TAKS Science Update
Shannon Miller
Student Assessment
Texas Education Agency
Item Development
Item Development
Item Writing
• Items written by professional item writers
• Many writers are former or current Texas
teachers
• Items are written based upon Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills
• Items are grade appropriate
Item Development
Internal Review
• Contractor brings approximately 300 items
per grade level (500 for Exit Level)
• TEA Assessment & TEA Curriculum read,
evaluate and edit items
• Items are checked for:
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Grade/TEKS Appropriateness
Science Content
Vocabulary
Grammar
Item Development
External Review
• Teachers review and edit items from
Internal Review
• Committee member selection based upon
demographics
• Recommendation forms available at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessm
ent/develop/recform.pdf
Item Development
Field Testing
• Field testing only during primary
administration
• Ten items embedded into each test form
• Exit Level Retests and TAKS-I contain no
field test items
Item Development
Data Review
• Committee of teachers
• Selected by the same process as External
Item Review
• Teachers cannot edit items
• Items are placed in test bank or rejected
Next, the tests are built…
Grade 5 Science TAKS Blueprint
Objectives
Number Tested
Nature of Science
Life Science
Physical Science
Earth/Space Science
Total Items Tested
Field Test Items
Total Items
13
9
9
9
40
10
50
Grade 5 Science TAKS
• Variety of Content
• Covers student
expectations from
grades 2,3,4 and 5
• Use field test data to
choose items
• Have targets in order
to keep tests at the
same difficulty level
Grade 5 Standards
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Committee of science educators
Phase-in is complete
Standard was set at 30 out of 40
Commended Performance ~37
Grade 8 Science TAKS Blueprint
Objectives
Number Tested
Nature of Science
14
Living Systems and
the Environment
12
Structures and Properties
of Matter
6
Motion, Forces, and Energy
6
Earth and Space Systems
12
Total Items Tested
50
Field Test Items
10
Total Items
60
Grade 8 Science TAKS
• First live test in Spring 2006
• School accountability ratings in 2008
• SBOE approved 33 for “Met Expectations” and
44 for “Commended Performance”
• Phase In: 2006 at 2 SEM = 27 and 2007 at 1
SEM ~30
• Covers TEKS from grades 6, 7 and 8
• Formula Chart with Ruler
• Periodic Table
• No calculators
Grade 10 Science TAKS
Objectives
Number Tested
Nature of Science
17
Organization of
Living Systems
11
Interdependence
of Organisms
11
Structures and Properties of Matter
8
Motion, Forces, and Energy
8
Total Items Tested
55
Field Test Items
10
Total Items
65
Grade 11 Science TAKS
Objectives
Number Tested
Nature of Science
17
Organization of
Living Systems
8
Interdependence
of Organisms
8
Structures and Properties of Matter
11
Motion, Forces, and Energy
11
Total Items Tested
55
Field Test Items
10
Total Items
65
High School Science
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Formula Chart with ruler
Periodic Table
Calculators allowed
Covers TEKS from IPC and Biology
Grade 10 Standard ~35 out of 55
Grade 11 Standard ~30 out of 55
~50 for Commended Performance
Types of Items
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Multiple choice with four options
Cluster Items
Gridable Items
Use only SI units
End-of Course Tests
• As a result of Governor Perry’s December 16,
2005 Executive Order RP53
• Biology to be field tested in spring 2007 and
becomes “live” in 2008
• Chemistry and Physics to be field tested in
spring 2008 and become “live” in 2009
• Online only
• Voluntary
TAKS-Inclusive
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Science Grades 5, 8, 10 and Exit Level
For students working at or near grade level
No field test items
Larger font, more white space
Expanded accommodations similar to SDAA
Same standards as TAKS
Accountability in 2007
What is the best way to prepare
my students for TAKS?
• Teach the TEKS!
• Make sure each teacher has a copy of the
appropriate Information Booklet
• Released tests are available for examples
• Laboratory work is necessary
• Join the science listserv
http://tea.state.tx.us/list/
• Avoid test prep materials and TAKS
“experts”
Study Guides are
provided to students
who do not meet the
standard.
2007 Science
Testing Calendar
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Grade 5 Science – April 19, 2007
Grade 8 Science – April 19, 2007
Grade 10 Science – April 19, 2007
Grade 11 Science
• February 22, 2007 (retest)
• April 19, 2007 (primary)
• July 12, 2007 (retest)
• Biology End-of-Course Field Test
• April 23-May 18, 2007
Shannon Miller
shannon.miller@tea.state.tx.us
(512) 463 - 7816