Biology MCAS Review 2011 Ms. Stang, Canton High School

Biology MCAS Review 2011

Biology MCAS Review 2011

Ms. Stang, Canton High School

Ms. Stang, Canton High School

Agenda

1. Purpose of MCAS2. Composition of the Biology MCASNumbers and types of questionsMCAS Development

3. MCAS Scoring4. MCAS Preparation5. General test-taking advice

Purpose of MCAS

Purposes of the MCAS:1. Provide feedback to students, families, teachers, and schools on learning standards going unmet.

2. Improve instruction.3. Report on the performance of individual students, schools, districts.

4. Evaluate progress on achieving equity.

5. Ensure that all students receiving a high school diploma in Massachusetts have a base level of knowledge.

1. Purpose of MCAS2. Composition of MCAS3. MCAS Scoring4. MCAS Preparation5. General advice

Purpose of MCAS

Unlike Mathematics and ELA, the Biology MCAS is still relatively young. Class of 2010 was the first group that had to pass it to graduate.

It has been slightly increasing in difficulty each year.

Passing the Biology MCAS is a requirement that must be met in order to graduate with a high school diploma. Those who do not pass must address this through additional work: more on that later.


Composition of MCAS

The MCAS is broken down into two sessions, June 2nd and June 3rd. Each session contains the same number of questions.

Students start first thing in the morning, and usually about half are done by 9:45. There is no mid-morning break.

Students may take longer than the scheduled session time, but this isn’t recommended if you can avoid it.

Students should take the test at a reasonable pace. Rush and you’ll make mistakes; dilly-dally and you won’t be as sharp by the time you finally get to the end.


Composition of MCAS

The MCAS is broken down into two sessions, June 1st and June 2nd.Each session contains the same number of questions.

The scored MCAS contains 40 multiple choice questions (20 each day), and 5 open response questions (2-3 each day).


Composition of MCAS Rough multiple choice breakdown:

13% Biochemistry & Enzymes (mostly 1.2-1.3) 15% Cell Biology 17% Genetics 13% Anatomy 20% Evolution 20% Ecology (mostly 6.2-6.4)

One essay from each of the topic areas except biochemistry. The evolution essay is usually a natural selection question. The anatomy essay is usually, but not always, about the digestive system & homeostasis. The ecology essay is usually about a food web.


Composition of MCAS

Questions on the MCAS are constructed to determine if students understand the underlying concepts by asking them to apply their knowledge to new situations.Questions will pose scenarios that students need not have learned the specifics of, intentionally.

“Blue jays and Kingbirds are both classified in the order Passeriformes. In the current taxonomic system, this means that both birds belong to the same…”


Composition of MCAS

Students should expect to encounter situations that look unfamiliar, but really aren’t!You don’t have to know what Kingbirds or Passeriformes are, and the question authors know that you don’t. They want to see if you can go beyond just reciting “Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species” and use it to solve the problem.


Composition of MCAS

Each multiple choice question has one correct response and three “distractors.” The distractors are deliberately chosen to contain common misconceptions.

They are answers that someone who has not taken biology might gravitate towards, or that someone who has taken biology but isn’t paying attention might gravitate towards.

Again, what the test writers are thinking is, “Did this student learn what they were supposed to from their Biology class?”


Composition of MCAS

The MCAS will also contain “test-test items,” questions that will not count towards your score. These are questions that the Department of Ed is considering for a future Biology exam.

They determine if questions are too easy or too hard by giving them to real students.

All the real questions on your test were constructed this way.

These items will be indistinguishable from the actual test items. They will be mixed in and unmarked.

So you will actually have more on the order of 60 multiple choice questions and 9 essays total.

Take every question seriously!


MCAS Scoring Multiple choice: A correct answer gets 1

point, an incorrect answer gets 0 points. No “guessing penalty.” Answer every question.

Open response: Evaluated holistically. Score of 0-4.

4 = The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the concept.

3 = The student demonstrates a general understanding of the concept.

2 = The student demonstrates a limited understanding of the concept.

1 = The student demonstrates a minimal understanding of the concept.

0 = The question is unanswered, or the response lies far outside the realm of the question.


MCAS Scoring

Not answering an open response question can result in failure of the test.

Students have all day to take the exam if needed, there is no reason why any question - multiple choice or open response - should go unanswered.


MCAS Scoring Open Response questions call for 1-2 complete

paragraphs in response to each part of the question.

Be sure to include: Topic sentence Answer Explanation + Evidence Connect Explanation + Evidence to Answer

It’s the Explanation and Evidence that most students neglect. Students must remember, their job is to prove not just that they know, but that they understand. Holistic score is improved by the inclusion of clear

evidence, by explaining concepts as they arise, and by using appropriate science vocabulary.


MCAS Scoring

The MCAS website has sample student responses scanned in, as well as the scores they received. (Instructions on handout) There’s no specific explanation of why this particular essay for this particular score, but it should be apparent.

A right answer only gets you 1 point, basically. The other 3, you earn by competently explaining yourself.


MCAS Scoring

Students receive a scaled score of 200-280, though there are 60 points possible on the test. 220-280 is considered passing for the student, but not necessarily for the teacher or school.Failing = 200-219 (Roughly 0-20 pts)

Needs Improvement = 220-239 (21-30)Proficient = 240-259 (31-47)Advanced = 260-280 (48-60)


MCAS Scoring

2008 Biology Results


CHS (%) Statewide (%)

Advanced 29 14

Proficient 59 43

Needs Improvement

12 31

Failing 1 12

MCAS Scoring




Advanced 40 16

Proficient 49 45

Needs Improvement

9 29

Failing 2 9

MCAS Scoring




Advanced 29 18

Proficient 55 47

Needs Improvement

15 28

Failing 1 8

MCAS Scoring

Student results usually come out in early October.Schoolwide results just report on advanced, proficient, etc.

Individual results are more detailed.


MCAS Scoring

Students who do not pass the MCAS then enter remediation, which generally includes taking MCAS Biology next year in addition to Chemistry, and then reattempting the MCAS in February


MCAS Preparation

Set aside at least 30 minutes a night for studying. Some ideas:

1. Go through the standards with a parent, sibling, or friend. Questions are constructed to address each one.If your student cannot perform the task the standard calls for, then that’s an indication of an area they should focus their reviewing time on.


MCAS Preparation

2. Practice questions.Practice questions from previous years’ exams are on the DOE’s website, and on Ms. Stang’s website as well.

Take a practice exam. Any questions you get wrong demonstrate areas for you to review.


MCAS Preparation

3. Sit down with a parent, sibling, or study buddy, and examine the sample essays. Discuss what it was about each essay that elevated or lowered the score.


MCAS Preparation

4. Write practice open responses to the questions available. Discuss with parent/sibling/study buddy your probable score afterwards by comparing your work to that of the example students.


General Advice

Of course, make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before the exams. Shoot for 9 hours!

And, eat a good, filling breakfast that morning. No lie, it will save a question or two for you that you would’ve missed otherwise!


General Advice

Timing will matter.Don’t rush, you’ll make mistakes.

After about 11 AM, mental processing drops off sharply. So a student who daydreams and wastes time will wind up having to take some questions after that point and will get a lower score.


General Advice

Leave your phone at home those days.You’re instructed to turn phones off and/or hand them in before beginning the test, but it’s still a risk.

If you do NOT follow the cell phone rules, and your phone rings or vibrates, you may automatically fail your test.DON’T BE THAT GUY


General Advice

Employ the complete test-taking arsenal.Skip the toughies for later.Use the test against itself.Eliminate answers.Underline key terms.Brain-dump.Double-check at the end: all answered, all on the right lines.

Etc.


General Advice

You have nothing to be scared of. Just be determined.You have learned everything they need. You can handle this hurdle, provided you’re focused in both your preparation and your test-taking strategies.

YOU ARE CAPABLE OF THIS :)


Review Sessions

I’m available for review sessions until 2:30 every day 5/23-5/27, and 5/31.I can be available later than that by request

Helpful websites:http://stangbio.wikispaces.com/Bio+CP1+Units

MCAS Info http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/MCAS Practice Questions http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html

MCAS Essays http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/student/

http://stangbio.wikispaces.com/Bio+CP1+Units

http://stangbio.wikispaces.com/Bio+CP1+Units

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/student/

Documents

Biology MCAS Review 2011 Ms. Stang, Canton High School