Secondary PARCC Tests
Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers
Session Outcomes
Participants will:
• Describe what the new PARCC testing is
about
• Explore the design sample PARCC items in
ELA and Mathematics.
• Explore the content of sample PARCC
items in ELA and Mathematics.
What is PARCC?
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness
for College and Careers:
 Made up of 9 states
 Developing common, high-quality
math and English language arts
(ELA) tests for grades 3–11
 Computer-based and linked to what students need to
know for college and careers
 For use starting in the 2014–15 school year
What are PARCC Assessments?
• States working together to develop highquality, computer based assessments of
student learning.
• Assessments that will efficiently measure
what students know and can do, and then
allow teachers to adjust instruction
accordingly, resulting in the best use of
classroom time.
What are PARCC Assessment?
Current state assessments were not
designed to:
 Assess and signal whether students are on
track for success in college or careers
 Produce timely, actionable data for
students, teachers and parents
 Test key skills, such as critical thinking and
ability to problem solve
Assessment Tutorial: How has
the test changed?
Take a look at the features found on the new
assessments.
• How does the PARCC assessment differ
from MSA/HSA?
• What advantages do you see by having
students take this assessment on the
computer?
Assessment Timeline
Performance
-Based
Assessment
 After 75 percent of the
school year
 Extended tasks,
applications of concepts
and skills
 ELA/literacy: Writing
effectively when
analyzing text, research
simulation
 Math: Solving multistep
problems requiring
abstract reasoning,
precision, perseverance
and strategic use of tools
End-of-Year
Assessment
 After 90 percent of the
school year
 Innovative, short-answer
items
 ELA/literacy: Reading
comprehension
 Math: Short items that
address both concepts
and skills
7
PARCC Tutorial
Let’s go through
the PARCC
tutorial to
familiarize you with
the available tools
for students.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on TUTORIAL
PARCC Tutorial Debrief
• How does the PARCC assessment differ
from MSA/HSA?
• What advantages do you see by having
students take this assessment on the
computer?
Accessibility Features for All Students on the
Computer-Based Test Mode
Accessibility Features for All Students Assigned the Computer-Based Test
Mode
Audio Amplification
Blank/Scratch Paper (provided by test administrator)
Eliminate Answer Choices
Flag Items for Review
General Administration Directions Clarified (by test administrator)
General Administration Directions Read Aloud and Repeated (by test
administrator)
Text Highlighter Tool
Headphones or Noise Buffers
Line Reader
Magnification/Enlargement Device
Pop-Up Glossary
Redirect Student to Test (by test administrator)
10
Writing Tools
MATHEMATICS
Thinking About Math
As we explore the content of the math items, think
about…
• How has the assessment changed regarding
content?
• How can you best support your student to begin
taking these assessments?
• How can teachers best support your student to begin
taking these assessments?
What is available from PARCC for Math?
Sample Items – Includes items from Grades 6-8,
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II with some
performance based tasks.
Practice Tests – Current tests are end of year (task
type 1 – machine scoreable) and available for
Grades 6-8, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II
SAMPLE ITEMS
• Take a look at the available sample
math items for Grades 6-8 and/or
high school.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on SAMPLE ITEMS
PRACTICE TEST
• Current practice tests are
end-of-year (EOY).
• Let’s take a look at some
examples from the practice
test.
– The examples represent
some of the focus clusters
Non-Calculator and Calculator
Grade 7 Sample Items
• What do you notice?
• What do you wonder?
Non-calculator Example #1
7.Ratio and Proportions.2d
Non-calculator Example #2
7.RP.2b
Non-calculator Example #3
7.Expressions and Equations.4a-1
Calculator Example #1
7.RP.1
Calculator Example #2
7.EE.3
For a deeper look…..
• You can use the practice PARCC tests
website to look through all grade levels of
sample items.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on Practice Tests and choose Mathematics
Choose a grade level/course to view.
PARCC for Mathematics
• How has the assessments changed regarding
content?
• How can you best support your student to begin
taking these assessments?
• How can teachers best support your student to
begin taking these assessments?
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
PBA Simulation
The example we will look at is from the eighth
grade Performance Based Assessment.
There are three sections: literary analysis,
research simulation, and a narrative task.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
Click on PRACTICE TESTS
The Test
• 1-7: Literary analysis
• 8-17: Research simulation
• 18-23: Narrative task
• Read/view the texts, and answer the questions.
• Discuss the skills and knowledge required by
students to respond to the questions and essay.
Focus Question – ELA
• What do students need to know and be able to
do?
Consider this question as you preview the ELA
practice tests.
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/#
Click on the Practice Test Tab and choose ELA.
Scroll down to find your grade level.
Additional Resources
•
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•
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Achieve the Core http://achievethecore.org/
Better Lesson http://betterlesson.com/
CAST http://www.cast.org
Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products
(EQuIP) http://achieve.org/
Great Public Schools (GPS) Network
http://www.gpsnetwork.org/
MSDE Blackboard Learn
https://msde.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
ReadWorks http://www.readworks.org/
Teaching Channel https://www.teachingchannel.org/
Putting it all Together…
Higher Expectations
ELA/Literacy
Math
Read sufficiently complex
texts independently
Solve problems: content
and mathematical practice
Write effectively to sources
Reason mathematically
Build and present
knowledge through
research
Model real-world problems
Have fluency with
mathematics
30
Where can you
go for additional
resources to
support your
student?
Parent Resources
• http://parcconline.org/for-parents
• http://www.pta.org/parents/content
.cfm?ItemNumber=2910
• Khan academy: Question types
and tutorials
Thank you!
Questions?