Test Specifications

Test Specifications for Summative Assessments

One question that many have asked with the end of semester or end of year assessments is how much of the test will come from each Domain (Geometry, Number in Base Ten, Number-Fractions, Algebra, etc.)
The Content Specifications for the Assessment give us this information:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/acre/assessment/math.pdf

This information is included in the link above, but I thought this is worth highlighting:

Types of Items
• Grades 3 and 4 mathematics assessments will consist of four-response-option 
multiple-choice items.

• The Grades 5–8 mathematics assessments and the Algebra I/Integrated I assessment 
will consist of four-response-option multiple-choice items and about twenty percent
gridded-response items requiring numerical responses. NCEXTEND2 assessments
will consist of three-response-option multiple-choice items and gridded-response items.

• All CCSS mathematics assessments will include both calculator-active and 
calculator-inactive sections. One-third to one-half of the Grades 3–8 assessments 
will be comprised of calculator-inactive items; approximately one-third of the High 
School assessments will be calculator inactive



Another question that may come up is what does a Level 4, Level 3, Level 2, or Level 1 mean for students in elementary and middle school?  The descriptors for these levels are in Draft form and here they are


Level 4:  Students performing at this level have a superior command of the 
knowledge and skills contained in the Common Core State Standards 
(CCSS) for Mathematics assessed at their grade level and are 
academically well prepared to engage successfully in further studies in 
this content area.

Level 3:  Students performing at this level have a solid command of the 
knowledge and skills contained in the Common Core State Standards 
(CCSS) for Mathematics assessed at their grade level and are 
academically prepared to engage successfully in further studies in this 
content area.

Level 2:  Students performing at this level have a partial command of the 
knowledge and skills contained in the Common Core State Standards 
(CCSS) for Mathematics arts assessed at their grade level and will likely
need academic support to engage successfully in further studies in this 
content area.

Level 1:  Students performing at this level have a limited command of the 
knowledge and skills contained in the Common Core State Standards 
(CCSS) for Mathematics assessed at their grade level and will need
academic support to engage successfully in further studies in this content 
area.

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/achievelevels/g38mathalds.pdf