Test Results and Score Reporting

Test Scores and Passing Standards

To pass the TOPT, you must receive a score of 6 or higher, based on the combination of scores received from a minimum of two independent scorings of your response. Information about scoring procedures is available in the preparation manual for TOPT.

Reporting Your Test Scores

Your score report will be available to you via your ETS testing account. It will provide information about your passing status and other performance information. Also provided is an explanation of how to read your score report.

Score reports are posted by 5:00 p.m. Central time on the score reporting date. Scores are viewable for 90 days.

Your scores are automatically added to your certification file and made available to TEA and to your Educator Preparation Program (if applicable). Your score report is for your information only; do not submit it with your application for certification. Under no circumstances will ETS or TEA release your score information by phone, fax, e-mail, or in person.

Paper score reports are no longer mailed. It is suggested that you print a copy on your score report for your permanent records.

NOTE: Application for certification does not proceed automatically based upon receipt of your scores by TEA. To apply for certification, you must go to the SBEC website and follow the application for certification instructions.

Delay of Test Scores

Under some circumstances, scores may be delayed.

Scores for newly developed tests may be delayed in order to set passing scores.
Scores may be delayed due to problems with registration, failure to comply with the policies and procedures in the Registration Bulletin, and/or with instructions given by test center personnel.
Scores will be delayed if there are problems with your payment. See Fees for Tests and Related Services for more information.
Your scores may be permanently voided if you are completing certification requirements through an Educator Preparation Program and you have not provided proof that you have approval to test (i.e., a TEA ID number from your Educator Preparation Program). See Approval to Test for more information.

Score Reporting Dates

Test Date	Score Reporting Date
10/25/08	11/24/08
2/21/09	3/23/09
5/16/09	6/15/09

Scoring Services

Score Verification
All responses are scored according to standardized procedures. Scorers with relevant professional backgrounds are thoroughly trained and carefully monitored during scoring sessions. However, if you wish, you may request to have your responses reevaluated.

You can request score verification through your ETS testing account or by complete the Score Verification Request form. Requests are limited to a one-time score verification for any one test. See Fees for Tests and Related Services for information about payment. Your request must be submitted online or postmarked within six months of the score report date.

The results of the score verification process will be available within four to six weeks after receipt of the request and payment. In the event that the score verification process results in a change in your score, you will be notified, the score verification fee will be refunded, and a corrected copy of your score report will be posted to your ETS testing account and transmitted to TEA. If the original score is confirmed, you will be notified and your fee will not be refunded.

Expanded Diagnostic Feedback Service

The Expanded Diagnostic Feedback Service offers a comprehensive review of examinees' responses by selected scoring leaders in order to provide detailed and customized feedback identifying the specific problem areas that most contributed to their nonpassing scores. This service is available to all examinees with nonpassing scores for TOPT French (080) and TOPT Spanish (081) exams taken during the 2008-09 testing year.

To request Expanded Diagnostic Feedback, complete the Expanded Diagnostic Feedback Request form and submit it along with payment. See Fees for Tests and Related Services for information about fees and payment policies. Requests must be received within 90 days of the date of the test administration for which the service is being requested. Expanded Diagnostic Feedback will be mailed within one month of receipt of the request and payment.

Cancellation of Test Scores by You

After taking a test, if you decide that you do not want your scores reported, you may submit a request to cancel them. The TOPT program will cancel your scores upon receipt of a completed Score Cancellation form. This form is also available at test centers.

Your Score Cancellation form must be received within five business days of the date on which you took the test. If you choose to cancel your scores, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind.

If you request that your scores be canceled, they will not be reported to you, to TEA, or to any EPP. Your scores will not be entered into any TOPT records; therefore, after the cancellation of your scores, you will not be able to have your scores reported for any purpose.

Cancellation of Test Scores by ETS and TEA

ETS takes reasonable security precautions in developing and administering TOPT tests and processing test scores with a view to ensuring that no test taker has an unfair advantage over other test takers. Accordingly, TEA reserves the right to withhold and ultimately cancel your scores due to misconduct and/or if TEA deems there is a reason to question your scores' validity or legitimacy (including, but not limited to, a violation of the rules set forth in the current Registration Bulletin, including the Test Center Procedures and Regulations, and the procedures communicated to you, orally or in writing, at the test center).

In such cases, ETS will notify relevant parties of TEA's decision.

Further action may be taken, including denying, revoking, and/or suspending a teaching credential or certificate. Other actions, as described in Test Center Procedures and Regulations may be taken as deemed appropriate by TEA and/or ETS.

Testing Irregularities
"Testing irregularities" refers to test administration problems that may affect an individual or groups of test takers, including without limitation, administrative errors (such as improper timing, improper seating, defective materials, and defective equipment); improper access to test content; and other disruptions of test administrations (such as natural disasters or other emergencies). When testing irregularities occur, ETS may decline to score the test, or cancel the test score at TEA's discretion. When, in TEA's sole judgment it is appropriate to do so, test takers will be given the opportunity to take the test again as soon as possible without charge.

Identification Discrepancies
When, in ETS's judgment, or the judgment of test center personnel, there is a discrepancy in a test taker's identification, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center and/or ETS may decline to score that test, or cancel that test score.

Misconduct
When ETS or test center personnel find that there is misconduct in connection with a test, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center and/or ETS may decline to score the test, or withhold and ultimately cancel the test score. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with the Test Center Procedures and Regulations.

Invalid Scores
ETS may also cancel scores if, in its judgment, there is substantial evidence that they are invalid for any other reason. Evidence of invalid scores may include, without limitation, unusual answers and inconsistent performance on the test. Before canceling scores pursuant to this paragraph, ETS notifies the test taker in writing about its concerns, gives the test taker an opportunity to submit information that addresses ETS's concerns, considers any such information submitted, and offers the test taker a choice of options. The options include voluntary score cancellation, a free retest, or allowing TEA to make a decision whether to accept the scores.

Confidentiality of Information

All test materials, including audiotapes, are the property of ETS; however, TEA and ETS recognize your right to control the information about you that is stored by them. Their policies are designed to safeguard that information from unauthorized disclosure.

Your score information is intended only for you and for your Educator Preparation Program (if applicable). However, background information, as noted during the registration process, is reported to the state of Texas and some institutions.

ETS will not release your score information at the request of institutions or agencies except:

for use in research studies, scoring, and statistical analyses approved by the TEA that preserve your anonymity.
when information is required under compulsion of legal processes (Your score record and the documents you completed that are retained at ETS may be released to 3rd parties, e.g., government agencies, parties to a lawsuit, etc., if requested pursuant to a subpoena.)
when the TEA requests copies of scores that have been reported to educator preparation programs
Under the Higher Education Act Title II section 207 of 1998, the U.S. Department of Education requires all states that require testing for licensure to provide that agency with annual performance data for students completing their state-approved teacher preparation programs. If you complete your preparation program in a given cohort year, your preparing institution will collect and forward your score information to the state for inclusion in the federally mandated educator preparation performance report. The report will contain aggregate data only, and will not include any information that identifies examinees.

Note that whenever ETS has confirmed that you have submitted a TOPT score directly to an educational institution, agency, or district in satisfaction of one of its requirements, ETS will respond to requests for score verification from that recipient.

TOPT recorded responses may be used for training scorers and in new test preparation materials. Test taker information, such as names and addresses, is not included when recorded responses are used for these purposes. Scorer training is essential to ensure that tests are administered and scored in a fair and consistent manner. The use of your recorded responses will benefit future test takers by helping to improve the training of scorers, just as the administration and scoring of your test will benefit from the use of prior test takers' recorded responses. Test preparation materials demonstrate how the test is administered and the skills that are necessary to succeed.

ExCET - Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas