Aug-29-Math A Conversion Chart Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 29, 2003

For More Information, Contact:
Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at 518/474-1201
Internet: http://www.nysed.gov

NEW SCORING CHART ISSUED FOR REGENTS MATH A EXAM

State Education Commissioner Richard Mills released today the new scoring chart for the June 2003 Math A Regents Exam. The new scoring chart is based on the recommendation of the independent panel appointed by the Board of Regents to review the exam.

After the panel made its recommendation, the State Education Department contracted with the Educational Testing Service to calculate the score conversion using the methodology recommended by the panel.

The panel wrote:

"The Panel recommends that the scores on the June 2003 exam be statistically adjusted, using the 9^th graders as a basis, so that the June 2003 students will receive a score similar to what they would have received had they taken the June 2002 exam. The adjustment the Panel is recommending has these three steps:

Draw matched samples of 9^th graders from the June 2002 exam and the June 2003 exam that are as representative as possible of the entire State.
Conduct an equi-percentile equating of the two distributions.
Establish the conversion of raw scores to scaled scores and put the June 2003 scores on the June 2002 scale.

"The Panel is recommending this adjustment because it holds this year’s students to the same standards as the ones to which the June 2002 students were held; it essentially corrects for the anomalies of the June 2003 exam…."

The panel said it chose the 9^th graders as a comparison group because they are the most similar in years 2002 and 2003, and that was a fair basis for comparison.

The conversion chart shows the score that students originally received on the exam in June and the score they will now receive. Last year’s juniors and seniors have the option to use this score or their class grade. The conversion chart can be found on the web at www.emsc.nysed.gov.

School administrators, teachers, parents and students can use the conversion chart to determine the student’s final score on the June 2003 Math A test. Teachers will not have to rescore individual student exam papers. The conversion chart will also be used by the State Education Department to update reports on the June 2003 Math A exam already submitted by school districts.

The following table estimates the impact of adjustment of the Math A scale on passing rates for students by grade level. The table is based on a sample of 400 school districts, which does not include New York City.

Estimated Impact of Adjustment

9^th Graders (must achieve passing score of 65)
June 2002	:	78% passed at 65
June 2003 original score	:	61% passed at 65
June 2003 revised score	:	80% passed at 65
* * * * * * * *
10^th Graders (must achieve passing score of 65)
June 2002	:	50% passed at 65***
June 2003 original score	:	32% passed at 65
June 2003 revised score	:	64% passed at 65
* * * * * * * *
11^th Graders (must achieve passing score of 55)
June 2002	:	53% passed at 55
June 2003 original score	:	28% passed at 55
June 2003 revised score	:	60% passed at 55
* * * * * * * *
12^th Graders (must achieve passing score of 55)
June 2002	:	49% passed at 55
June 2003 original score	:	28% passed at 55
June 2003 revised score	:	55% passed at 55

***10^th grade students in June 2002 had to achieve a passing score of 55 for graduation.

View Conversion Chart

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