Benchmark Testing Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Some of the GLEs listed on the test specification page involve multiple skills, for example, add and subtract 1 and 2 digit numbers.  How are we supposed to teach all of those skills in a short amount of time? 
A:  In some cases GLEs do cover multiple skills.  Those GLEs are also included on multiple benchmark tests during the year.  To determine which part of a GLE should be covered teachers should look at the curriculum maps and the comprehensive curriculum activities that match to determine which part of the skill will be tested.  Using the example given, 2 digit addition is included during one unit and will be on one benchmark test and 2 digit subtraction occurs in another unit and will appear on a different benchmark test.  The GLEs listed on the test specification page is just a summary of what GLEs will be on the test.  The curriculum map and comprehensive curriculum provide the details about the skills. 

Q:  What about IEP and IAP accommodations?  Do we have to provide these to the children that are testing in our class? 
A:  You should provide the same accommodations that you provide for a regular classroom test.  However, this test is only for those students being taught the on grade level curriculum.  For example, if they are not being taught the 5th grade math curriculum then they should not take the 5th grade math test. 

Q:  Can we use calculators on the Math test?
A.  Yes.  Right now we are letting that be a school decision after the teachers preview the test.  Most of the schools that I have heard from are allowing the students to use calculators.  When looking at the results, we will need to take that into consideration.  In the future, we will make a district decision about that for consistency across scores. 

Q:  What happens if students don't finish the test?
A:  They will be able to pick up where they left off when they return to the test.  After the close the browser window (x), they should make sure to exit the test by clicking "Exit Test".

Q:  Some of the test questions are too hard for my students or they have not been taught that skill.  What should I do? 
A:  Since these test are not to evaluate you or your students, you should just use the information gathered from the test item.  As we learn to develop our own tests the content of the test will be more closely aligned to your instruction and grade level.  It is also a reminder of the rigor that is found on the LEAP and iLEAP tests and that many of our students do not do well on those either. 

Q:  I am concerned that we are testing too much.  What is being done to keep that from happening? 
A:  The last thing we want teachers to do is test all of the time.  We are hoping to design these test to last no longer than one class period every nine weeks.  If they are taking longer than that, please let me know and we can adjust the length of the test.  We are also hoping that the test can be given during a regular scheduled computer lab time and not interrupt the classroom time. 

Q:  Why does the benchmark test 2 for 8th grade math tests Measurement and Geometry before Algebra.  Students need to know how to work equations before they can apply the skills in measurement and geometry.  
A:  The units are tested based on when they occur in the Comprehensive Curriculum (except for 7th grade math).  The Subject Area Teams that met this summer decided if they were going to follow the order of the CC and all but 7th grade decided to do that.  As a result the benchmark tests are developed following that order.  I'm not sure why the state has the Algebra unit after the Measurement and Geometry unit in 8th grade.  At the end of the year, we will revisit all of our curriculum maps and reconvene our committees.  We will also solicit input from all of our teachers regarding changes that need to be made. 

Q:  Do we have to test new students?
A:  That is up to you and only if you have time.  The tests are to help you and if it would be helpful to have information on what that students knows then you can test them if they come right before or during your testing time.  If they come after, I would wait until the next test.

Q:  Some of our young students are having trouble taking the test online, what can we do to make sure that we get their best effort?
A:  This is a concern.  They should get better at taking the test online each time, but it still may be a problem for many of them.  Some schools decided to let their students put their answers on an answer sheet and then enter them in the computer when they went to the lab.  This seemed to help especially for the ELA test where there were multiple pages to reference.