Colleagues,
The Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Test Guides were posted at
http://www.engageny.org/resource/test-guides-for-english-language-arts-and-mathematics.
The Test Guides for English Language Arts and Mathematics will address the following topics for each grade:
+ the instructional shifts demanded by ELA and Mathematics CCLS;
+ how ELA and Mathematics are conceptualized in the CCLS;
+ the 2014 Common Core ELA and Mathematics Tests content and design; and
+ the CCLS rubrics for short and extended constructed response questions.
The Grade 38 Common Core English Language Arts Test Guides will introduce several changes that differentiate the 2014 CCLS English Language Arts Tests from past New York State tests. Some of the important changes discussed in the 2014 English Language Arts Test Guides include:
+ additional information about authentic passages
+ the 2014 ELA tests will be split into 3 books administered across 3 days
+ Day 2 will consist of one book with both multiple-choice and constructed response questions
+ in Grades 5-8, Day 2 will have fewer passages and questions than Day 2 of the 2013 tests
Similarly, the Grade 3-8 Common Core Mathematics Guides will highlight many ways that the 2014 CCLS Mathematics Tests will be different from past New York State tests. Some of the important changes discussed in the 2014 CCLS Mathematics Test Guides include:
+ fewer questions on the 2014 Grades 3-8 Mathematics Tests than the 2013 tests;
+ shorter administration times for the 2014 Grade 3-8 Mathematics Tests than in 2013;
+ clarifications to the Mathematics rubrics and scoring policies; and
+ a change in content emphasis in Grade 8
We hope the Test Guides will assist educators in their efforts to provide high quality instruction of these rigorous learning objectives.
Thank you,
Ken Wagner