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Tests Currently Administered at Freeman Academy

DakotaSTEP

• Required by the state as a form of accountability method for schools as a result of NCLB
• Given to all students in the state grades 3-8 and 11 in the Spring
• Subjects included in the test are Reading, Math, and Science.

Dakota Writing Test—(This test is in the process of being changed and was not administered this year 2010)

• Given in the Spring to all students grades 5, 7 and 9.
•  While this test is not currently part of the NCLB, or the Dakota STEP, the state is looking at how schools are achieving at a proficient or advanced level (scores of 3 or 4).
•  Based on the 6 traits of good writing: Ideas and Development, Organization, Unity and Coherence, Word Choice, Sentences and Paragraphs, Grammar and Usage, Writing Mechanics
• Score ranges from 1-4 = below basic, basic, proficient, advanced

PSAT/NMSQTM

• Practice SAT test as well as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
• Given to 10th and 11th graders in the Fall.

PLAN

• Practice ACT test
• Given to 10th graders in Dec

ACT

• Measures general educational development and ability to complete college level work
• 4 areas = Math, Reading, English, Science
• Optional writing test
• National average of 21
• It is Ok for students to guess

SAT

• More of a measure of critical thinking skills
• 3 areas = Math, Critical Reading, Writing
• More points are taken off for wrong answers
• Natl average of 1500

SAT/ACT comparison

• The ACT has a science reasoning test; the SAT does not.
• The ACT math section includes trigonometry.
• The SAT tests vocabulary much more than the ACT.
• The SAT is not entirely multiple choice.
• The SAT has a guessing penalty; the ACT does not.
• The ACT tests English grammar; the SAT does not.