1May 6, 2010 Florida Department of Education. Science Updates FCAT and FCAT 2.0 End-of-Course Science Assessments (EOC) Interpretive Products

1May 6, 2010 Florida Department of Education

Science Updates FCAT and FCAT 2.0 End-of-Course Science Assessments (EOC)

Interpretive Products Update Item Specifications Sample Test Materials

Contact Information


Grade 5

2011


Is aligned to the 1996 Standards

Will have 60-65 multiple-choice test items

The number of raw points is approximate to those of prior years when there were performance tasks


Content representation and difficulty is approximate to those of prior years

Scores will be reported in the same manner as in prior years.

Field-test items written to the 2008 NGSSS embedded in the test.

May 6, 2010 Florida Department of Education 5

Grade 8

2011



Will have 53-61 multiple-choice test items and 4-7 gridded-response test items

No changes were made to the Science grids

The number of raw points is approximate to those of prior years when there were performance tasks


Content representation and difficulty is approximate to those of prior years.


Field-test items written to the 2008 NGSSS embedded in the test.


Grade 11

2011



Will have 53-61 multiple-choice test items and 4-7 gridded-response items

No changes were made to the Science grids

The number of raw points is approximate to those of prior years when there were performance tasks.


Content representation and difficulty is approximate to those of prior years.


There WILL NOT be field-test items embedded in this test

This is the last year of this FCAT test.



The field testing of items written to 2008 Standards begins with the 2011 test. Grades 5 and 8 field-test items will be

embedded in the 2011 tests.

Biology I End-of-Course (EOC) assessment will be a stand-alone field test administered to a sample of schools. Schools will be selected for participation

based on their demographics.


The first year of 2008 Standards assessment is spring 2012.

Standards Setting to determine cut scores for achievement levels will be held in fall of 2012.


FCAT 2.0

Grade 5


Test will be comprehensive. Includes benchmarks from grades 3, 4, and 5.

Benchmarks with similar content will be grouped together using an ‘assessed as’ and ‘also assessed’ model.

All benchmark groupings are annually assessed.


All items will be multiple-choice. Reporting categories: Nature of Science,

Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Life Science.

Items are written to the cognitive level of the benchmark using grade appropriate language.


FCAT 2.0

Grade 8


Test will be comprehensive. Includes benchmarks from grades 6, 7,

and 8. Benchmarks with similar content will be

grouped together using an ‘assessed as’ and ‘also assessed’ model.

All benchmark groupings are annually assessed.

All items will be multiple-choice. 19May 6, 2010 Florida Department of Education

Reporting categories: Nature of Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Life Science.

A periodic table will be included. Due to the focus of the benchmarks, a reference

sheet is not needed. Items requiring an equation will have the equation

included in the item. Calculators will be provided for student use.


Items are written to the cognitive level of the benchmark using grade appropriate language.


Not yet determined: Range of points for each reporting

category How many questions (length of test) How long each session will be

(administration time) Achievement levels and cut scores


Biology I


Based on course descriptions for Biology I. Assesses benchmarks common to

Biology I and Biology I Honors. Benchmarks with similar content will be

grouped together using an ‘assessed as’ and ‘also assessed’ model.


All benchmark groupings will be annually assessed.

All items will be multiple-choice. Nature of Science will be assessed in a biological

context. A periodic table will be included. Items are written to the cognitive level of the

benchmark using grade appropriate language (grade 9).


This assessment will be a computer-based test administered the last few weeks of the course.


Not yet determined: Reporting categories Range of points for each reporting

category How many questions (length of test) How long each session will be

(administration time) Achievement levels and cut scores


SB 4/HB 7053 7-year Timeline for Implementation of Science EOC2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Biology Credit for graduation and EOC as

30% of student grade (currently 95% graduate with

credit)

Passage of

Biology EOC for

credit

Biology Credit for

graduation and EOC as

30% of student grade

Passage of Biology EOC for

credit

Chemistry or Physics and an equally rigorous course required for graduation, (currently 74% graduate with

credit)

Chemistry or Physics and an equally rigorous course

required for graduation

Key: Black text is yr. of initiation of the requirement. Red ink if the first year graduates must meet requirement to earn a standard diploma.


SB 4/HB 7053 7-year Timeline for Implementation of Mathematics EOC2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Algebra I EOC as 30% of student

grade

Passage of Algebra I EOC for credit

Algebra I EOC as 30% of

student grade

Passage of Algebra I EOC for credit

Geometry credit for

graduation no EOC

(currently 93% graduate with

credit)

Geometry EOC as 30% of student grade

Passage of Geometry

EOC for credit

Geometry credit for

graduation

Geometry EOC as 30% of student

grade

Passage of Geometry

EOC for credit

Algebra II credit for

graduation

Algebra II credit for

graduation

Key: Black text is yr. of initiation of the requirement. Red ink if the first year graduates must meet requirement to earn a standard diploma.


Not yet determined:How accountability models will

change to include EOC assessments


Content Item Review Biology I EOC – October 11 - 15 Grade 8 – October 11 - 15 Grade 5 – October 25 - 29

Bias and Sensitivity, October 13 - 14 Expert Review, November 2


Interpretive Product Updates


Grades 5 and 8 FCAT 2.0 Science Test Item Specifications aligned to the 2008 NGSSS will be posted to the DOE website in late July 2010.

Biology I End-of-Course Assessment Item Specifications will also be posted to the website in late July 2010.


• The 2011 Science Sample Test Materials have the same information as the 2010 Science materials.

• The 2012 Sample Test Materials for grades 5 and 8 will have test items written to the new standards.

• Online practice items will be available for Biology I EOC in the Spring of 2012.


Assessment Schedule - DOE link: http://www.fldoe.org/asp/schedule.asp

Test Design Summary – DOE link http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fc05designsummary.pdf

This presentation – TDC link: http://sharepoint.leon.k12.fl.us/tdc/external/default.aspx


Linda Oravetz, FCAT Science Coordinator: [email protected] ext. 237

Christopher Harvey, FCAT Science Specialist: [email protected] ext. 234


Lyla Springfield, FCAT Reading: [email protected]

Steve Ash, FCAT Mathematics: [email protected]

Renn Edenfield, FCAT Writing: [email protected]

Randy Felton, Social Studies: [email protected]

Mary Ann Cleveland, Interpretive Products/Operational Tests: [email protected]


Test Development CenterTest Development Center

Vince VergesExecutive Director

(850) 922-2584 ext. 233SunCom 292-2584 ext. [email protected]


Documents

1May 6, 2010 Florida Department of Education. Science Updates FCAT and FCAT 2.0 End-of-Course Science Assessments (EOC) Interpretive Products