our schools
FCAT Information
In February 2009, Florida
Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) writing tests will
be administered to Duval County public school students,
and in March, students will take their FCAT reading,
mathematics and science tests. To access the schedule,
click here.
For answers to some common
questions about the FCAT, please read the information
found below.
FCAT – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: What is the test’s
purpose?
A: The test was designed to assess students
in the following areas: writing in grades 4, 8 and 10;
reading and mathematics in grades 3 through 10; and
science in grades 5, 8 and 11. These standardized tests
were designed to measure student achievement of the
Sunshine State Standards (skills and competencies that
Florida students should be able to learn from an early
age), and to make sure that classroom teaching and
curriculum materials support this process.
Q: Who writes the
questions?
A: Test questions are written according to
specific guidelines developed by Florida educators.
Questions are reviewed and revised by teachers,
curriculum experts and school and district
administrators to ensure they are appropriate for the
grade level tested. Each year, more than 500 classroom
teachers, special education teachers, English language
learning instructors, administrators, curriculum
specialists, policy leaders, college and university
experts, school board members and parents take part in
the FCAT question review process.
Q: Who scores the written
portions of the test?
A: Responses are graded by a test support
contractor. Each scorer employed by the contractor must
participate in an intensive training program, pass
qualifying tests and have a bachelor’s degree at the
very minimum. The scorers are closely monitored when
grading the students’ written answers.
Q: Do students have to
pass the test in order to move into the next grade
level?
A: Promotion requirements are established by
local school boards and not mandated by the State.
However, FCAT statutes address the issue of passing in
two situations. The first situation states that
students must pass the Grade 10 test to quality for a
high school diploma. In the second situation, Grade 3
students who have not demonstrated sufficient reading
skills must have access to additional instruction before
passing to Grade 4.
Q: How do students
prepare for the test?
A:
Teachers provide approximately eight to ten hours of
instruction in the FCAT testing process. The
Florida Department of Education provides full-length
FCAT reading and mathematics tests for grades 3, 7, 9,
and 10. They are available in two formats – one which
can be downloaded and another interactive version that
allows students to take the test and get results online.
These tests are identical to the tests taken by students
except for any questions that will be used on future
tests. Parents and teachers can use the released
tests as additional resources to increase students’
comfort level and familiarity with the FCAT.
OTHER FCAT RESOURCES
|
