Step 2: Format files correctly

Owned by Jeff Pendill
Last updated: Oct 25, 2024 by Jeff Pendill
3 min read

n addition to following the file naming and file formatting conventions described below, scan files for any issues that might prevent a file from loading correctly (e.g., letters in field for date of birth).

 

File naming: Each assessment file should be a comma-separated file (CSV).

The file naming convention is districtId_assessmentType_xxxxxxx.yyy where:

  • districtId is the 6-digit district id or CDN

  • assessmentType is ACT, AP, IB, SAT, TSI, or TSI2

  • xxxxxxx is any description you would like to add (not to exceed 50 characters)

  • yyy is the file type extension, which should be .csv

  • All of the above components (except the file extension) are separated by an underscore ( _ ).

  • Example: 723406_TSI2_March2021.csv.

  • Note: There should be no spaces in the file name.

  • Note: If you need to update a file and reload it, you must change the name of the file (e.g., file_name_v2) because the system will not allow you to upload the same file twice.

 

File formatting: View the CSV templates below for more detail about the required format for each assessment type.

TSI-A

TSIA2

SAT

ACT

AP

IB

TSI-A

TSIA2

SAT

ACT

AP

IB

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steps:

  1. Download a TSI-A file in CSV format from the district’s ACCUPLACER account.

  2. Rename the file using the file naming convention described above (CDN_TSI_description.csv)

  3. Use the assessment loader to upload the TSI-A file.

Note: This applies only to TSI-A 1.0. Files.

Steps:

  1. Download a TSIA2 file in CSV format from the district’s ACCUPLACER account.

  2. Make sure students' TSDS numbers are in the “supplemental student ID” column because the assessment loader will match on that ID.

  3. Rename the file using the file naming convention described above (CDN_TSI2_description.csv)

  4. Use the assessment loader to upload the TSIA2 file.

Note: This applies only to TSIA2. Files.

Steps:

  1. Download a SAT file in CSV format from the district’s College Board account.

  2. Rename the file using the file naming convention described above (CDN_SAT_description.csv)

  3. Use the assessment loader to upload the SAT file.

Steps:

  1. After logging into your account on success.act.org; select 'ACT Test Scores and Reports;' navigate to the Roster tab; and select 'Student Scores.'

  2. Select options to add 'Grade,' ‘Gender,’ ‘State Org Number,’ ‘District Org Number,’ and ‘School Org Number.’

  3. Download an ACT report in CSV format.

  4. Rename the file using the file naming convention described above (CDN_ACT_description.csv)

  5. Remove the extra information before the header ("Roster View: The ACT…”) so the header is the first row.

  6. Use the assessment loader to upload the ACT file. View our ACT page for more information.

  7. Test Date format Dec-21, DOB format mm/dd/yyyy

  8. Gender should be a single letter. (F, M, or O)

Steps:

  1. Download an AP student datafile in CSV format from the district’s College Board account.

  2. Rename the file using the file naming convention described above (CDN_AP_description.csv)

  3. Use the assessment loader to upload the AP file.

Steps:

  1. Download an IB file in CSV format from the IB candidate results website.

  2. Rename the file using the file naming convention described above (CDN_IB_description.csv)

  3. Use the assessment loader to upload the IB file.

 

Errors: Failure to comply with the file naming standard will result in the file not being uploaded and one of the following errors being generated: