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A taste of what students can expect in the newest tests
Posted: June 5, 2005
ON THE WEB: Mathematics Grades 3-8 Sample Tests. New York State Department of Education.
ONE THE WEB: English Language Arts Grades 3-8 Sample Tests. New York State Department of Education.
UPDATE Nov. 18, 2005: SED posts complete 3-8 math test samplers
The sample questions on this page are similar to those that will be on the upcoming statewide math and English Language Arts tests in grades 3-8, beginning in January 2006.
The samples will give you an idea of the types of questions to be asked, from multiple-choice to short and extended responses.
New York State United Teachers' Subject Area Committees for math and ELA have reviewed the questions and the rubrics for scoring them.
The complete set of sample questions, rubrics and answers for all grade levels is available for download in the PDF format. The file is 1.5MB and runs at approximately 100 pages. The first part of the document focuses on English Language Arts; appendix B includes sample mathematics questions.
Math scoring
Example of Grade 3 math
In the multiple-choice question from the grade 3 math example below, the answer is 1 (b).
Example of Grade 5 math
In the grade 5 math example below, the answers are 8 (c) and 9 (d).
Example of Grade 7 math
In both the math and ELA tests, scoring becomes more complex on extended- and short-response questions.
In the sample from grade 7 math below, a student would score three points for a response that is complete and correct; two points for a partially correct response; one point for a response that is incomplete and flawed, but not completely incorrect.
A zero-point response would be completely incorrect, irrelevant or incoherent, or a correct response arrived at using an obviously incorrect procedure.
English language arts scoring
Example of Grade 4 English
In the example of grade 4 English below, the student must answer three types of questions. The answer to multiple-choice question 5 is (b).
Questions 6 and 7 are each scored according to a four-point rubric. To earn the full four points, the short-response question would have to address the key elements of the text, show an insightful interpretation of it, and make effective use of relevant and accurate examples from the text.
The extended-response question would also have to be generally focused, show clear organization, be readable and "stylistically sophisticated."
Example of Grade 6 English
In the example for grade 6 English below, both questions would be scored according to a five-point rubric for listening and reading. Question 13 would also be judged against a three-point rubric measuring writing mechanics.
To score three points, according to the State Education Department, the writing would have to demonstrate "control of the conventions of written English."
There would be few, if any, errors and none that interfere with comprehension. Grammar, syntax, capitalization, punctuation and paragraphing must be essentially correct. Any misspellings would have to be minor or repetitive, occurring "primarily when a student takes risks with sophisticated vocabulary."
DOWNLOAD
The complete set of sample questions, rubrics and answers for all grade levels is available for download in the PDF format.
The file is 1.5MB and runs at approximately 100 pages.
The first part of the document focuses on English Language Arts; appendix B includes sample mathematics questions.