Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

Transcription

1 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

2 About the College Board The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. For further information, visit The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement Program, AP, SAT, SpringBoard and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. College Board Standards for College Success, MyRoad, ReadiStep and Skills Insight are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/ NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web:

3 Contents Using ReadiStep Results An Overview Early Feedback Course Selection Skills Identification to Inform Instruction Curriculum College and Career Readiness Benchmark The ReadiStep Scale Available Resources MyRoad The ReadiStep Student Report The ReadiStep School Summary Report Student Data File Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Using ReadiStep Student Results Things to Keep In Mind When Interpreting Student Results Using the School Summary Report ReadiStep Norms National Percentiles and Mean Scores Predicted PSAT/NMSQT Score Ranges Using ReadiStep Skills Insight How to Use ReadiStep Skills Insight Suggested Classroom Activity Frequently Asked Questions Reports Scores Percentiles ReadiStep Skills Insight Planning for High School and College The College Board 1

4 ReadiStep Skills Insight Critical Reading Writing Skills Mathematics

5 Using ReadiStep Results An Overview Results from the ReadiStep assessment provide valuable information to students, teachers and administrators that can be used to help ensure that students are prepared for college by the time they graduate from high school. Early Feedback Results from the ReadiStep assessment provide a view of students progress toward college readiness while there is still time to make necessary adjustments and target academic areas that may need attention. Students are college ready when they have the knowledge, skills and behaviors to complete a college-level course of study successfully, without remediation. Four critical success factors characterize collegeready students: Achievement of academic content knowledge, evidenced by completion of a rigorous high school core curriculum aligned to college readiness standards Attainment of advanced academic skills, developed through an instructional focus on critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, writing, and strong study skills Successful completion of college-level and other advanced courses taken in high school Acquisition of college planning skills, demonstrated by an understanding of college and career options and the college admission and financing process Course Selection It is important for students to be ready for a course of study that is college preparatory. ReadiStep results help identify students who are prepared to be challenged by a rigorous high school program as well as those who may need more preparation in specific areas before reaching high school. Using ReadiStep results, teachers can address any academic weaknesses and ensure that students obtain the appropriate support they need in high school. Skills Identification to Inform Instruction Through the use of score reports and ReadiStep Skills Insight, teachers can identify areas where students excel, as well as areas that require further development. ReadiStep Skills Insight helps teachers develop classroom or small-group instruction to more closely address the areas that need improvement. For more information about using ReadiStep Skills Insight, refer to pages of this publication. Curriculum Results can also pinpoint areas for modification of curriculum and pacing guides for future school terms. The ReadiStep assessment is aligned to individual state standards, and can be used to evaluate skills emphasized in your curriculum. Additionally, because the ReadiStep assessment is based on the College Board Standards for College Success (CBSCS), teachers can use ReadiStep results to plan both professional and curriculum changes. The standards establish clear and specific definitions of the knowledge and skills that students need to succeed in college. These standards are articulated in a developmental progression of student learning objectives across six grade levels, from middle school through high school, which help all students to prepare for AP courses or college-level work. For more information about the College Board Standards for Success, please refer to page 6 of this publication. The College Board 3

6 College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade What is the College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade? The ReadiStep College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade is the score that 8th-grade meet or exceed to be considered on track to be college ready. The College and Career Readiness Benchmark has been added to ReadiStep reporting to help educators better understand how many and also which students are on track to have the skills necessary for success in college. Equipped with this information, educators can support students who need extra help while there is still time for improvement. Where is it reported? The College and Career Readiness Benchmark is reflected in several ReadiStep reports, including the School Summary Report, Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Report, and the Student Data CD. The School Summary Report and SOAS reports indicate the percentage of students who meet the benchmark, while the Student Data File provides a yes/no composite score indicator for each student. The College and Career Readiness Benchmark is not reported on any reports for students. How was the College and Career Readiness Benchmark developed? The ReadiStep benchmarks are the scores for 8th-graders associated with a 50 percent likelihood of achieving the 10th grade PSAT/NMSQT benchmark. Recommended uses Designed to help educators gauge progress toward college readiness, the College and Career Readiness Benchmark can help educators: See how many students are on track for college. Identify students who may need extra support while there is still time for improvement. Find students who may be ready for more rigorous course work. The College and Career Readiness Benchmark should not be used for tracking purposes, to discourage students from pursuing college, or to keep students from participating in rigorous courses. READISTEP COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS BENCHMARK FOR 8TH GRADE 8th Grade ReadiStep Critical Reading Mathematics Writing ReadiStep Composite* *Composite score was computed independently of individual section scores. The ReadiStep College and Career Readiness Benchmark is part of a series of indicators that help educators gauge college readiness at different points in a student s career. The ReadiStep College and Career Readiness Benchmark is aligned with the benchmarks for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT assessments. 4 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

7 The ReadiStep Scale The ReadiStep scale score changed starting in the administration. Previous scale: , scored in 0.2 increments. Current scale: , scored in 0.1 increments. A field trial was conducted in the fall of 2011, which allowed student results to be reviewed through the following lenses: How do ReadiStep test-takers perform on the test? How can performance best be monitored for growth once a student has taken ReadiStep? What indication can be given to assist educators in identifying students who may need additional assistance or who may be ready for more rigorous course work? The scale score was developed to satisfy each of these conditions. The score scale accommodates the range of student results that have been recorded within the assessment s first three years. The scale links ReadiStep student scores to both the PSAT/NMSQT scale as well as the SAT scale to allow educators to monitor growth as a student progresses through high school. With this linkage, the scale was developed in tandem with the College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade, an indicator of student performance that links through to predicted performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. (See page 4 for more information.) Scale Score Conversion Table Original Scale Score (used before ) Current Scale Score (used starting in ) Reading Mathematics Writing Customers who wish to convert administration results for testing that occurred before the school year to this scale may use the following chart. The College Board 5

8 Available Resources The ReadiStep Website For more information about the ReadiStep assessment including free resources to help teachers, students and their families understand ReadiStep results please visit the ReadiStep website at readistep.collegeboard.org. Technical Information on the ReadiStep Assessment This publication provides information on the nature of the ReadiStep assessment and its intended use, content development and interpretation, test item pilot and standardization, score scale development, and evidence of its reliability, equivalency and validity. It is available upon request from the College Board. Guidelines on the Uses of College Board Test Scores and Related Data This publication is available at It highlights proper and beneficial uses of test scores and cautions against uses that are inappropriate. Other College Board Tools for Middle School The College Board Standards for College Success to Advanced Placement and college readiness standards. These standards explicitly outline the college readiness skills that need to be developed during middle school and high school so that students are prepared for college when they graduate from high school. College readiness skills are also necessary to succeed in the workplace. Results from the ReadiStep assessment can, therefore, help students create a road map that will lead to both success in college and opportunities in the workplace. Copies of the College Board Standards for College Success are available for download at SpringBoard SpringBoard is a unique, comprehensive program that enables students to build the skills and understanding they need for success in AP courses and college-level work. This powerful program provides rigorous English and mathematics lessons for students in grades The College Board s SpringBoard program provides both curriculum and professional development across six levels in both English language arts and mathematics. For additional information about SpringBoard, please visit The skills measured on the ReadiStep assessment are aligned with Common Core State Standards and individual state standards. They are also aligned with the English Language Arts College Board Standards for College Success and Mathematics College Board Standards for College Success, a national model of rigorous academic content standards that states, districts and schools may use to vertically align curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development 6 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

9 MyRoad All ReadiStep test-takers receive free access to MyRoad, a college and career planning website that lets students: Take a short, fun quiz to understand their personality types Learn about careers and college majors that fit their personality types Start exploring colleges by location, college major, cost, and much more Find out what people have to say about their college and career choices Track what they need to do in high school to prepare for college Creating an Account Students can use the access code provided on the back of the Student Report to log in at and start exploring opportunities for the future. Students age 13 and older can simply click on Sign Up Today and proceed to creating their online accounts. Students under age 13 must create their accounts under the supervision of a parent or teacher, following the instructions provided in the parent consent form on page 8 of this guide. If students under age 13 will be creating their accounts in school, parents should complete the consent form on page 8 in advance. Please keep the signed consent forms on file at your school. The parent consent form is also available online at readistep.collegeboard.org. The College Board 7

10 MyRoad Parental Consent Form Dear Parent or Guardian: Because your child participated in ReadiStep, he or she now has free access to MyRoad, an online college and career planning tool; however, because your child is under the age of 13, we will need your consent in order to allow your child to register for a free MyRoad student account. MyRoad is the College Board s comprehensive college, college majors and careers exploration website. You are encouraged to take the MyRoad tour at (just click the Find Out More button) to see the breadth of information designed to help your student best research the college and career opportunities available to them. Your student s MyRoad account may be created in one of two ways: You may create the account on behalf of your child as noted in option #1 below, or you may submit this signed consent form to our school and the child will create the account at the school as noted in option #2 below. Option #1: Parent/Guardian Registration: The parent/guardian will register and create the account on behalf of the child following the instructions provided by this school. The parent/guardian will use the child s correct birth day and month but will enter the year When the child has turned 13, he/she will edit his/her profile by entering the actual year of birth. Option #2: Student Registration: The parent/guardian signs this consent form and it is properly filed with the school. No student will be allowed to register without this signed consent form. The child will register and create the account by entering his/her correct birth day and month but will enter the year Once the child has reached the age of 13, he/she will edit his/her profile by entering the actual year of birth. CHECK ONE (1) BOX: F F I will create the MyRoad student account for my child. F F I give my child permission to create the MyRoad student account. By signing this MyRoad Parental Consent Form, I certify that I am the parent or legal guardian of the child stated below with full right to permit the child to use MyRoad. Date: Parent/Guardian Signature: Parent/Guardian Name: Child s Name: Child s Date of Birth: 8 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

11 The ReadiStep Student Report ReadiStep results are provided in the Student Report, School Summary Report, Student Data CD and Summary of Answer and Skills Report. Student Score Report (two per student) 1. Student Scores This field indicates the score the student earned. When reviewing results with a student, it is a good idea to check their individual score against the mean scores on the section earned by the rest of the grade in your school, district (if applicable) and with the total group of testers. 2. Score Ranges No test measures precisely what someone knows, and many factors can affect results. That is why test makers think of a single score as only an approximate measure of skill. The score range, from a few points below to a few points above the score earned, gives a better picture of a student s performance. 3. Score Percentiles The percentiles compare your student s results with the total group of test-takers who took ReadiStep this administration. Students in grade eight or lower will be compared to eighthgraders nationally. Students in grade nine or higher will be compared to ninth-graders nationally. The student represented by this sample report earned a mathematics score higher than 87 out of every 100 eighth-graders tested. 4. Student Answers The score report is designed for a student to review with an educator. It lists all of the student s answers and allows the student to see the correct answer and difficulty level for each question. A ReadiStep test booklet should be retained by the test supervisor for the purposes of this review. The test booklet must be destroyed after results have been reviewed with students. Use the Skills Insight section of this PDF for further guidance on student performance for a given section on the test. 5. Key In addition to the elements represented in the key, students who skipped a section of the test may find that the Your Answer portion of that section of the report is blank. The score bubble, score range and percentile information will also be blank for these students. The College Board 9

12 Student: SAMPLE STUDENT Date of Birth: 01/01/1997 Student ID: Optional Code: SAMPLE CODE Fall 2013 School: SAMPLE MIDDLE SCHOOL District: SAMPLE DISTRICT SAMPLE STUDENT ❶ Critical Reading Writing Skills Mathematics ❷ to to to ❸ You scored higher than 55% of test-takers nationally You scored higher than 23% of test-takers nationally You scored higher than 87% of test-takers nationally Question Correct Answer Your Answer Difficulty Question Correct Answer Your Answer Difficulty Question Correct Answer Your Answer Difficulty Question Correct Answer Your Answer Difficulty Question Correct Answer Your Answer Difficulty Question Correct Answer 1 B e 24 B m 1 C e 26 D m (calculator use permitted) (calculator not permitted) 2 C e 25 A m 2 D e 27 B e 1 C V e 19 B V e 3 C B e 26 D m 3 B e 28 C e 2 D V e 20 C V m 4 D A e 27 C m 4 B e 29 C e 3 D V e 21 C V m 5 B D m 28 B m 5 B e 30 D m 4 B V m 22 C V m 6 D e 29 A m 6 C m 31 C m 5 B V m 23 B V m 7 B m 30 B C m 7 A m 32 D e 6 C V m 24 B V m 8 B O m 31 C B m 8 D m 33 B h 7 A V m 25 B V m 9 C m 32 D h 9 C m 34 B m 8 D V m 26 C V m 10 C m 33 D A m 10 C m 35 B m 9 B V h 27 D V h 11 A m 34 D ❹ h 11 B h 36 C m 10 C V m 28 D V m 12 C m 35 C m 12 B m 37 D h 11 A V m 29 C V m 13 B m 36 A A m 13 A m 38 D m 12 B V m 30 C V m 14 B A m 37 C m 14 B h 39 C m 13 C V m 31 B V m 15 D h 38 B m 15 C m 40 C h 14 B V h 32 B V h 16 D m 39 B m 16 C h 41 B m 15 D V m 33 A V m 17 A h 40 A m 17 B m 42 B m 16 D V m 34 B V m 18 C m 41 D m 18 C m 43 A m 17 C V m 35 A V m 19 C m 42 A D m 19 B h 44 B m 18 C V m 36 C V h 20 D A m 43 C m 20 C h 45 A m 21 B m 44 B m 21 B m 46 B m 22 A B m 45 C O m 22 A h 47 C h Key 23 C m 23 C m 48 D e Correct e Easy 24 A e 49 B m O Omitted m Medium 25 B h 50 C m V Voided h Hard Your Answer Difficulty ❺ College Board 2013 mmddyy-z Go to readistep.collegeboard.org/student to learn more about results and learn how you can strengthen your academic skills. 10 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

13 The ReadiStep School Summary Report (one per school with a copy sent to participating districts) 1. Students Tested This table provides counts for students who have met the valid score rules by providing a first name, last name, date of birth and at least one answer to one question on any section of the test. To be included in the counts for a grade, a student s answer sheet must also include a valid grade level of seven, eight, or nine (supplied via the Pre-ID label or from a student s hand-gridded response on the answer sheet). Customers testing single grades will see an N/A present for those grades excluded from testing. Independent or single schools will see N/A present for their district information. The Total Group includes all testers in the current ReadiStep administration who met the valid score rules. 2. Mean Scores Mean score tables are presented for seventh-, eighth- and/or ninth-grade testers for each test section. These tables provide an at-a-glance comparison for your school and/or district s mean results against the total group of students who participated in ReadiStep for your current administration. The eighth-grade result for Mathematics, 4.6, shows a stronger performance than the districtwide test-takers, 4.1, but a lower mean than the Total Group of test-takers, 5.5. If you are eligible for the Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS), use the mean scores to track where you may need to follow up with adjustments to curricula. Student results are only included in the mean calculation for the sections in which a valid score is present. 3. College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade The College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade represents the score a student should meet or exceed in order to be considered on track to be college ready. To be considered in this calculation, first name, last name, date of birth and eighth grade must have been provided by a student along with at least one answer for each section of the test. The Total Group percentile shows all of the test-takers within the administration who also meet this criteria. The pie chart in the sample report shows a school with 33.3 percent of students meeting the College and Career Readiness Benchmark. Since only 17.8 percent of students in the Total Group met the benchmark, this would show that the school has a significant group who are on track to be college ready. For more information on how the College and Career Readiness Benchmark was developed and how you can use it to measure student performance over time, please see page 4 of this PDF. The College Board 11

14 ❶ ❷ ❸ Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

15 Student Data File The Student Data File allows schools and districts to use and organize student data in spreadsheet or database formats. It is provided in.csv format that can be converted into a Microsoft Excel file or used with an ASCII text-editing application. The file includes each student s scores, percentiles and answers to each test question. The Student Data File is a separate file found on the CD with this publication. Suggested Ways to Use the Student Data File questions. How many students answered a particular question correctly or incorrectly? Did they choose one wrong answer more frequently? Using the test booklets that schools return to students with their score reports, teachers can review test questions with the class. Using Optional Code. If optional code(s) have been given to students to grid on their answer sheets on test day, those values will be present on the Student Data CD and can be used to sort information. Add fields relevant for your school. For example, a column containing the names of each student s math and English teachers could be added. Other fields you might consider adding are state test results, current English and math grades (to look for inconsistencies between performance on the assessment and in the classroom), and any other relevant data that could assist in providing a comprehensive picture of your students. Share information with teachers. Sort the data by teacher. Copy data for each teacher s students and paste this data into new spreadsheets. Teachers can add a field to sort students by class. Review responses to test questions. Teachers can sort the spreadsheet by responses to ReadiStep assessment The College Board 13

16 Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Delivered online for schools and districts that test 10 or more students in a grade. Customers will receive an notification with instructions for accessing reports by early Janurary. What is the Summary of Answers and Skills? The Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) report allows you to take a closer, detailed look at your students scores and skills performance at each grade level by providing a snapshot of their performance on each ReadiStep test question and skill. It s a tool that can help you make adjustments to your curricula and instructional practices and identify remediation efforts to improve learning. What is included in the SOAS? How can SOAS be used? Compare how your students performed against comparable, national and state groups on identical test questions, identifying those skill areas in need of attention. Link classroom activities with the skills ReadiStep measures: critical reading, writing skills and mathematics (and weak skills that need improvement). Foster discussion among your school s faculty to implement additional means to develop students skills and improve their performance. Performance Overview: Displays the number of students tested per grade, their mean scores, and College Readiness Benchmark. Skills Analysis: Shows your students performance on each College Readiness Skill and alignment of skills to test. Question Analysis: Shows answer patterns on individual test questions, which can reveal strengths and learning gaps. Comparable Group Analysis: Allows you to quickly eyeball where your students performance diverges from what might be expected based on their overall performance. 14 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

17 Using ReadiStep Student Results While reviewing the results on the Student Report or Student Data CD it is important to try to understand why a student may have answered a question incorrectly or not responded at all. Things to Keep in Mind When Interpreting Student Results Correct items Students will generally answer an item correctly if they understand the content. In some cases, students may guess and get the correct answer. Omitted items Most students will attempt to answer every question. Students tend to omit items toward the end of a test if they run out of time. Students tend to skip an item if they don t understand how to approach it. Incorrect items Please note that, for items that students answered incorrectly, the students incorrect answers are provided on the report. Students may answer an item incorrectly if they don t understand it or if they guess the answer incorrectly. Difficulty level It is important to take the difficulty level (easy, medium or hard) of each item into account when assessing students responses. When presented with an item that is easier, more students will answer it correctly. When presented with an item that is more difficult, more students will tend to answer it incorrectly or omit it. Using the School Summary Report Step 1: Review the report to assess student performance. Compare the mean scores on this report with the national mean scores (on page 16 of this publication) to determine how the group performed as a whole. For individuals: Compare a student s test scores to the national mean scores to determine how the student performed. Step 2: Use the test booklets to review the items students had the most trouble with. Work with students individually (one-on-one) or as a group. Present the item from the test booklet. Use ReadiStep Skills Insight to explain what skill is being measured. Show students how to determine the correct answer and ask if students have any questions. Present some related content to gauge student understanding. The College Board 15

18 ReadiStep Norms National Percentiles and Mean Scores Scale Score Critical Reading Writing Skills Mathematics chart continued in next column About this Table Use this table to compare student performance on the ReadiStep assessment with that of other eighthand ninth-graders. Percentiles compare your students scores to those of other students who took the assessment. They indicate the percentage of students whose scores fall below each specified score. The Mean Score describes the average performance of a group. If a student scores close to the mean, that student Scale Score Critical Reading Writing Skills Mathematics th Grade Mean Score th Grade Standard Deviation Number of 8th Graders in Sample 9th Grade Mean Score 9th Grade Standard Deviation Number of 9th Graders in Sample scored as well as about half of the students who took the assessment. Percentiles and Mean Scores are based on the Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing Skills scores earned by a national sample of eighth- and ninthgraders. The Standard Deviation is a measure of variability of a set of scores around their mean. If the test scores cluster tightly around the mean score, as they do when the group is relatively homogeneous, the standard deviation is smaller than it would be for a more diverse group. 16 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

19 Predicted PSAT/NMSQT Score Ranges Predicted PSAT/NMSQT score ranges show how an eighth grade ReadiStep test taker would be expected to perform on the PSAT/NMSQT in 10th grade, given a normal level of academic growth. Actual PSAT/NMSQT scores may be above or below these ranges, depending on the academic interventions and skill development of individual students. Schools can use the table provided below (also available at readistep.collegeboard.org) to share this information with students and their families, as appropriate. Critical Reading Writing Mathematics Critical Reading Writing Mathematics The College Board 17

20 Using ReadiStep Skills Insight ReadiStep Skills Insight categorizes the types of skills students need in order to score within a particular score band and also provides suggestions for improvement. References to example items from the test book illustrate the academic skills that are measured. This tool provides a link between the academic skills taught in middle school, the skills measured on the ReadiStep assessment, and the skills necessary for college readiness. It can help teachers understand their students performance and, in turn, students grasp of particular content knowledge. Because the ReadiStep assessment tests the same skills that are taught in the classroom reading, writing and mathematics teachers can use the information from Skills Insight to plan curriculum or otherwise inform instruction plans. ReadiStep Skills Insight can be found on pages 23 to 53 of this publication. It is also available for download at readistep.collegeboard.org. How to Use ReadiStep Skills Insight Step 1: Review student data Review the Student Data CD to see how students performed on the ReadiStep assessment. For information on how to review the Student Data CD, refer to page 13 of this publication. Step 2: Use Skills Insight Once students general level of performance on the ReadiStep assessment has been gauged, use the ReadiStep Skills Insight report on pages 23 to 53 to help both you and your students understand their content strengths and weaknesses. To use the ReadiStep Skills Insight report, first go the test of most interest (Critical Reading, Writing or Mathematics) and find the appropriate score band. This might be the band that includes a particular student s score or the average score for a class or group. Step 3: Review skills and suggestions for improvement The listed suggestions illustrate the content mastery needed to be considered college ready. These can be woven into lesson and curricular planning. Read the description of skills for a given score band and review the example items. These skills represent the typical performance of students scoring at this level. Therefore, a few of the skills may still be difficult for some students at this level, and they may need to strengthen these areas. Next, review the skills in the score band below this level. These skills most likely represent strengths, rather than weakness, in this academic area. To improve skills, review the band just above the initial band and have the student try the example items to identify areas for improvement. To more fully understand the meaning of each skill in a score band, review the bands below and above the one at which the student scored. This comparison will illustrate the differences between these skill levels and the appropriate progression of skills measured across the score bands for each academic area. 18 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

21 Suggested Classroom Activity Step 1: Review example items from the ReadiStep assessment Review the example items from the test book that exemplify each academic skill with students. These questions will help students improve the skills necessary for college success. Step 2: Use Skills Insight For each section Critical Reading, Writing Skills and Mathematics have students look at the types of skills tested in each score band and answer the example items from the test book. Step 3: Review skills and suggestions for improvement If students find the skills in a score band difficult or confusing, they may need to strengthen those areas. If the students feel very comfortable with most of the skills, they may be able to improve their scores by focusing on the skills in the next-higher score band. Students should look at the score band just below their band to make sure that they have strong skills in all the areas listed. Since the ReadiStep assessment measures the academic skills already embedded in a strong curriculum, reviewing these skills can function not only as an exam spot check but also as a curricular check as well. The College Board 19

22 Frequently Asked Questions Reports What ReadiStep reports do schools and districts receive? The following reports are provided: Student Report (one for the student and one for the school) School Summary Report (one per school with a copy sent to the district) Student Data File (one per school and district) Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) (one per school or district testing 10 or more students) When are reports provided? Please visit readistep.collegeboard.org for report delivery dates. What does it mean if a test score is not reported? A test score will not appear on score reports if: No responses were scanned for the entire test. In this case the information for the test will be left blank on score reports. The test section was voided by school personnel. In this case a V will appear on score reports. How do I review reports with students? When score reports are shipped to schools, answers to test questions are disclosed, and the score reports and test booklets can be reviewed by students and teachers in class. After the test booklets have been used for review purposes, they should be destroyed. Scores What do test scores mean? ReadiStep test scores range from 1.0 to 7.0 (in increments of 0.1) and are an indication of student performance in each subject area at the time of testing. The results provided are intended to give general feedback on students current academic skills so that they can plan for, and improve, in the future. What do score ranges mean? Score ranges show how much scores tend to vary if students were to take the ReadiStep assessment repeatedly without learning additional skills. In other words, the scores within this range are considered equivalent statistically. How is the ReadiStep assessment scored? First, a raw score is computed. Students receive one point for each correct answer (regardless of difficulty). The total raw score for each test is calculated by a rights-only scoring procedure. This means that the total raw score is the total number of correct responses. No penalty points are deducted for incorrect responses. Next, the raw score is converted to a score on the ReadiStep scale of 1.0 to 7.0. ReadiStep scores are equated, meaning they are adjusted for differences in difficulty between various forms, or editions, of the test. Equating makes it possible to compare the scores of students who have taken different editions of the test; it also makes the scores from last year s test comparable to those from this year s ReadiStep assessment. 20 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

23 What information is presented in the Mean Score tables? The school, district and total group mean scores represent the overall average score calculated using the results from students who provided a first name, last name and answered at least one question in that test section. The mean scores provided for the seventh, eighth and ninth grade represent the overall average score calculated for those students who meet the participation total criteria and who had indicated their grade as well. What is the College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade? The College and Career Readiness Benchmark for 8th Grade is a composite score that provides an indication of whether or not a student is on track to be college and career ready. Students meeting the benchmark may be ready for more rigorous course work. Percentiles How do my students compare to other students? Percentiles compare a student s performance with those of other test-takers nationwide. What is a National Percentile? A National Percentile indicates the percentage of test-takers in the United States who took ReadiStep and scored lower than the student. What information is presented on the Students Tested table? The school, district and total group participation totals represent the students at those levels who provided a first name, last name and answered at least one question. The totals provided for the seventh, eighth and ninth grade show those students who meet the participation total criteria and who had indicated their grade as well. ReadiStep Skills Insight What is Skills Insight? ReadiStep Skills Insight categorizes the types of skills students need in order to score within a particular score band and also provides suggestions for improvement. References to example questions from the test book are provided and can be used to illustrate the academic skills that are measured. ReadiStep Skills Insight can be found on pages 23 to 53 of this publication. It is also available for download at readistep.collegeboard.org. How can teachers use Skills Insight? ReadiStep Skills Insight can help teachers understand their students performance and, in turn, their grasp of specific content knowledge. Because the ReadiStep assessment tests the same skills that are taught in the classroom reading, writing and mathematics the information from Skills Insight can be used to plan curriculum or otherwise inform instruction plans. For more information about using ReadiStep Skills Insight, refer to pages of this publication. What should students do to improve skills? Teachers are encouraged to use the as a resource for improving students academic skills and a way to challenge students to work at a higher level. ReadiStep Skills Insight helps teachers and students identify skills that require further development and areas where students excel, which may demonstrate that they are ready for more rigorous course work. The College Board 21

24 How can school department heads use Skills Insight? School department heads can use the and s to improve areas of weakness in student performance. The suggestions link directly to classroom content. How can school and district administrators use Skills Insight? Administrators can use the Skills and s to focus on curricular areas that will increase the level of college readiness in a school or district. How can state-level policymakers use Skills Insight? State-level policymakers should first identify their state s average scores. They can then use the Skills and Suggestions for to ensure that state curriculum, through its standards, is reinforcing those areas needing improvement in order to achieve greater college readiness. Planning for High School and College How can results be used when planning for high school? Students should select courses in high school that will best prepare them for their education and career goals. They may want to consider challenging courses such as honors and/or AP courses. Teachers and counselors are encouraged to use ReadiStep results to start the conversation about high school planning and college preparation. ReadiStep test-takers can also use MyRoad to explore college and career opportunities and map out a high school course plan that helps them meet their goals. For more information about MyRoad, see page 7 of this guide. Should my students take the PSAT/NMSQT? The PSAT/NMSQT is recommended for high school students. When students reach 10th grade in high school, they should talk to their counselor about the PSAT/NMSQT. How can the ReadiStep program help schools promote college readiness? Students need specific guidance a road map to see that college is within their reach. The ReadiStep assessment provides one piece of that road map: a snapshot of their preparedness for college preparatory coursework in high school. By providing an assessment based on college readiness standards, the College Board is supporting schools in their attempts to create a collegegoing culture. Preparing students for college success is accomplished by aligning curriculum, instruction and professional development, as well as assessment, to clear definitions of college readiness. The ReadiStep assessment was developed to be one part of this process. Using the College Board Standards for College Success for guidance, curriculum supervisors and teachers can design curriculum and instruction in middle school and high school that can lead to AP and college readiness. This vertical alignment to clear definitions of college readiness can help schools reduce the need for remediation in college and close the achievement gaps among student groups, ultimately increasing the likelihood that students will complete a college degree. 22 Using ReadiStep Results and Skills Insight

25 ReadiStep Skills Insight ReadiStep Skills Insight is also available on readistep.collegeboard.org. Please forward this publication to teachers using ReadiStep results. The items listed as examples in the following pages appear on the ReadiStep assessment administered in Fall The College Board. College Board and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. ReadiStep and Skills Insight are trademarks owned by the College Board. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: 23

26 READISTEP SKILLS INSIGHT Critical Reading Determining the Meaning of Words Understanding of vocabulary and sentence structure. Student determines the meaning of a word in a sentence or a section of text by using context clues, knowledge of the meaning of words, knowledge of root words and affixes, and understanding of how the different parts of a sentence fit together. Use context clues when selecting missing vocabulary in a simple sentence Use context clues and connect ideas within a sentence when selecting missing vocabulary at the sentence level Use context clues and the structure of the sentence when selecting missing vocabulary in a simple or complex sentence Determine the meaning of words in a sentence with vocabulary that may be unfamiliar Recognize that punctuation can affect the meaning of a sentence (e.g., when a colon signals a list or example) Recognize a relationship (such as causeand-effect) in a sentence that is signaled by a word such as after or because When reading a text (such as a short story, novel, play or newspaper article) and finding an unknown or unfamiliar word, look at the words around it. Do the other words in the sentence give clues about what the unknown word might mean? Look at the ideas in the sentences before and after the sentence with the unknown word. Do the ideas in those sentences give a hint about what the unknown word might mean? When reading a text (such as a short story, novel, play or newspaper article) and finding an unknown or unfamiliar word, look at the words around it. Do the other words in the sentence give clues about what the unknown word might mean? Look the word up in a dictionary and see what it does mean. Then practice using the word in an original sentence. What are some synonyms for the word? When reading a text, pick out a simple or complex sentence. Break the sentence into parts and think about how those parts work together. Think about the relationship between different parts of the same sentence. When reading a text, pick out a sentence with a comma or colon and think about how the punctuation affects the meaning of the sentence. How does the punctuation connect or separate parts of the sentence? When reading a text, look for sentences that contain the words after, because, or since. Think about how these words can set up relationships in a sentence. For example, the word because might set up a cause-and-effect relationship. When reading a text (such as a short story, novel, play or newspaper article) and finding an unknown or unfamiliar word, look at the words around it. Do the other words in the sentence give clues about what the unknown word might mean? Is a definition of the word given in the sentence? Does the word contain a familiar root word, prefix or suffix? When reading a text and finding an unknown word or a word that has multiple meanings, see if the rest of the sentence and the other sentences in the paragraph give clues about what the word might mean. When finding a difficult word when reading, look it up in the dictionary and practice using it in a sentence. Try to think of synonyms for that word. When reading a text about an unfamiliar topic, look for specialized vocabulary words that are used within a particular career or field of study. When reading a text, pick out a sentence with a comma, semicolon or colon and think about how the punctuation affects the meaning of the sentence. How does punctuation connect or separate different parts of a sentence? When reading, look for sentences that contain the words after or since. Think about how these words can set up relationships in a sentence. For example, the word since might set up a causeand-effect relationship. 24

27 Critical Reading, continued Determining the Meaning of Words Understanding of vocabulary and sentence structure. Student determines the meaning of a word in a sentence or a section of text by using context clues, knowledge of the meaning of words, knowledge of root words and affixes, and understanding of how the different parts of a sentence fit together. Use context clues and the structure of the sentence when selecting missing vocabulary in a complex sentence See, for example, items #1, #2, #3 and #7 on the Critical Reading test. Select missing vocabulary at the sentence level when a definition is embedded in the sentence See, for example, item #8 on the Critical Reading test. Understand that punctuation can affect the meaning of a sentence (e.g., when a colon signals an example) See, for example, item #10 on the Critical Reading test. Demonstrate a growing understanding of difficult and specialized vocabulary Use knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes when selecting missing vocabulary at the sentence level Use the context of a sentence or short section of text to clarify the meaning of an unfamiliar or unknown word or a word with multiple meanings or uses See, for example, item #24 on the Critical Reading test. Recognize a relationship (such as causeand-effect) in a sentence that is signaled by a word such as since Use context clues and understanding of sentence structure when selecting missing vocabulary in simple and complex sentences See, for example, items #9 and #11 on the Critical Reading test. Demonstrate increased comprehension of difficult vocabulary See, for example, item #6 on the Critical Reading test. Use the context of a sentence or short section of text to clarify the meaning of a word or to determine the meaning of a word that is unfamiliar or unknown Understand how words and ideas are related within and across sentences Use the context of a sentence or section of text to clarify the meaning of unknown words or to select the appropriate meaning of a word that has multiple meanings See, for example, item #30 on the Critical Reading test. When reading a text (such as a short story, novel, play or newspaper article) and finding an unknown or unfamiliar word, look at the rest of the sentence. Do the other words or phrases in the sentence give clues about what the unknown word might mean? Think about how the structure of the sentence (the way the parts of the sentence are put together) affects the meaning of the sentence. When finding a difficult word when reading, see if that word contains a familiar root word. Does the word have a prefix or suffix that helps indicate the word s meaning? When reading a text and finding an unknown word or a word that has multiple meanings, see if the rest of the sentence and the other sentences in the paragraph give clues about what the word might mean. When reading a text (such as a short story, novel, play or newspaper article), pick out several sentences in a paragraph. Think about how the ideas within one sentence are put together, and then think about how the ideas in each sentence are connected to each other. How do the ideas within one sentence fit together, and how do the ideas across several sentences fit together? When reading a text and finding an unknown word or a word that has multiple meanings, see if the rest of the sentence and the other sentences in the paragraph give clues about what the word might mean. This is the top score band, and students who score at this level will have likely mastered the skills listed at all other levels. However, students can always benefit from more practice. We encourage students to review the skills and examples listed in the and score bands. 25