PA Assessment Update
2014-15
2015 PSSA Changes
Quick Overview
 Keystone Exams: no change
 PSSA Science: no change
 PSSA Reading: now combined with Writing as PSSA
ELA with separate booklet and testing window
 PSSA Writing: now combined with Reading as PSSA
ELA with separate booklet and testing window
 PSSA Math: now PSSA Math with separate booklet and
testing window
2015 PSSA Changes
PSSA
Math
Assessment
2015
2015 PSSA Changes
Reporting Categories
A = Numbers and Operations
— A‐T = Numbers and Operations in Base Ten (Grades 3–5)
— A‐F = Numbers and Operations – Fractions (Grades 3–5)
— A‐N = The Number System (Grades 6–8)
— A‐R = Ratios and Proportional Relationships (Grades 6, 7)
B = Algebraic Concepts
— B‐O = Operations and Algebraic Thinking (Grades 3–5)
— B‐E = Expressions and Equations (Grades 6–8)
— B‐F = Functions (Grade 8)
C = Geometry
— C‐G = Geometry (Grades 3–8)
D = Data Analysis and Probability
— D‐M = Measurement and Data (Grades 3–5)
— D‐S = Statistics and Probability (Grades 6–8)
2015 PSSA Changes
Item Types and Points
All grades:
2015 PSSA Changes
2015 PSSA Changes
Math 2015
2015 PSSA Changes
Math 2015
2015 PSSA Changes
2015 PSSA Changes
English Language Arts Test
2015 PSSA Changes
ELA Reporting Framework
ELA Reporting Framework, Clusters, and Categories
Genre
Reading
Core Competencies
Literature Text
Informational Text
Key Ideas and Details
[Key Ideas]
Craft and Structure, and
Integration of
Knowledge and Ideas
[CSI]
Vocabulary Acquisition
and Use [Vocabulary]
Writing
Writing
Language
Text Dependent Analysis
Reporting
Category
Code
A
B
A–K/B–K
A–C/B–C
A–V/B–V
C
D
E
2015 PSSA Changes
Item Types and Points
Grade 3
20 core passage MC items
18 core standalone MC items
2 core 2 pt EBSR items
2 core 3 pt EBSR items
2 core 3 pt SA items
1 core 4 pt WP (weighted x2)
20 points
18 points
4 points
6 points
6 points
8 points
Total 62 points
Grades 4-8
23 core passage MC items
18 core standalone MC items
3 core 2 pt EBSR items
3 core 3 pt EBSR items
1 core 4 pt TDA (weighted x4)
1 core 4 pt WP (weighted x3)
23 points
18 points
6 points
9 points
16 points
12 points
Total 84 points
2015 PSSA Changes
Grade 3 Format
Estimated
Estimated
Section Testing
Number of
Time (in
Passages
minutes)
Section
Content
Emphasis
Number of
MC/EBSR
Number of
WP/SA
1
Writing and
Language
20 MC
1
0
60
2
Reading
8–12 MC
1–3 EBSR
1
2
34–50
3
Reading
14 MC
2 EBSR
1
2
48
4
Reading
8–12 MC
1–3 EBSR
1
2
34–50
2015 PSSA Changes
Grades 4-8 Format
Section Content Emphasis
Number of
MC/EBSR
Number of
WP/TDA
Estimated
Number of
Passages
Estimated
Section
Testing Time
(in minutes)
1
Writing and
Language
20 MC
1
0
60
2
Reading
15–18 MC
4–5 EBSR
0
3
58–69
14 MC
2 EBSR
1
2
73
5–8 MC
1–2 EBSR
1
1
48–57
3
4
Reading and
Text Dependent
Analysis
Reading and
Text Dependent
Analysis
Grade 4 Evidence Based Selected Response (3 pts.)
Grade 8 Language Multiple Choice (1 pt.)
Sample Grade 7 Writing Prompt
(4 pts.)
Sample Grade 7 Text Dependent Analysis Essay (4 pts.)
2015 PSSA Changes
How Are TDA Responses
Scored?
Important Documents
• PSSAs
– PDE Resources
• Keystone Exams
– PDE Resources
– SAS Portal
– PBAs