Frequently Asked Questions

What is TestWiz?

TestWiz is an easy to use Windows-based product developed by dataMetrics Software and designed to track and report on student test scores.

The desktop version is customized to accomodate the MCAS, MEPA and IPT. It is licensed statewide by the Massachusetts Department of Education for the benefit of all the districts in the state.

TestWiz.Net is a web-based version of TestWiz also customized for the MCAS, MEPA and IPT. It is not state-funded and therefore a fee-based option. However it is recommended for any districts who want their users to be able to generate reports from any machine, while maintaining control over the level of data to which each user has access. Highlights:

• Test data is uploaded to our secure Web server
• Assign User Names, Passwords, and Permissions
• Limit access to student-level reports by permission
• Any user can log on to TestWiz.Net to view, customize, and generate reports
• Reduces need for your IT department to install new versions of software because the software is all maintained for you by dataMetrics.
• For a brief overview and screen shots, take a look at our Quick Tour document.

What can we do with TestWiz that goes beyond the State reports? 

• Match students to current teachers and generate classroom reports with item and sub-area results. 
• Print individual student reports with scores on each of the State frameworks. These reports have become part of many Individual Student Success Plans. 
• Disaggregate test results based on user-defined groups. There are up to 100 fields, many of which are predefined for the MCAS. For example, schools can print reports showing individual and summary scores for special education students, or for students who participated in an after-school tutoring program. 
• Print Item Analysis reports for any sub-group of students—with comparison scores to the State. 
• Run cutoff reports for a school and generate a list of students whose scores fall within a given range. 
• Start building a testing database that enables you to look at multi-year and multi-test data. 
• Import non-MCAS score files and view those results on TestWiz-generated reports. 
• View MCAS results from 1998 forward. 
• Print Proficiency Indexes for individual students, schools and sub-groups.

View Sample Reports

What are the training opportunities?

The Massachusetts Department of Education sponsors several training sessions at the start of each school year. For additional training, you may contract with dataMetrics directly.

What kind of support do districts receive?

A toll-free help line is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Superintendents/directors need to designate one district contact person through whom questions and answers are routed.

Who is licensed under the State agreement?

Under the blanket license for the program, all educational personnel in Massachusetts who have access to confidential student data have the right to download and use the desktop version of TestWiz. However, just as with the hard copy reports, districts are required to protect students' confidentiality and make the data available only to those who work with the students, or require access to the data for the benefit of the students.

How do districts obtain the software?

Districts log into the www.testwiz.com web site and download the desktop version of TestWiz. TestWiz.Net users simply log into our secure Web server with their assigned User Names and Passwords.

How do I get the MCAS data?

The MCAS data is released by Measured Progress secure Website: www.mcasservicecenter.com . You need to log in and download the data files, then import them into TestWiz Desktop or upload them to TestWiz.Net.

How do I get more information?

Contact dataMetrics Software anytime: