TAKS
What Students And
Parents Can Do To
Prepare
Brought to you by the teachers and
administrators of BHS who want your
child to succeed in life.
What is TAKS?
• Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
• Yearly testing program
• Measures student’s mastery of the state’s
curriculum
• Accountability system for all public
schools
What kinds of things will
students need to know for
TAKS?
• The state curriculum defines what the
students should know (TEKS)
• Teacher’s daily lessons utilize Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
based on the TEKS
• For more info, visit
http://www/tea/state/tx/us/teks/index.h
tml
Are school districts
required to administer the
TAKS?
• Yes
• Senate Bill 103 requires a statewide
assessment system in Texas
• The federal program No Child Left
Behind also requires it.
What must a student
score on a test to pass?
• A student must score a 2100 on each test
to pass
• A student must also score a 2 (rated as
“somewhat effective”) or higher on the
composition at the 10th/11th grade to earn a
passing score on the English Language Arts
in addition to the 2100 total score
Are the TAKS tests being
phased out at the high
school level?
• Eventually
• Legislation was passed in the summer of
2007
• Establishes an End-of-Course (EOC) exam
system for students to earn diploma
• Students who are in the 6th grade in
08/09 will be the first class affected by
this change
Does TAKS affect
graduation requirements?
• Yes
• Each student must pass the exit level TAKS (11th
grade), in addition to the required credits in
coursework, to get a high school diploma
• Subject areas: English Language Arts, Math,
Science, and Social Studies
• Tests are separate. If a student only fails one
test, they only have to retest that one subject.
• Students have 5 opportunities generally for
testing
What does the TAKS English
Language Arts focus on?
• Requires level of reading and writing
performances of students that have
completed English I, II and are enrolled in
English III coursework
• Multiple choice, short answer and essay
What does the TAKS
Math focus on?
• Assesses skills learned in Algebra I
and Geometry
• Assesses skills learned in 8th grade
math (probability and statistics)
What does the TAKS
Science focus on?
• Concepts and skills that are
components of Integrated Physics
and Chemistry and Biology
What does the TAKS
Social Studies focus on?
• Focuses on US History (most 11th
grade, but some from revolutionaryera content from 8th grade course)
• Also covers information from World
Geography and World History
What happens in May if seniors
have not passed TAKS, but have
required credits?
• In this situation, students will not be
awarded their diplomas
• In this situation, students will not be
allowed to walk/participate at graduation
• The students can continue to retest in the
summer, with hopes of a summer
graduation.
Is there any advantage to
earning really high scores
on the exit-level TAKS?
• Yes
• Many colleges and universities have policies allowing
students with excellent TAKS scores to be exempt
from certain college entrance tests (THEA<
ASSET< COMPASS< ACCUPLACER)
• This saves time, fees, and unnecessary
“developmental” coursework
• See details at
http://www/thecb.state.tx.us/facts/cd/Page8.htm
What is “Commended
Performance”?
• Refers to an individual student
achievement and honor on a test
• Students must score a 2400 scale
score, which is considerably above
the state passing standard (2100).
How do I know if my
student earned
“Commended Performance”?
• Look on your student’s performance report
• Find the column “Commended Performance”
• Yes or no in the column will indicate
whether your student earned the
distinction
What do 9th graders take
on TAKS? (pre-graduation)
• Reading
• Math
Research shows that students who pass the pregraduation TAKS tests tend to pass the exit level TAKS
What do 10th graders take
on TAKS? (pre-graduation)
•
•
•
•
English Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Research shows that students who pass the pre-graduation
TAKS tests tend to pass the exit level TAKS.
What do 11th graders take
on exit level TAKS?
(Graduation!!)
•
•
•
•
English Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Do students receiving
special education services
take regular TAKS?
• A student’s ARD committee will decide
which testing situation is best for a
student. Options are:
–
–
–
–
TAKS Accommodated
TAKS Modified
TAKS Alternate
TAKS
Is TAKS translated into
other languages at the high
school?
• No
• Only available at grades 3-6.
Are limited English
proficient students exempt
from testing?
• No Child Left Behind requires LEP participation in
state testing
• Majority take regular TAKS
• Other options:
– LAT Reading – immigrants in 2nd/3rd year of school in US
– LAT Math – all immigrants take this test if in 1st – 3rd
year in US schools
– LAT Science – all immigrants take this test if in 1st-3rd
year in US schools
How will students indicate
answers on the TAKS?
• Multiple choice – students choose the best
response and bubble in the corresponding letter
on the answer sheet
• Griddable math items – students work out the
problem and record the numeric solution on the
answer sheet as individual digits
• Short Answer – students will compose a brief
response
• Composition – students will follow the writing
process to the final draft stage.
Example – 9th grade math
• What is the numerical solution to the
statement “15 less than twice a number is
equal to five”?
–
–
–
–
A. n = 5
B. n = 10
C. n = 20
D. n = 25
Example – 10th Grade
Social Studies
• During the 1700s the textile industry became one
of the first to use steam –powered machinery.
This technological innovation increased production
and led to
–
–
–
–
A. greater profits and a demand for more workers
B. an end to the use of child labor
C. a safer work environment and shorter workdays
D. a decrease in demand for raw materials
TAKS Test Date
March 3th
• 9th Grade – Reading
• 10th Grade – English Language Arts
• 11th Grade – English Language Arts
TAKS Test Date
April 28th
• 10th Grade - Math
TAKS Test Date
April 29th
• 11th Grade - Math
TAKS Test Date
April 30th
• 9th Grade – Math
• 10th Grade - Science
• 11th Grade - Science
TAKS Test Date
May 1st
• 10th Grade – Social Studies
• 11th Grade – Social Studies
What else can parents do
to help?
• Encourage the Three A’s – Academics, Attendance, and
Attitude
• Call your counselor or our AP for Instruction for help
• Talk with your student’s teachers and send them for
tutoring
• Access the web:
– http://track.uttelecampus.org/
– http://www.tea.state.tx.us.student.assessment/parents.html
http://perspective.pearsonaccess.com/perspective/appmanage
r/tx/family
What is the bottom line?
• ALL STUDENTS MUST PASS THE
EXIT LEVEL TAKS TESTS AND
HAVE THE REQUIRED CREDITS TO
RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA
What will you be doing in
May of their Senior year?
STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS ALL OF
THE EXIT LEVEL TAKS TESTS WILL
NOT PARTICIPATE OR WALK IN THE
GRADUATION CEREMONY.
Will your kids walk?
Hang in there!
It all pays off in the end.