Parent`s Guide to the PSSA

 tests are designed to measure
student performance against a
fixed set of predetermined criteria
or learning standards—i.e.,
concise, written descriptions of
what students are expected to
know and be able to do at a
specific stage of their education.
Grade 3 PSSA ELA ASSESSMENT
4 Sections
April 13 Section 1-Writing and Language
20 Multiple Choice
April 14 Section 2- Reading
8-12 Multiple Choice & 1- 3 *EBSR
April 15 Section 3- Reading
14 Multiple Choice & 2 *EBSR
April 16 Section 4- Reading
8-12 Multiple Choice & 1- 3 EBSR*
Grades 4 – 5 PSSA ELA ASSESSMENT
4 Sections
April 13 Section 1- Writing and Language
20 Multiple Choice
April 14 Section 2- Reading
15-18 Multiple Choice & 4 - 5 *EBSR
April 15 Section 3- Reading
14 Multiple Choice & 2 *EBSR
April 16 Section 4- Reading
5-8 Multiple Choice & 1- 2 EBSR
Grades 3 - 5 PSSA MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT
3 Sections
April 20 Section 1- Mathematics
24 Multiple Choice and 2 Open-Ended
April 21 Section 2- Mathematics
24 Multiple Choice and 1 Open-Ended
April 22 Section 3- Mathematics
24 Multiple Choice and1 Open-Ended
Grade 4 PSSA SCIENCE ASSESSMENT
2 Sections
April 27 Section 1-Science
34 Multiple Choice and 3 Open-Ended
April 28 Section 2-Science
34 Multiple Choice and 3 Open-Ended
When a student returns to school they will take the assessment that is
scheduled for that day. If there is time in the afternoon the student will be
asked to complete the missed assessment. If the student is absent for an
extended amount of time and misses several assessments, we do have a makeup week for assessments. This is not ideal. It is best for students to take the
assessment on the day it is scheduled with the rest of their peers.
 The new PSSA ELA and Math assessments are based on the PA Core Standards.
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LEAD 21 curriculum is a standards based curriculum.
Go Math curriculum is a standards based curriculum.
SWIM (Intervention & Enrichment time) is used to meet students individual needs in reading.
Students are immersed in reading from September to June.
Science curriculum is woven into Lead 21.
Students are exposed to standards from September to June.
Exposer to test taking strategies
Jumpstart Coach Books.
Third Grade Examples:
The speaker uses the following lines to make a comparison about words.
“and soft as new grass, light white as dandelion plumes,”
The lines are used to show that the speaker sees words as
A. alive
B. useful
C. gentle*
D. successful
Read the line from the poem.
“bright as rainbows,”
Which meaning of bright is used in the line?
A. smart
B. filled with color*
C. shiny
D. filled with light
Which description best tells what happens in the poem?
A. The speaker describes parts of nature experienced through the different senses. The speaker compares words
to different features of nature. The speaker feels free.*
B. The speaker feels free. The speaker visits the sea and sees flowers. The speaker feels the breeze.
C. The speaker describes things seen in the neighborhood. The speaker likes spending time with the
grandmother smelling almonds. The speaker feels free.
D. The speaker feels free. The speaker feels grass and tastes plums. The speaker sees cactus plants.
Fourth Grade Examples:
Read the line from the poem. “But he is quicker than a wink! He didn’t give me time
to think,” What is being compared in these lines?
A. the Sandman and a wink
B. The speaker and a wink
C. The Sandman and thinking*
D. The speaker and thinking
The poet most likely wrote this poem to:
A. Illustrate why some children have trouble falling asleep.
B. Show that going to sleep is a pleasant experience.*
C. Describe what really happens when a child falls asleep.
D. Explain why children enjoy staying up late.
Which sentence is an inference the reader can make about the speaker and the
Sandman, based on the details in the passage?
A. The speaker knows the Sandman is real because the speaker has seen him.
B. The speaker can’t see the Sandman because the speaker falls asleep too soon.*
C. The speaker can’t see the Sandman because the Sandman can make himself
invisible.
D. The speaker can’t see the Sandman because the Sandman is not real.
Fifth Grade Examples:
Read the line from the poem. “The Moon ballooning in the sky,” What does the metaphor in the line suggest?
A. The Moon appears to grow in size.*
B. The Moon appears to move swiftly.
C. The Moon is brightly colored.
D. The Moon has a perfect shape.
How does the point of view in the poem influence how the landing on the Moon is described?
A. It reveals to the reader what viewers from home said about the landing.
B. It indicates to the reader the speaker’s thoughts about the landing.*
C. It tells the reader what the speaker said to the men about the landing.
D. It informs the reader of one reporter’s opinions about the landing.
This question has two parts. Answer Part One and then answer Part Two.
Part One
Which theme is best supported by the speaker’s description of the first landing on the Moon?
A. Teamwork makes difficult tasks possible.
B. Travel can be dangerous but also rewarding.
C. Scientific discovery is not valued enough.
D. Adventure brings about excitement and wonder.*
Part Two
Which line from the poem best supports the answer in Part One? Choose one answer.
A. “A quarter million miles away,”
B. “They hopped like kangaroos . . .”
C. “Then Neil planted the flag . . .”
D. “One small blue planet watched in awe.”*
Third Grade Sample:
Kelly is planting groups of seeds. She places 4
seeds into each group. She plants 22 groups of
carrot seeds and 38 groups of lettuce seeds.
How many total seeds does Kelly plant?
A. 200
B. 240 *
C. 300
D. 640
Bill and Cindy ate some pieces from the same pie.
Bill ate 3/ 8 of the pie. Cindy ate 1/ 8
of the pie. Which statement is true?
A. Bill ate more pie than Cindy. *
B. Cindy ate more pie than Bill.
C. Bill and Cindy ate the whole pie.
D. Bill and Cindy ate the same amount of pie.
Brent gave 8 colored pencils to each of his 4
friends. Which number sentence can be used to
find the total number of colored pencils ( ) Brent
gave to his friends?
A. 8 + 4 =
B. 8 – 4 =
C. 8 × 4 = *
D. 8 ÷ 4 =
Fifth Grade Examples:
Two sides of a polygon are parallel and have the same length. Which
statement about the polygon must be true?
A. The polygon has exactly 3 sides.
B. The polygon has exactly 4 sides.
C. The polygon has at least 4 sides. *
D. The polygon has an even number of sides.
John and Megan each make a pattern. Each pattern starts with the
number 1. The first five terms in each pattern are shown below.
John’s pattern: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13
Megan’s pattern: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
The patterns continue. Which statement about the relationship between
the corresponding terms in the patterns is true?
A. Each term in Megan’s pattern is 7 more than the corresponding term in
John’s pattern.
B. Each term in Megan’s pattern is less than double the corresponding
term in John’s pattern.
C. The difference between any term in Megan’s pattern and the
corresponding term in John’s pattern is always 3.
D. The difference between any term in Megan’s pattern and the
corresponding term in John’s pattern is always a multiple of 4.*
All the students in a class are sitting at tables.
• There are 6 round tables, and 3 boys and 4 girls are sitting at each round table.
• There are 7 square tables, and 5 boys and 3 girls are sitting at each square table.
• Ms. Martin gives each student in the class 2 books.
Which expression can be used to find the total number of books Ms. Martin gives
to the students?
A. 2 (6 + 3 + 4 + 7 + 5 + 3)
B. 6 (3 + 4) + 7 (5 + 3) + 2
C. 2 [6 (3 + 4) + 7 (5 + 3)]*
D. 6 [(3 + 4) + 2] + 7 [(5 + 3) + 2]
 Let them know that is important they do
their best, but at the same time, that they
are prepared to do a great job!
 Remind them to take their time, read
directions and make sure they are doing
what is being asked of them.
 Line up the numbers on the answer
booklet to the test booklet.
 Ask for a MATH/SCIENCE question to be
read aloud.
 Write in complete sentences.
 Use test taking strategies to help eliminate
choices.
 Put the test in perspective.
 Do a sample problem a night as a family.
Have them teach you how to solve the
problem, or answer the question about
the text.
 http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/commu
nity/state_assessment_system/20965/pennsylvania_sys
tem_of_school_assessment_(pssa)/1190526
 www.pdesas.org
 Handouts:
 Format of assessments
 Text for sample reading questions
 What is the difference between Evidence Based
Response & Text Dependent Analysis?