National

Achievement
Test for:
Fourth Year

EXAMINER'S HANDBOOK

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
NATIONAL EDUCATION TESTING AND RESEARCH CENTER
Pasig City, Philippines
2014
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EXAMINER’S HANDBOOK

NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST

1. INTRODUCTION

This Examiner’s Handbook is intended for those involved in the administration of the
National Achievement Test for Fourth Year students. It outlines the activities to be
undertaken at various stages in the activity. To ensure a standardized test administration,
this Handbook must be followed strictly.

The Chief Examiner’s (CE) Workflow

Pre-Test B. Test C. Post-Test Activities:

Activities: Proper:

 Keeps the  Accomplishes  Accounting of Materials

confidentiality Forms 4, 5 1. Collects and accounts
of the test and 6 all ETRE’s assisted by the School
materials  Monitors the Testing Coordinator/Room Supervisor
 Requires testing staff 2. Arranges and bundles
every Room activities them accordingly seeing to it that the
Examiner to number of ETRE’s tallies with the
count the number of testing rooms. A report on
TB’s while the number of ETRE’s should
plastic bags accompany the bundle.
are still 3. Returns to their original
sealed plastic bags all used and unused Test
 Facilitates the Booklets with serial numbers arranged
signing of consecutively. These should be
Form 3 by RE resealed by stapling the open end of
the plastic bag.
4. Places inside the
CETRE the following materials after
accomplishing the Chief Examiner’s
Transmittal Report: (Unused Answer
Sheets, NETRC Form 3, NETRC Form
4 and the School Header)
5. Accomplishes the
NETRC Forms 5 and 6, then submits
these forms to the DTC separately.
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The Room Examiner’s (RE) Workflow

Distribution Room Examination Room Distribution Room

(Retrieval Phase)
 Receives the TB’s &  Posts the replica of the Name Grid and the test  Submits the
AS’s coverage Examiner’s
 Counts the TB’s  Gives the General Directions Handbook, sealed
from the sealed  Distributes the AS then the TB’s ETRE and the
plastic bags  Checks if Name Grid, LRN and other information in the consecutively
 Signs the Form 3 AS are properly shaded arranged TB’s to be
 Facilitates in accomplishing the Form 2 by examinees properly accounted
 Administers the Test using Examiner’s Handbook for by the Chief
 Keeps custody of the excess TB’s placed in original Examiner
plastic bags while the test is in progress and the test  Retains the Replica
items are not read by the RE (with sanctions re DepED of the Name Grid and
Order No. 85, s. 1999) Board Displays in the
 Accomplishes Form 1 and Form 7 Guidance Office
 Retrieves the TB’s
 Checks the contents of the ETRE
(Used AS arranged consecutively by
Examinee Number, Time
Record, Forms 1, 2 and 7
 Seals the ETRE while still in the Examination Room

2.1 PRE-TEST

2.1.1 Board Display

Post the parts of the test on the board or on a Manila paper including the time the test has
started and the time it will be finished, as shown below.

One Test Booklet (TB) for Mathematics, English, Science, Filipino, and Araling
Panlipunan and the Critical Thinking Skills Test

Time
Parts of the Test Item Limit Time Time Time
Number Mins Allocation Started to End
General Directions &
Sample Items 1–5 5 ______
Part I (EDQ) 1 – 15 5 ______

Part II (A.M)
Filipino 1 – 60 60 8:11 – 9:10 ______
Araling Panlipunan 1 – 60 60 9:11 – 10:10 ______

Break 10 10:11 – 10:20 ______ ______

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Math 1 – 50 70 10:21 – 11:30 ______ ______

LUNCHBREAK
Parts of the Test Item Time Time Time Time
Number Limit Allocation Started to End
Part II (P.M.)
Science 1 – 60 80 12:31 – 1:50 ______
English 1 – 60 60 1:51 – 2:50
Critical Thinking Skills Test 1 – 20 30 2:51 – 3:20 ______

Total No. of Items 290

Total Time for Test
Proper 6 hrs

2.1.2 Entrance and Seating Arrangement

1. Inspect the seating arrangement before instructing the examinees to enter the testing
room. There should be six rows of armchairs. Make sure that the first and the last rows
are close to the walls.
2. Instruct the examinees to line up outside the room in alphabetical order of their
surnames.
3. Instruct them to enter the room also in alphabetical order of their surnames. Let the first
six examinees occupy the front line first, then the second, until the last line as shown
below:
Chalkboard
Examiner’s Table

Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 4 Row 5 Row 6

Line 1 1 2 3 4 5 6
Line 2 7 8 9 10 11 12
Line 3 13 14 15 16 17 18
Line 4 19 20 21 22 23 24
Line 5 25 26 27 28 29 30
4. In no case shall there be more than 30 examinees in a room.
5. Check the attendance by calling out the names of the examinees from the list in NETRC
Form 1, List of Examinees, prepared by the School Principal/Testing Coordinator.
6. Check the identities of the examinees inside each examination room by all means (e.g.
ID, notebooks bearing the examinee’s name; etc.) using the following procedure:
a. Countercheck the identity through the ID.
b. If ID is not available, ask the examinee to present a notebook or any belonging
bearing his/her name.
c. In the absence of requirements for a & b identification materials, ask his/her
respective classmates inside the Examination Room to attest the identity.
7. Instruct them that all belongings are placed in front of the room underneath the
blackboard; except the pencils, sharpener and a clean sheet of paper.

2.1.3 Orientation of the Examinees

After the examinees are seated and all chairs are cleared, say:
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Good morning everybody. I am (State your name). There are some points you should remember
to follow while taking the test. I shall read each one.

Read the following slowly and clearly:

1. You will answer all five subjects and the Critical Thinking Skills Test.
2. If possible, you are not allowed to leave the room once the test has started.
3. Do not open your Test Booklet until you are told to do so.
4. If you have any problem such as missing pages or words that are not printed clearly, raise
your hand so I can help you.
5. Questions on the directions or on any test item will not be entertained after the test has
started.
6. Do not write anything on the Test Booklet. A separate Answer Sheet is provided for your
answers. For those answering Mathematics, you may use a clean sheet of paper for your
computation but submit this to me after the test.
7. Use lead pencil No. 2 in answering the test. Mechanical pencils are not allowed.
8. Remember to keep your Answer Sheet clean and free from unnecessary marks. DO NOT
fold, crumple, or crease any portion of it, otherwise it may be rejected by the scanning
machine.
9. Select your answer from the given choices, and blacken the circle that corresponds to your
answer in the appropriate item number on your Answer Sheet.
10. You may change your answer by erasing it neatly.
11. Work quietly and mind only your own work. Do not use books, dictionaries, rulers,
calculators, and cell phones inside the testing room.
12. Refrain from cheating. If you are caught cheating and have been warned twice, but persist
on cheating, you will not be allowed to take the test any further.
13. The total time for the test will be 6 hours. You will be given a 30-minute lunch break after the
third subject.
14. Work fast enough so you will finish the test within a given time. If you finish the test ahead
of time review your answers.
15. I will announce when the given time to finish the test is up.
16. When I say STOP, put your pencils down.

After you have read the guidelines, allow examinees to go out, if necessary, before
distributing the materials.
2.1.4 Distributing the Answer Sheet (AS) and Test Booklets (TBs)

Cut with a pair of scissors or a blade one end of the plastic bags (one containing the TBs
and the other the AS). Check their quantities and see to it that these are accurate and not
tampered. In a pack there are thirty (30) TBs. Each examinee will have one TB and one AS.

In the distribution of the TBs and AS follow the numbering of examinees shown on Page
5. Start with the examinee in Number 1, by giving him/her the TB/AS with the lowest serial
number and end with examinee in Number 30, giving him/her the highest serial number.

Seats of late comers / absentees should be left vacant. Test Booklets and Answer
Sheets allocated to the said examinees should be placed inside the original plastic bag
by the Room Examiner pending their arrival. However, the Test Materials should not be
distributed yet if there are only less than 10 examinees in the room.
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2.1.5 Checking the Test Booklets and Answer Sheets

After each Examinee has received a Test Booklet and an Answer Sheet, say:
Everybody, put the Answer Sheet on your chair/desk. (Wait until everybody has done
this.) Look at your Test Booklets. (Pause.) Check the pages one by one. If you notice any
misprint or a missing page, raise your hand and I will change it.
Pause. Wait until everybody has done this. Then say:
Everybody, look at your Answer Sheet. Find out if there are defects. In case there are,
raise your hand and I will change them.
Pause. Look for raised hands. In case a Test Booklet or an Answer Sheet is defective,
the whole set must be changed. Get this from the regular pack, if there are extras; if none,
request the Room Supervisor to give you the exact number of copies needed from the buffer
which is in the custody of the Chief Examiner. This should be noted in the Examiner’s Report.
When all Test Booklets and Answer Sheets have been checked, keep the unused TB and AS in
your custody. These will be packed with the others upon submission of reports to the Chief
Examiner/School Testing Coordinator during the post test.
Let us begin this examination with a prayer printed on page 1 of your Test Booklet. All
together, read it silently. Begin.

2.1.6 Filling in of Information in the Answer Sheet

Say:
The Answer Sheet is composed of two (2) pages printed back to back broken down as
follows: The front page (Page 1) contains the circles for the basic information about yourself.
The back page, (Page 2) contains the Examinee’s Descriptive Questionnaire (EDQ) circles
numbered 1 – 15. It also contains circles numbered 1 – 60 for Filipino, 1 – 60 for Araling
Panlipunan, 1- 50 for Math, 1 – 60 for Science, 1 – 60 for English and 1 – 20 for the Critical
Thinking Skills Test. In marking the circle, see to it that the whole space within the circle is fully
shaded.

2.1.6.1 Filling up the Name

Say:
You shall now fill in the information called for on the front page of the Answer Sheet
(Replica on page 1). First of all, print your name inside each box provided for in the name grid.
Pause. Give the Examinees enough time to write their names. Then say:
Let us accomplish the name grid found on the upper portion of the Answer Sheet. The
basic rules in filling up the name grid are as follows:
1. Write only one letter in each box starting with the first box at the left. Below letter Z are Ñ
and dash (-).
2. Enter your last name first, then your first name(s) in the allotted box and finally your middle
initial in the last box. If you are a "JR", "III", "IV", etc., write it immediately after your last
name but leave one blank box in between.
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3. If your last name consists of two or more words such as dela Cruz, delos Santos, San
Ignacio, etc., write your last names leaving a blank box between. Likewise, if you have two
first names write them leaving a blank box in between.
4. If you have long last names and/or first names fill your names up to the last box allotted for
your last names and first names.
5. There are two columns for the middle initial. If you have two or more middle names write only
the first letter of the first and second middle names (e.g. SJ for San Juan). If you have one
middle name, write the first letter in the first box at the left.

Pause. Let the Examinees follow the instruction, then, say:

If you have filled in your surname, first name and middle initial, blacken the circle below
each box which corresponds to the letters written in the boxes.
Go around to see that this is done by the Examinees correctly

2.1.6.2 Filling up Learner Reference Number (LRN)

Say:
Blacken the circle corresponding to your 12-digit LRN. It consists of twelve numbers.
Check your LRN given by your class adviser. (Go around to check that numbers for the LRN
are written correctly in the corresponding boxes).

2.1.6.3 Filling up Birth Date

Say:
The Birth Date is given in the form of month-day-year, specifically:
Example: January 6, 1996
Month - Blacken the circle corresponding to the month of birth which is January.
Day - Two columns are allotted for the day although one circle in each column is
blackened. The range is from 01 to 31. Days ranging from 1 to 9 entered as
01 to 09, so blacken 0 in the first column and 6 in the second column.
Year - Only the last two digits of the year of birth are entered.
Blacken 9 in the first column and 6 in the second column.
2.1.6.4 Filling up Nutritional Status
Say:
Blacken the circle corresponding to your nutritional status. Example: If you are above
normal, blacken above normal; if you are normal, blacken normal.
2.1.6.5 Filling up School ID, Region and Division Codes
Say:
Your school code is composed of region, division, and school ID. Region and division
codes are in combined letters and numbers. School ID is in numbers only. (Refer to your school
code in the allocation of your test materials). Write your School Code, one letter/number to a
box. Check your school code against the school code on the board. Blacken the circles that are
the same as the letters/numbers you have written in the boxes. (Go around to check if the
School Code is written correctly).

2.1.6.6 Filling up Gender

Say:
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Indicate your gender by shading the corresponding circle. Example: If you are a boy or
man, shade male. If you are a girl or woman, shade female.

2.1.6.7 Filling up Number of Pupils/Students in A Class/Section

(How many are you in your class/section?)
Say:
Blacken the circles that correspond to the number of pupils/students in your regular
class/section. Example: If you are sixty-five (65) in your regular class/section, blacken 6 in the
first column and 5 in the second column.
2.1.6.8 Filling up School Subject Grade
Say:
Blacken the circles that correspond to your ratings during the third grading period in the
five subject areas: Math, English, Science, Filipino, and Araling Panlipunan. Example: If your
grade in Mathematics is 90 blacken 9 in the first column and 0 in the second column.
2.1.6.9 Filling up Type of Community
Say:
Blacken the circle corresponding to the type of community you are living in. (Examiner,
please refer to the definition of urban and rural in the Appendix A, on Page 14). If you are living
in a rural area, blacken rural. If you are living in an urban area, blacken urban.

2.1.6.10 Filling up GASTPE Grantee

Say:
Indicate whether you are a GASTPE Grantee. If yes, blacken circle for YES and the
circle for NO if not. If yes, blacken EVS (Education Voucher System) or ECS (Education
Contracting Service).

2.1.6.11 Filling up Type of School

Say:
Blacken the circle corresponding to your type of school. If your school is a public high
school, choose which among the four types and shade the corresponding circle. If your school
is a private high school, choose which among the four types and shade the corresponding
circle.

2.1.6.12 Filling up Number of Shifts per Day

Say:
Indicate whether your section holds classes the whole day, being single shift (Shade 1);
if in two shifts shade 2 (holding half day classes); shade 3 if in 3 shifts; and so forth.

2.1.6.13 Filling up Do You Belong to A Section w/ any of the following Program:

Say:
Blacken the circle if you belong to a BEC, Tech-Voc, STEM, SPA or OHS section.

2.1.6.14 Filling up Name and Address of School

Say:
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Write also the name and address of your school on the space provided.

2.1.6.15 Writing the Signature

Say:
Sign your name and signature on the space provided.

Give the Examinees enough time to do this. Check that each Examinee does this
correctly.
It is imperative that you check and double check that all Examinees have shaded the
correct circles pertaining to the NAME GRID and all the necessary information about the
Examinee. To do this, go around and inspect each Examinee’s Answer Sheet. (THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT.)

2.2 TEST PROPER

2.2.1 Reading the General Directions (5 minutes)

Everybody, open your Test Booklets. Read the general directions and the examples
silently and with understanding. I will give you 5 minutes to do this.

2.2.2 Administering the Examinee’s Descriptive Questionnaire (EDQ)

After five minutes, say:

Part I, the Examinee’s Descriptive Questionnaire (EDQ) is not a test. It consists of fifteen
(15) items on some information you are to give answers. After each item on your Answer
Sheet, shade the circle of the letter that corresponds to your answer to that particular item.
Some items require more than one answer. Do not leave any item unanswered.
Part I will last for 5 minutes. Record your answers for this part on the upper portion of
the back page of the Answer Sheet. Everybody, open your Test Booklets to the EDQ.
(Show them the EDQ portion), Ready… Begin!
2.2.3 Accomplishing the Seat Plan, NETRC Form 2
While the examinees are answering the EDQ, each examinee will write his/her Name,
Examinee Number, and the Test Booklet Number on the Seat Plan. Fill in the Region, Division,
School Name and Address, Date of Examination and Room Number.
2.2.4 Administering the Subject Area Test in Filipino, Araling Panlipunan,
Mathematics, (3 hrs and 10 mins)
After five minutes, say:
Are you now ready to start answering the test? The test proper for this morning will last
for four hours. Ready ... Begin.
Record on the board the time started and the time to end for lunch break. After the third
subject, say:
Place your TB and AS under your seats while you take your snacks.

2.2.5 Continuing the Test after Lunch Break in Science, English and
Critical Thinking Skills Test (2 hrs and 50 mins)
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After lunch break say:

We are about to continue the test. The test will end at (point to the written time to end
on the board).
Go around and see to it that the examinees are recording their answers properly.
Record on the board the time to end. The recorded time to end is from the time it started,
excluding the 15-minute snacks break.

Note: The unused Scannable Answer Sheets shall be collected by the Room
Supervisor/Chief Examiner at the time when the Examinees are answering the last
subtest. Likewise, the filling out of the remaining data in Form 3 should be done at this
time.
2.2.6 Collecting the Answer Sheets and the Test Booklets
After the recorded time to end, say:
Everybody, stop writing. Close your Test Booklets.
You are given 5 minutes to inspect your Answer Sheet. Make sure your erasures, if
any, are clean. See to it that the circle selected for each item is shaded properly. The circle
should have uniform shading. Be sure that only one is shaded for each item.
Go around to make sure the Examinees have shaded the NAME GRID properly.
After the inspection has been done, say:
I will go around to collect your test booklets, answer sheets and your scratch papers.
Collect and count all used and unused Test Booklets and answer sheets and place
these in the original plastic bags. Make sure that all materials have been retrieved. In case a
test booklet is missing exhaust all means to find it. DISMISS EXAMINEES ONLY AFTER
ACCOUNTING THESE TEST MATERIALS.
2.2.7 Dismissing the Examinees
After all materials are accounted for, say:
We are through with the test. You may now go out quietly in single file.

2.3 POST TEST

2.3.1 Preparing the Reports and Sealing the ETRE

2.3.1.1 Do the following activities:
1. Accomplish Form 7, the Room Examiner’s Test Administration – Evaluation
Report.
2. Copy from the board display the Time Record Report on Test Administration.
3. Indicate in the ETRE the number of registrants and the number of actual
examinees.

2.3.1.2 Place the following inside the Room Examiner’s Transmittal

Report Envelope (ETRE):
1. Time Record Report
2. Used Answer Sheets arranged consecutively by Examinee Number Placed in
original plastic bag
3. One Copy of NETRC Forms 1 and 2 (back to back) and Form 7
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2.3.1.2 Seal the ETRE with the DepED-NETRC paper tape while still inside the
examination
room.
2.3.2 Turning Over of Materials to the Chief Examiner
Turn over to the Chief Examiner the following materials:
2.3.2.1 Sealed ETRE with its contents
2.3.2.2 Used and unused Test Booklets assembled together and arranged consecutively by
Serial Numbers packed in their original plastic bags, retaining the Batch Slip inside the
plastic bags.
2.3.2.3 Examiner's Handbook
2.3.3 Accounting of Materials by the Chief Examiner
The Chief Examiner does the following:
2.3.3.1 Collects and accounts all ETREs, arranges and bundles them accordingly seeing to it
that the number of ETREs tallies with the number of testing rooms. A report on the
number of ETREs should accompany the bundle.
2.3.3.2 Counts the Test Booklets per pack retrieved from each Examiner with the assistance
of the Room Supervisor. The open end of the plastic bag must be resealed by tape or
stapler.
2.3.3.3 Places inside the CETRE the following materials after indicating the data in the Chief
Examiner's Transmittal Report:
1. Unused Answer Sheets with serial numbers arranged consecutively
2. NETRC Form 3 Test Materials Accounting Form
3. NETRC Form 4 Chief Examiner's Report Form
4. School Header
2.3.3.4 Instructions to the Chief Examiner and the DTC relative to Forms 5 and 6:
1. Separate the two Forms by cutting the perforated lines.
2. Fill out the needed data in both forms.
3. These forms should be submitted to the Division Testing Coordinator (DTC) and
not placed inside the CETRE.
4. The DTC puts all Form 5’s submitted to him/her by every Chief Examiner in the
First Box of the Division’s boxes for the Test Booklets.
5. Do the same with Form 6 but all of Form 6’s will be placed in the First Box of the
Division’s boxes for the Answer Sheets.

2.3.4 Packing of Test Materials

The following materials are for submission to the Division Office:
1. Bundles of R/CETRES placed in the original boxes
2. Bundles of used and unused Test Booklets sealed in plastic bags and placed in
the original boxes
3. NETRC Form 5, Test Booklet Quantity and Completeness Verification Sheet, to
be inserted in box no. 1 on top of the test booklets
4. NETRC Form 6, Answer Sheet Quantity and Completeness Verification Sheet to
be inserted on top of the first box of the Answer Sheets
5. Examiner’s Handbook, counted and ready for future use, to be retained in the
office of the Division Testing Coordinator
6. The enlarged replicas of the name grid shall be retained in the schools/Testing
Centers for future use.
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TO THE DIVISION EXAMINATION COMMITTEE:

This Examiner’s Handbook should be stored in the Testing Center/School after

the test together with the Name Grid Replica and Board Display for future use.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
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NETRC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No parts of this handbook may

be reproduced in any form.

Prepared by:

Test Development Division