1. NGSS Interim Assessments
Copyright © 2018 American Institutes for Research. All rights reserved.
October 2018

2. What is being offered in 2018–2019?
There are 27 NGSS interim assessment blocks representing Earth, Life, and Physical Science. Each block contains two clusters.
Grade 5: 7 blocks; 14 total clusters
Grade 8: 10 blocks; 20 total clusters
Grade 11: 10 blocks; 20 total clusters
All items on the blocks are machined-scored and results will be reported in the AIRWays Reporting System.
All the accommodations and designated supports offered on the NGSS summative assessment will also be available on the NGSS interim assessment, including Text-to-Speech.
Teachers can securely log into the Assessment Viewing Application (AVA) to review the blocks without having to take the test using the secure browser.

3. NGSS Interim Blocks (Elementary School)
Elementary School (Grades 3–5)
Interim Assessment
Performance Expectations Assessed
Forces, Motion and Energy
3-PS2-2
4-PS3-4
Matter and Its Interactions
5-PS1-2
5-PS1-4
Waves and Their Applications
4-PS4-1
4-PS4-3
Biological Evolution and Ecosystems
3-LS4-1
5-LS2-1
Inheritance, Structure and Function
3-LS3-1
4-PS4-2
Earth’s Systems and Gravitational Forces
5-ESS2-2
5-PS2-1
Earth’s Systems
3-ESS2-1
4-ESS2-1

4. NGSS Interim Blocks (Middle School)
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
Interim Assessment
Performance Expectations Assessed
Forces, Interactions and Energy
MS-PS2-2
MS-PS3-3
Matter and Its Interactions
MS-PS1-4
MS-PS1-5
Waves and Their Applications
MS-PS4-1
MS-PS4-2
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
MS-LS1-7
MS-LS2-2
Structures and Processes in Living Organisms
MS-LS1-3
MS-LS1-8
Inheritance and Variation of Traits
MS-LS3-1
MS-LS3-2
Biological Evolution through Natural Selection
MS-LS4-4
MS-LS4-6
Earth and the Solar System
MS-ESS1-1
MS-ESS2-2
Earth’s History and Systems
MS-ESS1-4
MS-ESS2-1
Weather and Human Impact on the Environment
MS-ESS2-5
MS-ESS3-3

5. NGSS Interim Blocks (High School)
High School (Grades 9–12)
Interim Assessment
Performance Expectations Assessed
Matter and Its Interactions
HS-PS1-1
HS-PS1-2
Forces and Interactions
HS-PS2-2
HS-PS2-5
Energy and Waves
HS-PS3-1
HS-PS4-1
Structures and Processes in Living Organisms
HS-LS1-2
HS-LS1-3
Matter, Energy, and Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
HS-LS1-5
HS-LS2-2
Inheritance of Traits and Evolution
HS-LS3-2
HS-LS4-1
Space Systems
HS-ESS1-3
HS-ESS1-4
Earth’s History and Systems
HS-ESS1-6
HS-ESS2-3
Changes in Earth’s Climate
HS-ESS2-4
HS-ESS3-5
Human Sustainability
HS-ESS3-3
HS-ESS3-4

6. More Information on the NGSS Interims
All students (as long as they are in the TIDE system) are eligible to take any of the NGSS interim assessment blocks.
Students will have unlimited opportunities to take the NGSS interim assessment blocks.
The same block cannot be taken twice within one day.
The NGSS interim assessment window will open on October 23, 2018 will close on June 14, 2019.

7. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Student
Students must take the NGSS interim assessments using the Secure Browser. The Secure Browser is the same browser used for the Smarter Balanced assessments, NGSS summative assessment, and the CTAA.
The Secure Browser can be downloaded from the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal (

8. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Teachers can administer the assessments using the Test Administration (TA) Interface. Step 1: From the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal ( select the NGSS Assessment program card.

9. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator (continued)
Step 2: Click the Test Administration card to enter the Test Administration (TA) Interface.

10. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator (continued)
Step 3: Enter your address and password, and then click Secure Login. The TA Interface appears.

11. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator (continued)
Step 5: When you enter the TA Interface, the Test Selection box appears. Select a test from the purple Next Generation Science Standards Interim Assessments list.

12. AIRWays Reporting System
Assessment results will be available in real time in the AIRWays Reporting System.
Raw scores and percent correct for each cluster in a block will be reported.

13. AIRWays Reporting System
Scoring Rubrics are provided for each item.
Teachers can view the student’s response to each item.

14. Assessment Viewing Application (AVA)
Assessment Viewing Application (AVA) is a secure online system that allows authorized users to view the NGSS interim assessments for administrative or instructional purposes.
This system is only for viewing assessments and items and does not provide scores or answer keys.