The English (writing) part of COMPASS has two defined sections: editing an essay and multiple choice.

An essay will appear on the left side of the computer screen.  Answers will appear on the right side of the computer screen. 

You begin editing by clicking on the very top line of the essay.  When you do, that line or partial line automatically highlights in yellow and brings up five answers on the right side of the screen.

If the highlighted part is correct, you look over on the right and click on "A," which always matches the highlighted area.  If the highlighted part is incorrect, you look over on the right and find the answer that corrects the highlighted part.  As soon as you click on an answer to correct it, the highlighted part changes to match your selection.

Follow the same procedure line by line or partial line all the way down through the essay.  You can go back and forth clicking on previous lines and changing your answer, if you like.  However, eventually, you must click on every line and choose an answer.  If you forget to do so and that line is incorrect, the computer will count that as an error against you.

The passage will have scroll buttons above and below it.  The buttons are red and say "More."  You can click on the "More" buttons to scroll up and down the passage.

When you are through editing the essay, scroll up and down the passage and reread it, making sure it's exactly the way you want it and that you do not want to change anything else.  Once you are sure you do not want to change anything else, click on the "Finished Editing" button in the lower right hand corner of the screen.  Once you have clicked on "Finished Editing," you cannot go back and change anything.

SCREEN LAYOUT FOR EDITING AN ESSAY

Two or three paragraphs will appear on the left side of your screen.  On the right side of your screen will be questions about those paragraphs.  When you click on an answer, a green check mark will appear in one of the blank boxes at the bottom of your screen.  Just click on the next empty box at the bottom of the screen to pull up more questions.  You can go back and forth, clicking on the boxes at the bottom, looking at your answers and changing them.  However, once all of the boxes are full, and you have clicked on "Go On," you cannot go back and change anything.

SCREEN LAYOUT FOR MULTIPLE CHOICE

You are going to add a sentence to paragraph one of the essay on the left.  Choose an answer from below that will serve as a transition between paragraph one and paragraph two.  The transition sentence will establish the main focus of the essay.

Next, you will do several multiple choice questions regarding transitions to paragraphs.  

After you click on the chosen answer, the "Number 1" box at the bottom of the screen will receive a green check mark.  At that time, you will click on the "Number 2" box to bring up more multiple choice questions regarding transitions.  When there are no more "numbered" boxes at the bottom, you can keep click on the boxes to double check your answers and to change them if you wish.  Once you are sure you do not want to change anything else, click on the "Go On" box.