board Customer Service if they have questions about rescheduling.

Students can request a loaned device when they register for the SAT.

We'll communicate this to students before test day, and we'll provide you with information to post on your school or test center website.

Do I need to provide outlets for all students?

Students are instructed to arrive with a fully charged device that will last three hours; however, you may provide access to power for students if it can be done fairly and without disrupting other students.

Test centers must provide students with extended time accommodations access to power though it does not need to be continuous. We'll work with test centers to make sure they are equipped with adequate power sources.

How will you address test day issues and technical support challenges?

We'll have dedicated customer service resources ready to troubleshoot issues for students and test centers.

We're also introducing the role of technology monitor for each test center. Technology monitors staff a help room where they use our simple troubleshooting tips to assist students.

As we get closer to the 2024 launch of the digital SAT in the U.S., you’ll receive training, troubleshooting guides, and other resources.

What are the internet requirements for digital testing?

Test center coordinators should work with technology staff in their school or district to meet these requirements:

Students and staff, including guests, can connect to Wi-Fi on test day, even if they use personal devices.
Network traffic to and from College Board and the Apple app store must be permitted.
Bluebook™ testing requires at least 100 Kbps for each student testing at the same time over the same network.
Students need a connection at the start and end of the test but can keep testing if their connection drops momentarily.

Learn more about network readiness.

Do staff need technical expertise?

Coordinators and proctors do not need technical expertise to administer the digital SAT.

Coordinators and proctors use Test Day Toolkit on any device that connects to the internet. They can send students to the technology monitor in the help room instead of troubleshooting issues themselves.