Correspondence Testing Guidelines

Northern Virginia Community College may proctor correspondence tests from other universities if you are a currently enrolled NOVA student. We also proctor tests for schools within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). If you are not a currently enrolled NOVA or VCCS student, call the Office of Continuing Education at the Alexandria and Manassas Campuses.

Guidelines for Students:

If you are interested in having a NOVA Testing Center proctor a test for you, please follow the steps below:

• First, contact the Testing Center of your choice for test authorization with your (SIS) Student ID number.
• Tests that have not been preapproved will be returned to the instructor or school.
• Contact the Center to make sure your correspondence test has arrived before you come to campus.
• Bring a current photo ID (driver’s license, school ID, passport, etc.) to the Testing Center.
• Arrive at least 90 minutes before closing to start the test. Remember that all tests are collected 15 minutes before closing. Please check the individual campus website for current hours.
• If appropriate, bring stamps and envelopes to mail the completed test to the instructor.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

• Students are not permitted to leave the lab during the test for restroom breaks, etc.
• Children are not permitted on campus.
• The Testing Center will provide scrap and lined paper. You may not use your own materials.

Guidelines for Faculty:

• Most campuses do not accept tests by Fax.
• Some campuses accept tests by email attachments in WORD 2007 if they are of reasonable length with no diagrams.
• All tests are closed book and no notes.
• No Saturday deadlines for tests will be accepted.
• Tests are held for the current semester; however, no tests will be given once NOVA’s final test period begins. If the student has failed to take the test prior this cut-off date, the test will be discarded.

All tests being proctored by the Testing Center must include:

• An email or cover sheet from the instructor with the following information for administering the test: The instructor’s name and contact information (name and address of school, email address and phone numbers), the student’s name, student VCCS ID number and contact information.
• If the test is a hard copy test:
• One time limit if desired; we do not do multiple timings.
• Directions for returning completed test to instructor.
• If the test is an online (Blackboard) test*:
• Directions to find the link to the test, the test number and password.
• Contact information in case the test should need to be restarted (due to computer or power failure).
• *We use a program that does not allow students to reach other Internet sites. Therefore, any test that requires other Internet sites or programs cannot be administered.