NAEP Assessment Literacy Concepts Focus Groups 2014

Examples of Tests a Student May Take in Maryland
Assessment
High School
Assessment
(HSA)

Grade
9th-12th

Subjects
Algebra/Data
Analysis,
English,
Biology,
Government

Purpose
The Maryland High School
Assessments (HSA) are
tests that measure school
and individual student
progress toward Maryland’s
High School Core Learning
Goals in English,
Algebra/Data Analysis,
Government and Biology.
Passing the HSA is a
graduation requirement.

The MOD-HSA is an
alternative test for a student
with disabilities who meets
specific participation criteria
based on an Individualized
Education Program (IEP).
Under the federal No Child
Left Behind Act (NCLB),
every state must measure
reading, math, and science
achievement at the
elementary, middle, and
high school levels.
Maryland fulfills this
requirement with the MSA
in elementary and middle
school and with the High
School Assessments in
high school.

Modified
HSA (MODHSA)

9th-12th

Algebra/Data
Analysis,
English,
Biology,
Government

Maryland
School
Assessment
(MSA)

3rd-8th

Math,
Reading, and
Science
Reading and
math tests
are taken in
grades 3-8;
the science
test is taken
in grades 5
and 8 only.

Timing
April through
May
Students take
each test
whenever
they
complete the
course. For
example,
some may
take the
algebra test
in 7th grade,
others in 10th.
October
through
January

The reading
and math
tests are
usually given
in March.
The science
test is given
in April or
early May.

Format
Paper and
computerbased

Administered By
Maryland State
Department of
Education

How It Is Scored
Scores are reported
numerically. There are two
options for passing the HSA:
1. Students may achieve a
combined score of 1602
on the English,
Algebra/Data Analysis,
Biology, and Government
HSAs; or
2. Students may achieve a
combined score of 1208
on the English,
Algebra/Data Analysis,
and Biology HSAs.

How Results Are Used
For a student who entered the
9th grade in or after the 200506 school year to graduate
from high school with a
Maryland High School
Diploma, he/she must meet
the testing requirement as
well as meet the State course
requirements, service
learning requirements, and
local graduation
requirements.

As outlined
above

Maryland State
Department of
Education

As outlined above

As outlined above

Paper and
pencil

Maryland State
Department of
Education

Scores are reported as basic,
proficient, and advanced.
Basic indicates a student is
not passing standards and
more work is needed to meet
grade-level expectations.
Proficient indicates a student
is passing standards.
Advanced indicates a student
is performing above
standards.

The MSA measures how well
children are learning so
parents and educators can be
sure every child has the
opportunity to succeed. Along
with other measures (such as
homework, classwork,
quizzes, and other tests), the
MSA provides information
about students’ academic
progress—information that
can help teachers and
parents support students’
schoolwork.

Includes
multiplechoice
questions and
questions
requiring
written
responses

Includes
multiplechoice, shortanswer and
long-answer
questions

1
Maryland State Assessments Report Card: http://www.msp.msde.state.md.us/Assessments.aspx?K=99AAAA
Testing Calendar: http://marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/D880A550-54C3-4621-AE7E-1AC0CABC022C/32952/MSDE_TestingCalendar20122013_20142015_r080112_pdf.pdf
Other Information: http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/testing/

Examples of Tests a Student May Take in Maryland
Assessment
National
Assessment
of
Educational
Progress
(NAEP)

Grade
4th, 8th
& 12th

Subjects
Arts, Civics,
Economics,
Geography,
Language,
Reading,
U.S. History,
Science,
Writing,
Math,
Technology
and
Engineering
Literacy
(TEL)

Advanced
Placement
Test (AP)

9th-12th

Arts, English,
History,
Language,
Science,
Math

SAT

11th

Writing,
Reading, and
Math

Purpose
NAEP monitors academic
progress over time and
reports on student
achievement nationally.
The results of NAEP are
released as The Nation’s
Report Card and are used
by teachers, principals,
parents, policymakers, and
researchers to assess
students’ progress and
develop ways to improve
education in the country.
Because NAEP
assessments are
administered uniformly
using the same sets of test
booklets across the nation,
NAEP results serve as a
common measure for all
states and selected urban
districts.
Each AP Exam has a
corresponding AP course
and provides a
standardized measure of
what students have learned
in the AP classroom.
A standardized assessment
of the critical reading,
mathematical reasoning,
and writing skills students
have developed over time
and that they need to be
successful in college.

Timing
Last week of
January
through first
week of
March

Format
Paper and
pencil and
computerbased

Administered By
National Center
for Education
Statistics

Includes
multiplechoice, shortanswer, and
long-answer
questions, as
well as
problemsolving tasks
based on
interactive
scenarios

May

Paper and
pencil

The College Board

October
through June

Paper and
pencil

The College Board

How It Is Scored
NAEP results are presented
in two ways: as average
scores on the NAEP scale
and as the percentages of
students attaining NAEP
achievement levels. The
average scale scores
represent how students
performed on the
assessment. The
achievement levels represent
how that performance
measures up against set
expectations for achievement.
Thus, the average scale
scores represent what
students know and can do,
while the achievement-level
results indicate the degree to
which student performance
meets expectations of what
they should know and be able
to do.
Students receive a score
between one and five.

How Results Are Used
NAEP provides results on
subject-matter achievement,
instructional experiences, and
school environment for
populations of students (e.g.,
all fourth-graders) and groups
within those populations (e.g.,
female students, Hispanic
students). NAEP does not
provide scores for individual
students or schools, although
state NAEP can report results
by selected large urban
districts.

Students receive a score up
to 2400.

Scores are sent to students,
who are then able to send
their scores to colleges and
universities with admissions
applications.

Students can earn college
credit, placement, or both for
qualifying AP Exam scores.
Scores go directly to
individuals.

2
Maryland State Assessments Report Card: http://www.msp.msde.state.md.us/Assessments.aspx?K=99AAAA
Testing Calendar: http://marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/D880A550-54C3-4621-AE7E-1AC0CABC022C/32952/MSDE_TestingCalendar20122013_20142015_r080112_pdf.pdf
Other Information: http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/testing/