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Alternate Formats
Alternate formats are available for all provincial assessments and examinations for those students who have documented TIENET adaptations and regularly use that format in the classroom.
Below are examples of commonly requested alternate formats. Other formats may be available based on individual student needs.
Alternate Formats by Grade
| Grade | Administration Format | Alternate Formats |
| 3 | Paper booklets | Braille, enlarged print, black-and-white |
| 6 | Online platform | Braille, enlarged print*, black-and-white*, paper-based** |
| 8 | Online platform | Braille, enlarged Print*, black-and-white*, paper-based** |
| 10 | Paper booklets | Braille, enlarged print, black-and-white |
*Enlarged print and black-and-white formats are available within the online assessment platform. Paper-based versions of these alternate formats will be provided for students who require them.
**Paper-based versions of the Grade 6 and Grade 8 assessments are intended only for students with a documented TIENET adaptation requiring a paper-based assessment.
Resource teachers and administrators: Click here to fill out the request form to order alternate formats for students at your school.
These requests must be received by:
- September 11 for assessments in grade 6
- December 1 for first semester examinations
- April 1 for assessments in grade 3, grade 8, and second semester examinations
Refer to the Assessment Handbook or NSE Information guide or contact us us for more information about alternate formats.
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Read-aloud adaptations
Read-aloud adaptations are available for all provincial assessments and examinations for those students who have documented TIENET adaptations and regularly use read-aloud support in the classroom.
- For provincial assessments, refer to the Assessment Handbook and/or the Online Student Assessment User Guides or contact us for more information.
- For provincial examinations, refer to the Information Guide or contact us for more information.
| Grade | Administration Format | Read-aloud Format |
| 3 | Paper booklets | Assistive technology (NSA-RA), human reader |
| 6 | Online platform | Built-in ‘Listen’ tool within platform, student’s assistive technology, human reader |
| 8 | Online platform | Built-in ‘Listen’ tool within platform, student’s assistive technology, human reader |
| 10 | Paper booklets | Assistive technology (NSA-RA), human reader |
Read-aloud: Assistive Technology (NSA-RA) for grades 3 and 10
For the grade 3 provincial assessment and grade 10 provincial examinations, the Nova Scotia Assessment: Read-aloud (NSA-RA) platform provides an audio recording. Teachers register eligible students via the request form: Request for Nova Scotia Assessment - Read-aloud (NSA-RA).
Requests must be made between the following dates:
- September 1–December 15 for first semester examinations
- March 1–May 1 for assessments in grade 3 and second semester examinations
Read-aloud: Built-in Listen Tool (online assessment platform) for grades 6 and 8
For the grades 6 and 8 provincial assessments, the online assessment platform offers a built-in ‘Listen’ tool which provides read-aloud audio. Teachers or administrators must enable this tool in the online assessment platform for eligible students before they access the Sample Assessments.
Read-aloud: Student’s Assistive Technology (AT) for grades 6 and 8
For the grades 6 and 8 provincial assessments, students’ own specialized assistive technology may be used to provide text-to-speech audio (e.g., Google Read&Write). Teachers or administrators must enable this setting in the online assessment platform for eligible students before they access the Sample Assessments.
Read-aloud: Human Reader for grades 3, 6, 8, and 10
For all provincial assessments and examinations, schools or regional educators may read aloud to eligible students. Teachers or administrators must note this adaptation on the back of the assessment or exam booklet (if paper-based) or in the online assessment platform.