Caution
This article does not apply to students taking the NWEA™ MAP® Growth Assessment.
Imagine Math provides three Benchmark tests throughout the school year to help assess and measure student progress. Students automatically receive Benchmark 1 the first time they log in to Imagine Math. Benchmark 1 is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. Benchmarks 2 and 3 are strongly recommended but not required, and must be assigned by a School Administrator or Teacher. Imagine Learning recommends that you administer each Benchmark test at least 90 days apart to allow sufficient time for students to show growth.
You should plan on 20-40 minutes to administer the Benchmark test. We recommend that students complete the Benchmark in a single testing session, but the test can be administered over multiple sessions if needed. If a student logs out of the Benchmark, their submitted answers will be saved and they can resume the test the next time they log in.
Here's what to do before students log in to Imagine Math, how to introduce students to the Benchmark, and what to do during the Benchmark. If you run into problems during the test, check the Troubleshooting section for help.
Before students log in to Imagine Math
- Prepare your device or laptop hardware. Students using Imagine Math should be using devices with which they are familiar, if possible. For more information, see Imagine Math System Requirements.
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Change students' support language, if necessary.
Imagine Math PreK-2 students: By default, the Support Language field in student accounts is set to English unless Spanish is selected during the rostering process. If students need the Imagine Math PreK-2 program in Spanish, you can change the Support Language in their account.
Imagine Math 3+ students: By default, Imagine Math 3+ students hear the Benchmark test in English. You can change the support language so that a student hears instructions for the Benchmark test in Spanish. For instructions on changing a student's support language, see Editing student account information.Caution
Changing an Imagine Math PreK-2 student's Support Language during testing can cause the test score to not display in the educator portal. If this happens, contact Imagine Learning Product Support. This issue can be avoided by making any needed changes to students' language settings before students begin the Benchmark.
Introducing students to the Benchmark test
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Show students how to log in. For students who log in via math.imaginelearning.com: Use a projector or smartboard to show students the Imagine Math login screen and how to enter their username and password. Show students how to use the Show (
) icon above the Password field to see their password as they type it. Allow extra time to help students who need help logging in.
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Explain to students why they need to complete the Benchmark test. This sample script may be useful and can be adapted to suit your specific situation.
The next time you log in to Imagine Math, you'll see a test. It will help me see how much you’ve learned. Keep your eyes on your own screen. If you don’t know the answer to a question, just try your best and go on to the next question. If you need help with the program buttons, raise your hand quietly and I will come to help you.
During the Benchmark test
- Allow adequate time for students to complete the Benchmark. Because the Benchmark is adaptive, students may take anywhere from 20-60 minutes to complete the test, depending on their skill level.
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Monitor students as they take the Benchmark test, and encourage them to stay on task. Watch for students who are clicking through test questions without reading them. Encourage these students to read each item carefully and provide their best guess on a question even if they do not know the answer. Ensure that students do not receive help answering test questions.
As you walk around the room, you'll be able to tell that students are working on the Benchmark.
Imagine Math PreK–2: A "Test in Progress" message ("Examen en Curso" in Spanish) appears while students are taking the test.
Imagine Math 3+: A Benchmark item indicator message displays at the top of each student's screen.Note
Families who are monitoring their students at home should not help their students during the Benchmark. Students who receive help on the Benchmark test will be improperly placed in Imagine Math. - Allow students to continue working in Imagine Math lessons once they finish the Benchmark. Some students will finish the Benchmark test before the rest of their classmates. Allow these students to continue working in Imagine Math lessons until the testing session ends.
- Check Benchmark test results. After students complete the Benchmark test, you can view student test results.
Troubleshooting
Here are some solutions to problems that you might encounter when administering the Benchmark.
Check the volume settings to ensure that the volume is turned up. Make sure the student's headphones are plugged into the right jack or USB port.
If you lose Internet connectivity during the Benchmark, reconnect your device. This may also require restarting your student's device. Your student will automatically begin where they left off when the device lost its Internet connection.
If your student's computer freezes during the Benchmark test, close the current browser window and log in to Imagine Math again. Your student will automatically begin where they left off when the computer froze.
When you enable Spanish as the student's support language, Imagine Math provides the test instructions in Spanish. The student must click Spanish on the right side of the test screen to hear the test question in Spanish.
Even though the calculator may have been disabled for the student, it will still appear on certain questions on the Benchmark test where it has been deemed necessary by our partner, MetaMetrics.