NEW YORK STATE

GRADE 8

INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL

SOCIAL STUDIES TEST

SCIENCE TEST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manual for
Administrators and Teachers

 

2006 Written Test

Performance Test, Form A

 

 

 

 

 

The University of the State of New York

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Albany, New York 12234 • www.nysed.gov

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

 

Regents of The University

 

Regents of The University

 

Robert M. Bennett, Chancellor, B.A., M.S. ....................................................................    Tonawanda

Adelaide L. Sanford, Vice Chancellor, B.A., M.A., P.D. ..............................................    Hollis

Saul B. Cohen, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.......................................................................................    New Rochelle

James C. Dawson, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D. ......................................................................    Peru

Anthony S. Bottar, B.A., J.D. ..........................................................................................    North Syracuse

Merryl H. Tisch, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. .................................................................................    New York

Geraldine D. Chapey, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. .......................................................................    Belle Harbor

Arnold B. Gardner, B.A., LL.B.........................................................................................    Buffalo

Harry Phillips, 3rd, B.A., M.S.F.S. .................................................................................    Hartsdale

Joseph E. Bowman, Jr., B.A., M.L.S., M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D...............................................    Albany

Lorraine A. CortÉs-VÁzquez, B.A., M.P.A...................................................................    Bronx

James R. Tallon, Jr., B.A., M.A.  .......................................................................................    Binghamton

Milton L. Cofield,  B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. ...........................................................................    Rochester

John Brademas, B.A., Ph.D. ..............................................................................................    New York

Carol Bellamy, A.B., J.D....................................................................................................    Brooklyn

Roger B. Tilles, B.A., J.D.....................................................................................................    Great Neck

 

 

 

 

President of The University and Commissioner of Education

Richard P. Mills

 

Chief of Staff

Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs

Kathy A. Ahearn

 

Chief Operating Officer
Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Management Services
Theresa E. Savo

 

Assistant Commissioner for Standards, Assessment and Reporting

David Abrams

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

General Features of the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test............................................... 1

 

Information for School Administrators............................................................................................... 2

       General Information....................................................................................................................... 2

       Test Forms..................................................................................................................................... 2

       Administration Schedule................................................................................................................ 2

       Students to be Tested..................................................................................................................... 2

       Testing Accommodations............................................................................................................... 4

       Security of the Tests....................................................................................................................... 6

       Return of Test Materials to the Department.................................................................................... 6

       Administration of the Tests............................................................................................................ 7

       Scoring the Tests............................................................................................................................ 7

       Scanning of Machine-Scorable Answer Sheets.............................................................................. 8

       Determining Need for Academic Intervention Services................................................................. 8

       Recording Test Scores and Storing Student Answer Papers.......................................................... 8

       Submission of Teacher Evaluations of the Test to the Department................................................. 8

       Reporting Student Scores to the Department.................................................................................. 9

  Evaluating School Results on the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test........................... 9

       Department Contacts...................................................................................................................... 9

 

General Test Administration Procedures........................................................................................ 10

       The Test Materials....................................................................................................................... 10

       Special Considerations for Assuring Optimal Student Performance............................................ 11

       Test Administration Time............................................................................................................ 11

       Preparations for Testing............................................................................................................... 11

       Supervision of Students................................................................................................................ 12

 

Administering and Scoring the Written Test................................................................................... 14

       Detailed Directions for Administering the Written Test............................................................... 14

       Scoring the Written Test............................................................................................................... 16

       Rating the Written Test, Part II..................................................................................................... 17

       Organizing the Rating Process...................................................................................................... 17

 

Administering and Rating the Performance Test............................................................................ 18

       Preparation................................................................................................................................... 18

       Preparing Each Station................................................................................................................. 21

       Detailed Directions for Administering the Performance Test...................................................... 31

       Detailed Directions to Students Taking the Performance Test..................................................... 32

       Rating the Performance Test........................................................................................................ 35

       Organizing the Rating Process...................................................................................................... 35

 

Appendix I: Materials Needed to Administer the Performance Test, Form A.............................. 36

Appendix II: Comparison of Possible Performance Test Sites....................................................... 37

Appendix III: Test Administrator’s Record Sheet.......................................................................... 39

Appendix IV: Station 1—Sorting Chart........................................................................................... 41

Appendix V: Station 2—Ramp Place Mat....................................................................................... 45

Appendix VI: Class Record Sheet; Distribution of Final Test Scores............................................ 49

Appendix VII: Deputy and Proctor Certificate; Examination Storage Certificate...................... 53

Appendix VIII: Instructions for Nonpublic Schools......................................................................... 56

Appendix IX: Suppliers for Intermediate–Level Science Test Kits—Spring 2006....................... 58

Appendix X: Performance Levels Chart.......................................................................................... 59

 

 

 

 

 

General Features of the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test

 

The Regulations of the Commissioner of Education provide that an Intermediate-Level Science Test is to be administered in Grade 8 to serve as a basis for determining students’ need for academic intervention services in science. The Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test is designed to measure the content and skills contained in the Intermediate-Level Science Core Curriculum, Grades 5–8. The core curriculum is based on the New York State Learning Standards for Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

The New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test consists of two required components: a Written Test and a Performance Test. The Written Test consists of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Students will have two hours in which to complete the Written Test. The Performance Test (Form A) consists of hands-on tasks set up at three stations. Students will have 15 minutes to complete the tasks at each of the three stations, for an actual total testing time of 45 minutes. Teachers will need additional time for both the Written and Performance Tests to set up, distribute, and collect test materials and to provide instructions to students.

The Department establishes a State-designated level of performance to help schools identify students who must receive academic intervention services. All students who earn a final test score below 65 must be provided such services, which must commence in the semester immediately following the administration of the test (see page 8).

The first section of this manual contains information of special interest to administrators. Subsequent sections contain directions for administering and scoring the Written and Performance Tests.

 

Information for School Administrators

 

General Information

All persons in charge of the administration of the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test should be familiar with the information in this manual. Additional information concerning this test may be found on the Department’s web site at hhttp://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/elintsci.html. Schools may submit questions concerning the administration of the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test via
e-mail at emscassessinfo@mail.nysed.gov.

Test Forms

Written Test: The Written Test has two parts. Part I contains multiple-choice questions, and Part II contains open-ended questions. Students are allowed two hours of working time to complete the Written Test. In addition, the test administrator will need approximately 15 minutes to give directions to students. The Department will provide a new form of the Written Test each year. The Department also provides a machine-scorable answer sheet for Part I. It is hand scorable and machine scorable on NCS equipment. Answers to Part II of the test are to be written in the test booklet.

Performance Test, Form A: The Performance Test consists of tasks at three stations. Each station requires 15 minutes of testing time, for a total testing time of 45 minutes, plus the time needed to provide instructions to students and for students to move between stations. Allot at least one hour for administration of the Performance Test. The Performance Test is hand scorable only.

Administration Schedule

The Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test comprises two parts: the Performance Test and the Written Test. The Performance Test must be administered during a period established by the Department. For the 2005–06 school year, the testing period for the Performance Test is April 10 through May 12. Students who are absent on the specific administration date established by the school must be tested if they return to school by May 12. Results for such students must be included in the reports submitted to the Department.

The Written Test is to be administered during a period to be established by the Department each year. For the 2005–06 school year, the testing period for the Written Test is May 1 through May 12. It is suggested that the Written Test and the Performance Test be administered on different days. Students who are absent on the specific administration date established by the school must be tested if they return to school by May 12. Results for such students must be included in the reports submitted to the Department.

Students to be Tested

State assessments must be administered to all public school students. Nonpublic schools are strongly encouraged to administer State assessments. The exceptions below apply to students in public and participating nonpublic schools.

General Education Students

The Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test should be administered to students in the grade in which they will have completed all of the material in the Intermediate-Level Science Core Curriculum, Grades 5–8. While this grade is typically Grade 8, the test may also be administered to students in Grade 7 who will have completed by the end of this school year all of the material in the Intermediate-Level Science Core Curriculum, Grades 5–8 and are being considered for placement in an accelerated high school level science course when they are in Grade 8. The inclusion of Grade 7 students who meet these criteria is a local decision. Schools can use the scores for these Grade 7 students to help determine whether students should be placed in accelerated science courses. Students who take the test in Grade 7 will not be permitted to take the test again in Grade 8. Therefore, caution is advised in administering the test to Grade 7 students. If a Grade 7 student scores below the State-designated level of performance, the student will be required to have academic intervention services the following year.

Schools are required to administer this assessment to those Grade 8 students who did not take this assessment last school year as Grade 7 students, unless such students will be taking a Regents Examination in science at the end of this school year. School principals have the discretion to either require or waive the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test for those accelerated Grade 8 students who did not take this examination during the last school year but who will be taking a Regents Examination in science at the end of this school year. For those accelerated students for whom the school waives the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test, the student’s achievement in science will be measured by the student’s performance on the Regents examination in science.

Students who are repeating Grade 8 are required to take the test again.

Limited-English-Proficient (LEP) Students

All LEP students are required to participate in the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test. LEP students may take the test either in an alternative language or in English, whichever would be better for the student. LEP students may also use both an English and an alternative language edition of the test simultaneously. Alternative language editions of the test are provided in Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. The test may be translated orally into other languages for those LEP students whose first language is one for which a written translation is not available from the Department. Schools are permitted to offer LEP students specific testing accommodations when taking this test (see page 5).

Students with Disabilities

A small percentage of students with disabilities are recommended by their Committees
on Special Education (CSEs) to participate in the New York State Alternate Assessment
(NYSAA) for students with severe disabilities. The criteria that the CSE must use to determine eligibility for the NYSAA is available on the Department’s web site at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/alterassess.htm.

Another small percentage of students who are not eligible for NYSAA but who are
instructionally three or more years below grade/age level expectations may be determined by
the CSE to be ungraded for State assessment purposes. Guidelines for CSEs to use in
determining student eligibility for participation in the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science
Test as ungraded for State assessment purposes may be found in the November 2005
memorandum, “Interim Supplemental Guidelines for Participation of Students with Disabilities in State Assessments for 2005-06.” This memorandum is available on the Department’s web site at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/interimguidelines.htm.

When determining which students will be participating in this test, be sure to consider those students with disabilities who attend programs operated by the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) as well as any other programs located outside the school.

 

Testing Accommodations

Students Who Incur Disabilities Shortly Before Test Administration

Principals may modify testing procedures for general education students who incur an injury (e.g., a broken arm) or experience the onset of a short- or long-term disability (e.g., epilepsy) acquired or diagnosed within 30 days prior to the administration of State assessments. In such cases, when sufficient time is not available for the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 Accommodation Plan (504 Plan), principals may authorize certain accommodations that will not significantly change the skills being tested. These accommodations are limited to:

·       extending the time limit for a test,

·       administering the test in a special location,

·       recording the student’s answers in any manner, and

·       reading the test to a student (only for a student whose vision is impaired).

Eligibility for such accommodations is based on the principal’s professional discretion, but the principal may confer with members of the CSE or with other school personnel in making such a determination. Prior permission need not be obtained from the Department to authorize testing accommodations for general education students. However, a full written report concerning each authorization must be sent to the Office of State Assessment via fax to 518-402-5596. The report must be on school letterhead, must be signed by the principal, and must include the following information:

·       the name of the student,

·       the title of the test,

·       a brief description of the student’s injury or disability, and

·       a listing of the accommodations that were authorized by the principal.

If the student is expected to continue to need testing accommodations, the principal must immediately make the appropriate referral for the consideration of an IEP or 504 Plan.

Students with Disabilities

In general, students with disabilities must be provided with the testing accommodations specified in their IEPs or 504 Plans when taking these tests. It is the principal’s responsibility to ensure that this occurs and that those staff who will be providing these testing accommodations are appropriately trained. However, testing accommodations that alter the measurement of a construct being tested are not permitted on elementary- and intermediate-level State assessments. Only those testing accommodations that do not alter the constructs measured by the tests are permitted. Each student with a disability must participate in the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test, unless the student’s IEP, as developed by the CSE, specifically indicates that the student should take the NYSAA. Students who have been declassified may continue to be provided testing accommodations if recommended by the local CSE at the time of declassification and in the student’s declassification IEP.

Plan all necessary arrangements for implementing testing accommodations well in advance of the test date. The principal is responsible for insuring that students are provided with the testing accommodations specified in their IEPs or 504 Plans.

The Department’s Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) provides more information on test access and accommodations for students with disabilities
on its web site: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/testaccess/guide.htm. You may contact that office via e-mail to vesidspe@mail.nysed.gov if you have questions on this topic for which you are unable to find answers on the web site.

Limited-English-Proficient (LEP) Students

Schools may provide the following testing accommodations to LEP students:

·         Time Extension: Schools may extend the test time for LEP students. Principals may use any reasonable extensions, such as “time and a half” (the required testing time plus one-half of that amount of time), in accordance with their best judgment about the needs of the LEP students. Principals should consult with each student’s classroom teacher in making these determinations.

·         Separate Location: Schools are encouraged to provide optimal testing environments and facilities for LEP students. They may administer State tests to LEP students individually or in small groups in a separate location.

·         Bilingual Dictionaries and Glossaries: LEP students may use bilingual dictionaries and glossaries when taking this test. The bilingual dictionaries and glossaries may provide only direct translations of words. Bilingual dictionaries or glossaries that provide definitions or explanations are not permitted.

·         Simultaneous Use of English and Alternative Language Editions: For this test, LEP students may use both an English and an alternative language edition of the test simultaneously. However, they should be carefully instructed to record all of their responses in only one of the two editions. The alternative language edition used by the student should be so indicated on the student’s answer sheet.

·         Oral Translation for Lower Incidence Languages: Schools may provide LEP students with an oral translation of this test when there is no translated edition provided by the Department. All translations must be oral, direct translations of the English editions; written translations are not allowed. No clarifications or explanations may be provided. Translators should receive copies of the English edition of the tests one hour prior to administration. The Department’s Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies and the Bilingual/ESL Technical Assistance Centers (BETACs) can assist schools in locating suitable translators.

·         Writing Responses in the Native Language: LEP students may write their responses to the open-ended questions in their native language. Scoring the tests is the responsibility of the school. However, the Department’s Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies and the BETACs can assist schools in locating persons who can translate the students’ responses into English to facilitate scoring of the answer papers.

 

Security of the Tests

The sealed packages of secure test materials must be stored in a secure place at the location indicated on the Examination Storage Plan submitted to the Department. As soon as practical after delivery an inventory of the test materials must be conducted, then the sealed packages of secure test materials must be replaced inside the secure location immediately after the inventory is completed. The school principal must notify the Department in writing via fax to 518-474-1989 if any of the packages of secure test materials are not properly sealed when received. Do not remove the sealed packages of secure materials for the test from the secure location, except for the inventory, until the day on which the test is scheduled to be administered.

All Written Test booklets, both used and unused, all scoring keys and rating guides, and all student answer sheets must be held secure during the entire test administration period designated by the Department, May 1–12, 2006. While schools may score the student answer papers before the end of this period, caution raters not to discuss the test content and scoring rubrics except during scoring sessions. Once the Department-designated test administration period has ended, the Written Test materials are no longer considered secure.

All Performance Test materials must be held secure except during the actual administration and scoring of the Performance Test. The same Performance Test (Form A) will be administered for several years, and all Performance Test materials except student answer papers are to be returned to the Department.

Return of Test Materials to the Department

Written Test: Since the Department will provide a new form of the Written Test each year, schools do not have to return Written Test materials to the Department. After the Department-designated test administration period has ended and the test has been scored, schools may use the Written Test as part of the instructional program. Copies of this manual and the Rating Guide for the Written Test should be kept on file at the school for reference. Public schools must keep student answer papers for the Written Test on file in the school for one year. Nonpublic schools are encouraged to make photocopies of the completed student answer sheets, as they must send the original answer sheets to the Department’s Office of Information and Reporting Services. (See Appendix VIII for the full mailing address and further instructions for nonpublic schools.) 

Performance Test: Principals are required to ensure that the school returns to the Department Performance Test materials as indicated in the chart below:

 

Return to the State Education Department’s Test Distribution Unit	Retain in the School Do NOT return to the Department
All unused Performance Test answer booklets, including regular, large-type, braille, and alternative language editions All used and unused Performance Test Rating Guides	Performance Test answer booklets used by students Copies of this test manual Completed Deputy and Proctor Certificate Completed Examination Storage Certificate

 

 

Use the return label enclosed with the shipment of test materials to return the Performance Test materials by the end of June to:

Test Distribution Unit
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center, Room 167
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12230

 

Note: New York City public schools should follow the procedures for the return of test materials provided to them by the New York City Department of Education.

Examination Certificates: Deputy and Proctor Certificates and Examination Storage Certificates must be completed and signed by all of the appropriate parties following the administration and scoring of the Performance Test and again following the administration and scoring of the Written Test. Both sets of signed certificates should be retained in the school’s files for one year. Copies of these certificates can be found in Appendix VII.

Administration of the Tests

If the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test is to provide an accurate measure of student achievement, both students and teachers should be properly prepared for its administration. This manual provides suggestions for preparing students to take the tests. School personnel who administer the Written and Performance Tests must be familiar with the test materials and the directions for administration provided in this manual.

Scoring the Tests

It is the school’s responsibility to make the necessary arrangements for the scoring of all test materials. The answer sheet provided by the Department for Part I of the Written Test may be either hand scored or machine scored. The Department provides a scoring key for hand scoring the answer sheet. Only equipment that can score NCS test materials can be used to machine score this answer sheet. The answer sheet contains fields for recording scores for the Part II and Performance Test questions. Part II must be hand scored. Detailed scoring directions are provided in the Rating Guide for the Written Test. Copies of the Rating Guide for the Written Test should be kept on file at the school for reference.

The test booklets for the performance component of the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test can be hand scored only. All personnel who score the student responses should be thoroughly familiar with the scoring procedures. Detailed scoring directions are provided in the Performance Test Rating Guide.

Note: Because all Performance Test Rating Guides must be returned to the Department by June 12, all rating must be completed by that date.

A conversion chart for determining each student’s final score, based on the raw scores, will be available on the Department’s web site: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa. This final score will fall into one of four performance levels. These are described in Appendix X.

A Class Record Sheet is provided in Appendix VI. Schools that compile their students’ scores by hand may use this form to record the scores of each class on the Written Test and the Performance Test. These data can then be developed into a score distribution for local use.

Scanning of Machine-Scorable Answer Sheets

Many public schools contract with a Regional Information Center (RIC) or large-city school district assessment and evaluation office for scanning and scoring the machine-scorable answer sheets. The school must send those answer sheets to the RIC/large-city district office after the rating of Written Test, Part II and of the Performance Test are completed.

Some public schools will have two separate answer sheets, one for the Performance Test and one for the Written Test. If this is the case, both must be sent to the RIC/large-city district office if that is part of their arrangement. Nonpublic schools must follow the directions in Appendix VIII for sending answer sheets to the Department for scanning.

Determining the Need for Academic Intervention Services

Section 100.2(ee)(i) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education requires schools to provide academic intervention services to students who score below the State-designated performance level (performance level 3, final test score 65) on the State assessment in intermediate-level science. All students who achieve a final score in performance levels 1 and 2 must receive academic intervention services. These services must commence no later than the beginning of the semester immediately following the administration of the test.

Recording Test Scores and Storing Student Answer Papers

The Department does not keep records of individual student scores on the tests. Therefore, the school must maintain complete and accurate records. A student’s score and the date of administration must be entered on the student’s permanent record.

All schools must keep their students’ Performance Test answer papers on file in the school for at least one year. In addition, public schools must keep their students’ Written Test answer sheets on file for the same period. Nonpublic schools must send their students’ original, scannable, Written Test answer sheets to the Department along with the Class Record Sheet in Appendix VI. Nonpublic schools are advised to make copies of their students’ Written Test answer sheets before sending them to the Department. This provides a record of the students’ Written Test answers for the school’s use and protects the student data should a package get lost in the mail.

Review of Answer Papers by Students and Parents

Students and parents/guardians of students who have taken the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test have the right to review student answer papers after the scores have been recorded as described in the preceding paragraph. Answer papers should be reviewed in the presence of the principal, or the principal’s designee, to ensure that no changes are made on the answer papers as they are being reviewed.

Submission of Teacher Evaluations of the Test to the Department

Suggestions and feedback from teachers provide an important contribution to the test development process. The Department provides an online evaluation form for State assessments. It contains spaces
for teachers to respond to several specific questions and to make suggestions. Instructions for completing the evaluation form are as follows:

1.     Go to www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/exameval.

2.     Select the test title.

3.     Complete the required demographic fields.

4.     Complete each evaluation question and provide comments in the space provided.

5.     Click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page to submit the completed form.

Reporting Student Scores to the Department

Public school data must be reported through the State’s Data Repository System. For more information about reporting results, public school administrators should contact their local Regional Information Center (RIC) or their Large City School District Scanning Center.

Nonpublic schools report scores directly to the Department. For more information, nonpublic school administrators should refer to Appendix VIII in this manual or contact the Office of Information and Reporting Services at 518-474-7965.

Evaluating School Results on the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test

The Rating Guides for the Written and Performance Tests provide summary charts that link each test to the Intermediate-Level Science Core Curriculum. This core document is based on the New York State Learning Standards for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (Intermediate Level). The charts provide a reference to these documents for each item on the Written and Performance Tests.

Department Contacts

Different Department staff are responsible for various aspects of the test. Direct questions to one of the persons or offices listed below:

Content/Curriculum:                            Dianne Tanner, Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology

518-474-5922                       dtanner@mail.nysed.gov

 

            Administration:                                   David Moore, Test Administration Unit

                                                                        518-474-5902             dmoore@mail.nysed.gov

 

            Rating/Scoring:                                   Judy Pinsonnault, Test Development Unit

                                                                        518-474-5900             jpinsonn@mail.nysed.gov

 

            Reporting Results to SED:                  Carolyn Bulson, Information and Reporting Services

518-474-7965             cbulson@mail.nysed.gov

 

            Accommodations for Students             Special Education Policy Unit

            with Disabilities:                                                                    vesidspe@mail.nysed.gov

 

General Test Administration Procedures

 

The Test Materials

The test materials provided by the Department for administering the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test include:

For the Written Test:

·       test booklets

·       separate answer sheets for Part I (hand scorable and machine scorable on NCS scoring equipment)

·       scoring key for the separate answer sheet (printed on translucent paper)

·       directions for administering and scoring the Written Test (pages 14-17 of this manual)

·       Rating Guide for the Written Test, Part II

For the Performance Test (Form A):

·       test booklets

·       Station Diagrams (12 copies of each Station Diagram and one Test Administrator’s Record Sheet)

·       directions for administering and rating the Performance Test (pages 18-35 of this manual)

·       Test Administrator’s Record Sheet (Appendix III of this manual)

·       Performance Test, Form A Rating Guide

The Written Test booklet and the test booklet and Station Diagrams for the Performance Test (Form A) are available in large-type and braille editions. Alternative language editions of both the Written Test and the Performance Test are available in Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. These are direct translations of the English editions. The directions to students on the alternative language test materials are the same as those on the English editions. The Department does not provide separate directions for administering the alternative language editions of the tests. Teachers who speak the language should be able to administer the alternative language editions by using a copy of the test materials in the appropriate language and the directions provided in this manual. If a teacher who does not speak the language administers the tests, the directions on the test materials should enable students to complete the tests by themselves.

The test materials to be provided by the school include pencils and calculators for the Written Test and the station materials for the Performance Test. These include microscopes, triple-beam balances, and hand-held calculators.

For machine processing of the separate answer sheets for the Written Test, the answer sheet includes several grids containing spaces for recording special codes. The school must develop uniform written instructions about the completion of these grids and provide them to everyone who will be administering the test. Such instructions should be based on careful consideration of the types of student and score information the school needs, as well as on the processing requirements of the scoring center that the school is using. The hand/machine-scorable answer sheets the Department provides can be machine processed only on NCS scoring equipment.

 

Special Considerations for Assuring Optimal Student Performance

The person in charge of administering the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test should review and become thoroughly familiar with the directions for administering both components. (See “Orientation of Test Administrators” on page 12.)

Students must not be given help in interpreting the test questions and statements. They should be advised to answer the questions according to their best judgment. However, the test administrator should give students all the assistance required in the mechanics of taking the test, such as filling out the headings of the answer sheets and the Performance Test booklet and understanding where to record the answers. The test administrator should also replace or repair any faulty equipment during the administration of the Performance Test.

Test Administration Time

Written Test: Students are allowed two hours of working time to complete the Written Test. In addition, the test administrator will need approximately 15 minutes to give directions to students.

Performance Test, Form A: The Performance Test should be administered in a one-hour time period. Field testing has determined that almost all students will complete the tasks at all three stations in this amount of time.

Preparations for Testing

Arrangements for administering the tests should interfere as little as possible with the normal school routine. The Written Test may be administered in the students’ regular classroom, or classes may be merged into larger groups, at the convenience of the school. The Performance Test need only be set up in one location. For buildings with more than one class of Grade 8 students, classes should cycle through the testing area one at a time.

·       Security of Test Materials. The sealed packages of secure test booklets may not be opened until the test administration date, and then just early enough to permit the distribution of booklets prior to the scheduled starting time.

·       Selecting the Testing Room(s). Suggestions for selecting an appropriate testing site for the Performance Test are in the section of this manual entitled “Administering and Rating the Performance Test,” pages 18-19, and in Appendix II.

·       Orientation of Students. Inform the students about the tests a few days before the administration date. Emphasize the fact that no special preparation or study is necessary on their part. Make the announcements in such a way as to increase the students’ interest in the tests and at the same time not cause them to become overly anxious and tense. Help students become familiar with the general types of questions on the tests and the procedures they should follow in recording their answers.

·       Notification of Parents. Inform parents/guardians of the dates of testing and the purpose of the tests. Ask them to encourage students to do their best and to ensure that students are well rested on the dates of testing.

·       Students Absent on the Test Day. Plan to administer the test at a later date to all students who were absent when the test was initially given. Do not involve these students in any classroom discussions about the test prior to the time they take it.

·       Orientation of Test Administrators. Everyone who will be administering the tests should become familiar with the detailed directions for administering the tests, which are provided in this manual. Schedule an orientation prior to the testing dates to enable test administrators to become adequately prepared. The orientation should include direct hands-on experience with the Performance Test if the test administrators have not had previous experience with that component. Your regional BOCES or large-city central office may provide assistance for conducting such orientation sessions. Allow access to the Performance Test materials only to those who are scheduled to administer the Performance Test or to conduct the orientation. These materials must remain under strict security conditions at all times to preclude access to the test materials by students and other unauthorized persons.

·       Preparation of the Testing Room(s). The room(s) in which the tests are administered should be well lighted, well ventilated, and quiet. Make preparations before the testing period to keep noise and other distraction to a minimum. Place a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to prevent interruptions. If tests are to be administered in a classroom, clear desks and shelves under the desks of all books, papers, and other materials. Completely cover or remove all charts pertinent to science and all board work. Make arrangements in advance to seat the students so that each student will be clearly visible to the proctor at all times and so that there will be the least possible opportunity for any communication between students. Seating of students in alternative rows is recommended.

·       Assembling the Test Materials. Assemble all test materials at least one day before the test administration, except for the test booklets for the Written Test and the Performance Test, the scoring keys, and the rating guides.

Supervision of Students

• Unauthorized Materials. Students should be under close supervision at all times during the tests. When students enter the testing room, proctors must ensure that students do not bring any unauthorized notes or printed material that might give them an unfair advantage on the test. The materials that students are permitted to use during the test are identified on page 10 of this manual.
• Temporary Absence from Testing Room. No student may be permitted to leave and then return to the testing room during any part of the test unless the student is accompanied by a proctor for the duration of his or her absence from the testing room.
• Emergency Evacuation of a School Building. Evacuation of a school building during a test may be required because of an emergency such as a fire alarm or bomb threat. In any situation in which the safety of the students is endangered, the principal has full authority to interrupt the test immediately. If it is possible, the students should be kept under supervision during the emergency. Then, if work can be resumed, the time for the test should be extended so that the students will be allowed their full time for the test. Following the test, a written report of the circumstances should be sent by mail or fax to the Office of State Assessment.
• Student Cheating. Do not permit students to obtain information from or give information to other students in any way during the test. If you suspect that such an attempt has occurred, warn the students that any further attempts will result in the termination of their tests. If necessary, move the students to another location. If these steps fail to end attempts to obtain or give information, notify the principal immediately and terminate the students’ tests. At the conclusion of the test, all suspected cheating must be reported to the principal. If, in the judgment of the principal, a student has given aid to or obtained aid from another person during the test, the principal must follow the school’s disciplinary procedure for student cheating and invalidate the student’s test. In addition, the principal must report the incident to the Department by fax to 518-402-5596. Invalidated tests may not be scored.
• Illness. If a student becomes ill during a part of the test, the student should be excused until he or she is well enough to continue. The principal should estimate the time that the student had remaining to complete that part of the test. When the student is well enough to complete the test (and as long as the testing period has not ended), the student may be given the remaining time for that part. When a student is taking a partially completed part of the test, the student must be closely supervised so that he or she does not go back to previously finished questions on the test.

 

Administering and Scoring the Written Test

 

Detailed Directions for Administering the Written Test

Make sure that sufficient quantities of all test materials are on hand. The following materials are needed for each student:

·       test booklet

·       answer sheet

·       No. 2 pencil

·       calculator (Note: Calculators may be needed for some questions. If so, four-function calculators are sufficient. Scientific calculators are permitted. Graphing calculators are not permitted.)

For the test administrator:

·       detailed directions for administering and scoring the Written Test (pages 14-17 of this manual)

·       test booklet (for demonstration purposes)

·       answer sheet (for demonstration purposes)

·       extra answer sheets and pencils

After the desks have been cleared of books and papers and when the students are ready to begin, say:

 

 

Distribute one test booklet, face up, to each student. Then say:

 

 

After the answer sheets have been distributed, give directions for completing the heading of the answer sheet. If the answer sheets are to be machine scored, provide directions for marking any machine-readable name or number grids. These directions must be developed by the school.

If students do not understand how to mark the answer sheet, explain the appropriate directions until everyone knows what to do. Then say:

 

 

 

Begin timing the two hours now. Note the time on a clock and record the time on the chalkboard or on a sheet of paper. A sample is shown below.

Start time:                                                     

Stop time:                                                     

Stop time less 15 minutes:                                                                

Stop time less 5 minutes:                                                                  

 

Walk around the room and make sure that all students understand the directions and are properly marking their answer sheets. Explain again the test-taking procedures to any student who appears to be having difficulty.

No one, under any circumstances, may interpret or explain test questions to students, nor may anyone review or comment on the answer paper of a student while a test is in progress. In response to inquiries by students concerning the meaning or interpretation of test questions, students should be advised to use their own best judgment.

When 15 minutes remain, say:

 

 

When 5 minutes remain, say:

 

 

When the time is up, say:

 

 

Students should remain quietly at their desks when they finish the test. The teacher may collect the test materials either as students complete the test or when most of the students have finished.

If the test is administered in a large-group setting, school administrators may prefer to allow students to hand in their test materials as they finish and then leave the room. If so, take care that students leave the room as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the students who are still working on the test.

Note: No one, under any circumstances, including the student, may alter the student’s responses on the test once the student has handed in his or her test materials. Teachers and administrators who engage in inappropriate conduct with respect to administering and scoring State examinations may be subject to disciplinary actions in accordance with Sections 3018 and 3020 of Education Law.

Scoring the Written Test

The student’s raw score is determined as follows:

Part I—one credit for each multiple-choice question that the student answered correctly. The scoring overlay provides a list of correct answers to the multiple-choice questions.

Part II—assign credits as indicated in the Rating Guide for the Written Test. A list of criteria for rating the open-ended questions on Part II is provided in that guide.

The separate answer sheets the Department provides for the Written Test may be either machine scored or hand scored.

a.    Machine Scoring. The separate answer sheets the Department provides can be machine scored only on NCS scoring equipment. For the convenience of scoring centers, the scoring key provides a list of correct answers. Schools should be sure to check with their scoring center concerning the procedure to be followed in preparing the answer sheets for machine scoring.

The separate answer sheet containing the multiple-choice answer grids also provides grids for recording a student’s Part II and Performance Test scores. When filled in, these grids enable scoring centers to produce student records that include final student scores. Record the Performance Test scores in these grids after the Written Test is administered but before the answer sheets are machine scored.

b.    Hand Scoring. For hand scoring the separate answer sheets, the Department provides a scoring key printed on translucent paper. Boxes printed on the scoring key indicate the correct answers. When the scoring key is aligned properly with the answer sheet, each correct answer will be visible in a box. To hand score the answer sheets, use the following procedures:

1.  Scan each answer sheet to make certain that the student has marked only one answer for each question. If two or more answers have been marked, draw a horizontal line with colored pencil (do not use pen) through all of the answer circles, so that no credit will be allowed for that question in scoring.

2.  Place the scoring key on the answer sheet so that the box indicating the correct answer for each question corresponds to the row of answer circles for that question.

3.  To obtain the raw score for the multiple-choice questions, count the number of correct answers. Record the student’s raw score in the appropriate box on the answer sheet.

4.  The student’s raw score for Part II may be recorded in the appropriate boxes on the answer sheet after the Part II rating has been completed.

5.  Add the raw score for Part II to the raw score for Part I to determine the student’s total raw score for the Written Test.

6.  The student’s scores for each station on the Performance Test may also be recorded in the appropriate boxes on the student’s answer sheet. Determine the student’s total raw score for the Performance Test by adding the three station scores.

7.  Use the conversion chart provided on the Department’s web site at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa to convert these two total raw scores to a final score for the student.

Rating the Written Test, Part II

Approximately one-half of the Written Test will be open-ended questions that will require rating by intermediate-level science teachers. It is estimated that two teachers working as a team should be able to rate all of the open-ended responses for about 20 students in approximately one hour.

The Rating Guide for the Written Test, Part II gives detailed directions for rating the open-ended section of the Written Test and specific criteria for rating each question. It is printed on yellow paper and was included in the shipment of test materials from the Department. In rating the students’ test booklets, each rater should follow the procedures detailed in the rating guide. The rating should be completed as soon as possible after the test administration but no later than June 12.

Organizing the Rating Process

The following is a suggested procedure for managing the mechanics of the rating process.

1.     Designate one person as the coordinator of the rating process. The coordinator may be appointed at either the building or the district level. He or she will be responsible for training and supervising raters and may also rate some of the questions in the student test booklets.

2.     Set aside one room as a central rating room for collecting, sorting, circulating, and storing test booklets and for preparing and maintaining records.

3.     Provide adequate time for rating during the school day.

4.     Make sure each rater receives approximately the same number of student booklets.

5.     At least two teachers should participate in rating the open-ended questions in Part II. Each should be responsible for rating a selected number of the open-ended questions in each test booklet. No one teacher is to score all the open-ended questions in a student’s test booklet.

6.     Prior to the rating of students’ responses to the open-ended questions in Part II, allow time to provide training for all raters (even if they have received prior training). If possible, select at random 10-15 student test books and duplicate them for use as a “warm-up” exercise with the raters for discussion of the questions, the criteria, and the rating of each item. During the training exercise, after three or four complete student test booklets have been rated, ask the raters to indicate, by a show of hands, how many credits they gave each response. If there is some disagreement about the number of credits to be awarded a response, ask raters who gave different credits to a response to explain their rating by citing specific criteria from the rating guide.

 

Administering and Rating the Performance Test

 

Preparation

Well in Advance of the Test Date:

1.     Notify school administrator(s) that you will be administering the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Performance Test and that test security measures must be maintained. Notify other professionals and support staff of this test and the role that they may need to play.

2.     Assemble and prepare all equipment according to the directions (pages 21-30) in this manual. The materials listed specify what is needed for a single station. Some commercial and public suppliers have constructed kits that provide most of the specific equipment for each station. Appendix IX provides a list of these suppliers. Although kits ordered from suppliers should generally be the same, some kits may not be ready for immediate use, and additional time may be needed for preparation. The school may need to provide some miscellaneous materials such as marking pens, tape, or labels.

3.     Check the materials well in advance of the test date. Contact the supplier for a replacement if a piece of equipment or material is missing or arrives broken.

4.     Check all equipment and materials to be sure that there are enough for the number of students to be tested. A supplier’s kit of materials usually provides for a maximum of 30 students. Each group of stations will accommodate three students, and students will move to each station within the group. If 30 students are to participate in the Performance Test, you will need 10 groups and equipment for 10 complete setups of each station. Each student will need one test booklet and a sharpened pencil. Check that enough booklets will be available for the number of students to be tested. Test administrators should have a supply of sharpened pencils on hand.

5.     Check the equipment schools must provide: triple-beam balances, compound microscopes with at least two objectives, and handheld calculators. Make sure that all balances can be “zeroed,” all microscopes are in good working order, and all calculators have an energy source. The microscopes should have an eyepiece with 10´ magnification, a lowest-power objective of 4´ magnification, and a highest-power objective of about 10´ magnification. Overall, the microscopes should give total magnifications of about 40´ and about 100´.

6.     Select and reserve a testing room. Once all the equipment has been prepared, it should take three to four person-hours to set up the room, one hour to conduct the assessment (for a class of 30 students), and one hour to disassemble the setup. For larger schools and schools where the test will be given early in the school day, station setup can be done the day before and secured overnight. Do not leave test booklets out overnight.

7.     Plan the layout of the room. This is an essential step in the process of performance testing. The testing room must have flattop student work spaces (student tables, lab tables, library tables, or cafeteria tables) in sufficient numbers for the number of students to be tested. An individual student desk may be too small to accommodate all the equipment for a station plus provide room for the student to write. It may be possible to place two smaller individual desks together to make a larger work area for one station. Determine how many tables will be needed and how they will be arranged in groups of three stations each (see page 20). The room may need to be large enough to accommodate 8-10 groups (24-30 students) comfortably. Students will need to move (either sideways or front-to-back) among stations within their group with as little confusion as possible. An important consideration is the location of Station 1, which requires the use of a microscope. If the microscope uses a mirror, it should be positioned so that it has enough light but not direct sunlight. If it has an electrical light source, it must be positioned near an electrical outlet.

8.     Check that all print materials from the Department are ready. These include the student