PA Assessment Update 2014-15

Quick Overview 2015 PSSA Changes Keystone Exams: no change PSSA Science: no change PSSA Reading: now combined with Writing as PSSA ELA with separate booklet and testing window PSSA Writing: now combined with Reading as PSSA ELA with separate booklet and testing window PSSA Math: now PSSA Math with separate booklet and testing window

2015 PSSA Changes PSSA Math Assessment 2015

Reporting Categories 2015 PSSA Changes A = Numbers and Operations — A‐T = Numbers and Operations in Base Ten (Grades 3–5) — A‐F = Numbers and Operations – Fractions (Grades 3–5) — A‐N = The Number System (Grades 6–8) — A‐R = Ratios and Proportional Relationships (Grades 6, 7) B = Algebraic Concepts — B‐O = Operations and Algebraic Thinking (Grades 3–5) — B‐E = Expressions and Equations (Grades 6–8) — B‐F = Functions (Grade 8) C = Geometry — C‐G = Geometry (Grades 3–8) D = Data Analysis and Probability — D‐M = Measurement and Data (Grades 3–5) — D‐S = Statistics and Probability (Grades 6–8)

2015 PSSA Changes Item Types and Points All grades:

2015 PSSA Changes

2015 PSSA Changes Math 2015

2015 PSSA Changes Math 2015

2015 PSSA Changes

English Language Arts Test 2015 PSSA Changes English Language Arts Test

ELA Reporting Framework 2015 PSSA Changes ELA Reporting Framework ELA Reporting Framework, Clusters, and Categories Reporting Category Code Reading Genre Literature Text A Informational Text B Core Competencies Key Ideas and Details [Key Ideas] A–K/B–K Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas [CSI] A–C/B–C Vocabulary Acquisition and Use [Vocabulary] A–V/B–V Writing C Language D Text Dependent Analysis E

Item Types and Points 2015 PSSA Changes Grade 3 20 core passage MC items   20 points 18 core standalone MC items 2 core 2 pt EBSR items 18 points 4 points 2 core 3 pt EBSR items 6 points 2 core 3 pt SA items 1 core 4 pt WP (weighted x2) 8 points Total 62 points Grades 4-8 23 core passage MC items   23 points 18 core standalone MC items 18 points 3 core 2 pt EBSR items 6 points 3 core 3 pt EBSR items 9 points 1 core 4 pt TDA (weighted x4) 16 points 1 core 4 pt WP (weighted x3) 12 points Total 84 points

Grade 3 Format 2015 PSSA Changes Section Content Emphasis Number of MC/EBSR Number of WP/SA Estimated Number of Passages Estimated Section Testing Time (in minutes) 1 Writing and Language 20 MC 60 2 Reading 8–12 MC 1–3 EBSR 34–50 3 14 MC 2 EBSR 48 4

Grades 4-8 Format 2015 PSSA Changes Section Content Emphasis Number of MC/EBSR Number of WP/TDA Estimated Number of Passages Estimated Section Testing Time (in minutes) 1 Writing and Language 20 MC 60 2 Reading 15–18 MC 4–5 EBSR 3 58–69 Reading and Text Dependent Analysis 14 MC 2 EBSR 73 4 5–8 MC 1–2 EBSR 48–57

Grade 4 Evidence Based Selected Response (3 pts.)

Grade 8 Language Multiple Choice (1 pt.)

Sample Grade 7 Writing Prompt (4 pts.)

Sample Grade 7 Text Dependent Analysis Essay (4 pts.)

How Are TDA Responses Scored? 2015 PSSA Changes How Are TDA Responses Scored?

Important Documents PSSAs PDE Resources Keystone Exams SAS Portal PBAs