What is the HSPA???

HSPA - Overview The HSPA is the High School Proficiency Assessment that is given to juniors in New Jersey’s public schools. States are required by federal law to use tests as a way of determining the performance levels of schools. The tests are designed to assess how well students are learning the knowledge and skills called for by New Jersey’s standards. Passing the HSPA (or SRA) is a graduation requirement.

The HSPA assesses 4 mathematical areas

Standard 1 – Number and Numerical Operations Number Sense Numerical Operations Estimation

Standard 2 – Geometry & Measurement Geometric Properties Transforming Shapes Coordinates of Geometry Units of Measurement Measuring Geometric Objects

Standard 3 – Patterns and Algebra Patterns and Relationships Functions Modeling Procedures

Standard 4 – Data Analysis, Probability, and Discrete Mathematics Data Analysis (Statistics) Probability Discrete Mathematics – systematic listing and counting Discrete Mathematics – vertex-edge graphs and algorithms

The HSPA has two major types of questions. Multiple choice – the students are asked to choose one correct answer from among four choices. The second type of question is the open-ended question. Students will answer these questions with short or long written responses. Students may also present their response using diagrams, graphics, and/or pictures.

HSPA contains a total of 48 items 40 multiple choice items 8 open-ended items Each multiple choice item is worth 1 point. Each open-ended item is worth 3 points.

On HSPA (March 2007) the raw points necessary to achieve “proficient” was about 50%.

The open-ended items on the HSPA have a rubric. You can receive a 3, 2,1, or 0 for your work on each open ended question. 3 points – Everything correct (a minor error is sometimes acceptable) 2 points – Something wrong 1 point – Something correct 0 points – Nothing correct

Is the HSPA the same as the SAT?? NO! What are some differences? Questions on the SAT are ordered from easiest to hardest. On the HSPA they are not. You could have the easiest question last, so don’t stop when you get to a hard question and give up. Keep on trying!!!

The SAT penalizes for guessing, but the HSPA does not. SAT multiple choice questions have 5 choices, the HSPA only has 4! *Hint: Narrow down your choices!

So how should you approach each problem??? First, read the entire problem, including the answer choices if it is multiple choice. Second, ask yourself if you can do the problem. Your answer should be Yes (Y), No (N) or Maybe (M). Put this letter next to the problem.

If your answer is yes Put a Y next to the problem first. Work the problem out, check your answer, and mark the answer on your answer sheet.

If your answer is no This means, no matter how long you work on the problem, you feel like you will never be able to work it out. Put an N next to the problem. Choose the best answer that you can, mark it on your answer document, and move to the next question.

If your answer is maybe. Place an M next to the problem. At this point, continue on to the next problem. At the end of the test, come back and work on each question that has an M next to it.

Double Check Before Time is Called Make sure that you have an answer for each and every question. This includes both multiple choice and open ended questions.

How to approach Open Ended Questions Make sure to read the entire question before beginning work on the problem. You may not be able to answer every part of the question, but answer the parts that you can (might not be part A).

For example, maybe the question has 3 parts, A, B, and C. You didn’t know how to do parts A or B, but you know that you could get the answer to part C by adding the answers for A and B together. Next to part C, state that to get the answer you would add the answers from A and B. That would get you some points!

The next slide shows an example of an open ended question. Take out some paper and try it yourself then we will look at some other student responses so that you can see how you did.

This paper would receive a score of 3. I t has correct answers to every part and the work is explained clearly.

This response would receive a score of 2, because it has something wrong. In part d, this student said that n= the sum of the row times 2 (n=28) and it should state that the sum of the line equals 2 to the nth power or sum=2 n.

This response would receive a 1, because although it has a LOT wrong, it does have something right. The table in part b is correct. The other parts (a, c, and d) are all incorrect.

This response would receive a 0 (zero). Although we can’t tell which part the student is trying to answer, this isn’t correct for any of the parts. Remember, something has to be correct for you to receive points.! It’s the QUALITY not the QUANTITY of work that gets the points!+

Here is a website with additional practice that you can check out at home. ment/hspa/hspa_math/index.htmhttp:// ment/hspa/hspa_math/index.htm