Dear English Teachers

Dear English teachers,

In light of the recent guidelines( August 15 2013) published by the MOE Testing department , the Department for Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder, and the English department we found it necessary to clarify a number of points in the guidelines

1. The computerized bagrut examination will be compulsory for all students with the testing accommodation of oral testing, and the double accommodations of listening מועד חורף-) .and recording answers- as of the Winter Bagrut examination Jan. 2014 2014

2. The mutam examination has been cancelled for all levels of the bagrut examination

All students who have been tested with the accommodation in the past , will no longer be eligible – since there is NO LONGER a mutam examination. This is true for ALL people who take the bagrut exam, including Nivchaniemishne ( Testees who have completed their course of high school study)

3. The computerized bagrut examination is not compulsory for students who are identified as 07 or students of special education. There is no reason for those students not to be given the opportunity to take the examination on the computer but it is not compulsory. In other words, those student may still be tested orally.

4. The computerized bagrut examination is not available for nivchaneimishne.

5. The computerized bagrut examination is available for all students with the following accommodations, but is not compulsory: listening to a recording of the examination - הקראת שאלון .a

recording answers -הקלטת תשובות .b

6. The computerized examination MUST be made available for ALL students who have the accommodation of "oral testing" and the double accommodation of " listening and recording answers". That requires the appropriate computer hardware, and a computer technician in the school. Without a computer technician, or a computer expert, the computerized examination cannot take place. According to the testing department, ALL schools MUST have access to a computer technician. The English teacher CANNOT be held responsible for the technical issues related to the computerized examination. The computer technician MUST be present during the examination process . All of the students with the testing accommodation of an oral bagrut examination MUST be given the opportunity to take the computerized examination, thus , all schools must have a computer technician to make this possible.

7. The computerized bagrut examination ( I-test) was developed by the Center for Educational Technology ( Matach) and their staff is responsible for installing the program in all of the schools. Their support staff is available during working hours, to answer ALL questions and to give the necessary technical support from the moment the I-test has been downloaded.

8. Registration forms, and information about the installation of the I-test appears on the English Inspectorate web site www.education.gov.il/english.

9. After initial contact with Matach, it is necessary to make sure that the I-test , can indeed be installed in the computers at school. Schools without the necessary hardware- lacking computers, aged computers etc, must notify Ms. Ahuva Seidoff,

אהובה סיידוף

יושבת ראש ועדת חריגים

אגף הבחינות

משרד החינוך

ירושלים

FAX NUMBER: 02 5602038

10. It is vital for all English teachers to become familiar with the computerized bagrut examination. Matach will conduct an on 2-3 hour on line in service training course for teachers, guidance counselors, ld coordinators who are not familiar with the computerized bagrut examination. The date will be set shortly .

11. A practice on line test will take place a few weeks prior to the Bagrut examination

Dates:

1. The on line practice test for the Winter Bagrut Examination will take place on 19.12.13 starting at 13:00

2. The on line practice test for the Summer Bagrut Examination will take place on the 30.04.14 starting at 13:00

These practice tests are :

a. Taken from past bagrut examinations

b. Offered so that English staffs, students, computer technicians etc, can experience the process of taking the computerized bagrut examination in "REAL TIME". If there are bugs in any of the systems this is often when they are identified and solved.

c. Supported by the technical support team at Matach, that is available by phone before the testing process begins and throughout the administration. 12. Following registration teachers will have access to at least 4 different tests for each of the testing modules. This makes it possible for the students to learn about, and practice with the computerized bagrut examination.

Without the necessary practice, the students will not be properly prepared for the testing method. More tests can be made available.

13. The following are important facts about the possibilities made available via the computerized bagrut examination:

a. The I-test is a closed program. There is no internet access, and no one can enter the exam either.

b. The students have three modes of answering that depend on the approved testing accommodation

1. Recording answers- available ONLY to those students who have approval for the Oral examination, the double accommodation of listening to a recording of the test and recording answers

2. Typing answers- available to all students who are permitted to take the computerized examination ( students with approval of oral testing, the double accommodation, listening to a recording of the test only, OR recording answers ONLY.)

3. Writing answers on the paper test booklet

c. The computerized bagrut examination is identical to the traditional English bagrut examination- all sections, all elements and all modules are EXACTLY the same.

d. Each student will receive a printed test booklet, in addition to receiving his or her test on the computer.

e. Students with the accommodation of " use of an electronic dictionary" are permitted to use their electronic dictionary during the computerized examination.

f. Students MUST be supplied with earphones- microphone combination.

g. On the date and time of the Module of the bagrut examination each student will be given an individual code. With that code the student will enter the I-test and will receive his or her examination that includes his or her approved testing accommodations . Thus a student who has permission to listen to the text ( only) will not be able to record his or her answers. The student will be able to either type his or her answers on the computer or write answers in the printed test booklet. h. A flash drive containing each of the modules is supplied by Matach and the testing Department to all of the schools, in the instance of a computer crash during the testing . i. In the case of a power outage, the students work is automatically saved and can be retrieved after the power is restored. j. The practice tests can be printed k. Teachers can access the practice tests of each student, and listen to what was recorded.

l. The I-test offers the following options:

1. Highlighting in two colors

2. Listening to whatever sentences the student chooses, or the entire examination

3. Cut and paste

4. Recording answers

5. Text enlargement

6. Typing a draft

7. Recording, correcting and rerecording

8. Listening both to the text of the listening comprehension and to the questions for that section.

9. Typing and editing answers. m. There is no official time limit to the computerized examination n. The computerized bagrut examination is THE SOLUTION for all students with learning disabilities. It helps schools with their personnel issues on the day of the bagrut examination. Students who take the computerized examination will no longer be required to use discmans . o. At the beginning of each testing session, It is vital for a member of the school personnel – the ld coordinator the bagrut coordinator, to make sure that each student has received his or her correct examination module. Since the double accommodation of listening to the examination and recording answers in now equivalent to the oral bagrut examination, schools MUST submit students files to the regional LD committees for approval of that accommodation.

THIS INCLUDES STUDENTS IN 11th AND 12TH GRADES AS WELL AS THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE 10TH GRADERS. Schools applying for this winter, ( January 2014) must complete the files and submit them by the 24th of October.

If there are students in 11th and 12th grades who lack the psychological assessment, the file will still be accepted by the committees for a this MOED only.

The following is a clarification of the August 15 guidelines regarding the changes related to the testing accommodations of :

1. Ignoring spelling errors- modules F and G

2. Recording answers- modules F and G

3. Listening to the examination- modules E and G

 The above accommodations have become level three accommodations for students beginning with those students who are in the 10th grade this year .(2013-14)

 In addition the double accommodation of listening and recording answers for ALL MODULES has become a level three accommodation for students beginning with those students who are in the 10th grade this year.

 Therefore students to be tested on the mentioned modules, who have a recommendation all of the following is compulsory: 1. A psychological assessment in addition to an educational evaluation

2. An extended evaluation regarding EFL skills. This can be either a separate English OR an in depth evaluation as part of( אבחון דידקט באנגלית י ) educational evaluation אבחון פסיכו דידקטי the psycho-educational evaluation

3. The English teachers' questionnaire, completed by the student's English teacher

4. A copy of a completed test

5. An original composition- graded, with spelling errors identified

6. Documentation justifying the application request

 In addition:

The completed file MUST be submitted to the regional LD committee

The students ' English teacher MUST be involved in the preparation of the students file, for submission.

 REMEMBER!!!!!!!

Some of the students , with the above recommendations in their evaluations, may not require them in order to properly demonstrate their knowledge of English, on the Bagrut examination.

 It is highly recommended that teachers use the 10th grade year, to identify which students require the testing accommodations.

 The electronic dictionary has remained a level 2 testing accommodation

Please address ANY questions or comment s to the national counselor for LD/EFL

Arona Gvaryahu

[email protected]

Your questions will be answered and posted.