The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2.0)

The Florida
Comprehensive
Assessment Test
(FCAT 2.0)
October 2013
Purpose
• For teaching and learning of higher
educational standards
• Criterion-referenced tests
• Assesses student achievement of the
higher-order thinking skills
represented in Reading, Writing,
Mathematics, and Science
represented in the Next Generation
Sunshine State Standards (NGSSSS)
• Align with new student academic
content standards.
Students to be Tested in 2012-13
• Students enrolled in grades 3-10 will
participate in FCAT 2.0 Reading
• Students enrolled in grades 3-8 will
participate in FCAT 2.0 Mathematics
• Students enrolled in grades 5 and 8 will
participate in FCAT 2.0 Science
• Students enrolled in grades 4, 8, and 10
will participate in FCAT 2.0 Writing
• Students who have not passed their
required assessment in grade 10 for
graduation purposes will
participate in the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake
administration(s)
Computer-Based Testing
The following FCAT 2.0 assessments are
computer-based tests (CBT):
• Grades 6, 7, 9, and 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading
• Grade 5 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics
• FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake
How are we addressing this?
• Students are given Go Math Assessments online
to practice taking mathematics tests on
computers (3-5)
• Students are given opportunities to utilize Think
Central (Math and Science) Online Resources
• Students will participate in a ePAT computer
practice from the state
• Third/Fourth/Fifth Grade Classes have received
Nook Readers
www.FLAssessments.com/ePAT
New FCAT 2.0 Scale―2012
FCAT 2.0 Reading Developmental Scale Scores (140 to 302)
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
3
140-181
182-197
198-209
210-226
227-260
4
154-191
192-207
208-220
221-237
238-269
5
161-199
200-215
216-229
230-245
246-277
FCAT 2.0 Mathematics Developmental Scale Scores (140 to 298)
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
3
140-182
183-197
198-213
214-228
229-260
4
155-196
197-209
210-223
224-239
240-271
5
163-204
205-219
220-233
234-246
247-279
Third Grade Achievement
• Students in grade 3 must achieve an FCAT 2.0
Reading scale score in Achievement Level 2 or
higher, or show good cause, to be eligible for
promotion
• Students are provided an alternative
assessment if not scoring below a level 2
• Please See Question and Answer Resource
information
Fourth and Fifth Grade Achievement
• Students in grades 4 and 5 must achieve an
FCAT 2.0 Reading scale score in Achievement
Level 2 or higher and the FCAT 2.0 Math scale
score in Achievement Level 2 or higher, or
show good cause, to be eligible for promotion
• Students are provided with alternative
assessments if scoring below a level 2
FCAT Reading 2.0
Percentages of Passage Types
(Literary and Informational Texts)
Grade Level
Literary Text
Informational Text
3
60%
40%
4
50%
50%
5
50%
50%
Types of Texts
(Literary and Informational Texts)
Literary Texts
Fiction: short stories; poetry; historical
fiction; fables; folk tales, tall tales; legends;
myths; fantasy; drama; excerpts from
longer works
Informational Texts
Primary Sources/Nonfiction: historical
documents (e.g., Bill of Rights); essays (e.g.,
informational, persuasive, analytical,
historical, scientific); letters, journals,
diaries
Nonfiction: biographical and
Secondary Sources/Nonfiction: magazine
autobiographical sketches; diaries, memoirs, and newspaper articles; editorials;
journals, letters; essays (personal and
encyclopedia articles
classical narratives); critiques
Functional Materials: consumer documents
(e.g., warranties, manuals, contracts,
applications); embedded in text (e.g.,
tables, charts, maps, graphs, illustrations,
photographs, captions, text boxes); how-to
articles; brochures, fliers; schedules;
Website pages
Passage Lengths
(Literary and Informational Texts)
Grade
Level
Range of Number
of Words Per Text
Average Number of
Words Per Text
3
4
100 - 700
100 - 900
500
500
5
200 - 1000
600
Strands and Focus of Instruction
Category
Focus
Vocabulary
Context Clues, Base Words, Affixes, Antonyms,
Synonyms, Multiple Meaning Words, Analyze
Words in Text
Reading Application
Author’s Purpose, Author’s Perspective, Main Idea,
Relevant Details, Conclusions/Inferences,
Chronological Order, Cause and Effect, Text
Structure, Themes or Topics, Compare and
Contrast
Literary Analysis
Character Development, Character Point of View,
Setting, Plot Development, Problem/Resolution,
Descriptive Language, Figurative Language, Text
Feature
Informational Text/ Research Locate, Interpret, and Organize Information, Text
Process
Features
Item Difficulty
Breakdown of FCAT Reading
How has instruction changed?
• Addition of more non-fiction texts
• Integration of Social Studies and Science texts
in Reading Block
• Close Reading of difficult text
• Written responses to open-ended questions
Types of Reading Standards
Reporting Category
Content Focus
Vocabulary
•Context Clues
•Base Words
•Affixes
•Root Words (5th)
•Antonyms
•Synonyms
•Multiple Meaning Words
•Analyze Words in Text
•Shades of Meaning
Reading Application
•Author’s Purpose
•Author’s Perspective
•Main Idea
•Details
•Inferences
•Chronological Order
•Cause and Effect
•Cause and Effect
•Themes
•Compare and Contrast
Types of Reading Standards
Reporting Category
Content Focus
Literary Analysis Fiction/Nonfiction
•Character Development
•Character Point of View
•Plot
•Problem/Solution
•Descriptive Language
•Text Features such as title, subheadings,
charts, etc.
Informational Text/Research Process
•Locate, interpret, organize information
•Text Features
•Determine Validity and Reliability of
Information (5th)
Reading and
Answering Multiple
Choice Questions
• Preview the passage
• Number the paragraphs to monitor the reading.
• Pay attention to Text Features: Words in bold,
italics, UPPERCASE, underlined, (in parenthesis);
graphics- maps, tables, graphs, captions,
glossaries, pictures and footnotes.
• Underline or circle new words or phrases in each
question that tell what is needed to be
considered when answering the question.
• Write brief notes in the margin of long
paragraphs as reminders about the main idea or
points in the paragraphs.
•Look back in the passage to find the
correct answer to the question
•Study any pictures, charts, graphs, tables
and captions presented
•Make sure the answer is based on the
information in the passage
•When changing answers make sure to
erase completely
•Answer All the questions on the test. Do
not leave any answer blank.
FCAT 2.0 Mathematics
Categories of Assessment
How has Instruction Changed?
• Fewer topics per grade due to less repetition
from year to year.
• Move from “covering” topics to teaching them indepth for long term learning.
• Covering Next Generation Standards with the
integration of the new Florida Standards
• Addition of more complex mathematical
problems in which students must think and
analyze steps and responses
• Proving of mathematical answers and steps to
obtaining mathematical answers
• Integration of Mathematical Practices
Instructional Focus and Big Ideas in
Each Grade Level
“Fair Game Principle”
• The “Fair Game Principle” will play an important role in
ensuring proficiency of new skills that build on skills
learned in previous years. Students are expected to
retain prior knowledge of skills and build upon that
knowledge in future coursework. Students are expected
to build on properties learned in previous years to
perform higher skills in the current year. Consequently,
although the number of benchmarks teachers are
responsible for covering have been reduced, they must
still include opportunities to reinforce skills learned in
previous years in order to achieve mastery of the new
benchmarks.
Grade
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Number of Benchmarks
11
14
21
17
21
23
19
22
19
“Fair Game” Principle
Number of Benchmarks
11
25
46
63
84
107
126
148
167
Fifth Grade Mathematics Sample Questions
Fourth Grade Writing 2.0
• FCAT 2.0 Writing results will be reported on a
scale of 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest).
• Reflect the increased scoring expectations that
were implemented in 2012
• Students will receive additional time to respond
to the writing prompt than in previous years. (60
minutes) allowing for students to better respond
to the writing prompts due to the expanded
expectations for scoring
Changes to Writing FCAT 2.0
• Scoring includes elements of focus, organization, support,
and conventions
• Increased attention to the correct use of standard English
conventions and quality of details, requiring use of
relevant, logical and plausible support.
• The quality of the support depends on word choice,
specificity, depth, relevance, and thoroughness. Responses
earning high scores must include specific and relevant
supporting details that clarify the meaning, i.e.,
• the point of the paragraph or the central theme of the
response.
• Rote memorization or overuse of compositional
techniques, such as rhetorical questions, implausible
statistics, or pretentious language is not the expectation for
quality writing at any grade level
Solving Mathematics Problems
• Solve the problem first then look for the
answer among the choices given or work
backwards from the answer choices
• If the answer is not one of the answer
choices, reread the question understand
what is being asked
• Read ALL the answer choices before
making a decision
• Only change first answer choice if certain
the answer is incorrect
• Use approximately one minute for each
item answered.
Fifth Grade Reference Sheet
Content Categories for Science
Big Ideas
Big Idea 1 The Practice of Science
Big Idea 10 Forms of Energy
Big Idea 2 The Characteristics of
Science Knowledge
Big Idea 11 Energy Transfer and
Transformations
Big Idea 3 The Role of Theories, Law,
Hypotheses, and Models
Big Idea 12 Motion of Objects
Big Idea 4 Science and Society
Big Idea 13 Forces and Changes in
Motion
Big Idea 5 Earth in Space and Time
Big Idea 14 Organization and
Development of Living Organisms
Big Idea 6 Earth Structures
Big Idea 15 Diversity and Evolution of
Living Organisms
Big Idea 7 Earth Systems and Patterns
Big Idea 16 Heredity and Reproduction
Big Idea 8 Properties of Matter
Big Idea 17 Interdependence
Big Idea 9 Changes in Matter
Big Idea 18 Matter and Energy
Transformations
Fifth Grade Science Sample Questions
What Can I Do As A Parent?
•There are numerous
resources to assist students
with grade level content:
Florida Focus, FCAT Explorer,
Think Central, Riverdeep,
Accelerated Reader,
Accelerated Math
•Have your child read nightly,
exposure to written
vocabulary is essential
•Send your child ready for
school daily
•Complete homework nightly