ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire
®
Summative Assessments Overview
www.discoveractaspire.org
English
3
ACT Aspire® English tests assess students’ developed ability to revise and edit texts. A typical English test contains several stimuli, or essays, and a series of selected-response and technology-enhanced questions that ask the student to make editorial choices. Essays used in the assessments represent different modes of writing (including informational, persuasive, and narrative) and cover a variety of engaging topics from different content areas.
Reporting Categories Production of Writing (POW): Reporting on questions that require students to apply their understanding of the rhetorical purpose and focus of a piece of writing to develop a topic effectively and to use various strategies to achieve logical organization, topical unity, and general cohesion. Conventions of Standard English (CSE): Reporting on questions that require students to apply an understanding of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics to revise and edit text. Knowledge of Language (KLA)*: Reporting on questions that require students to demonstrate effective language use through ensuring precision and concision in word choice and maintaining consistency in style and tone. *Knowledge of Language is not reported in Grade 3.
Table 1. Points and Percentage of Points by Content Category for the ACT Aspire English Assessments
Grade 3
40
minutes
Grades 4–5
Points % of Pts Points
% of Pts
Grade 6
40
minutes
Points % of Pts
Grades 7–8
EHS
45
minutes
Points % of Pts Points % of Pts
POW 12–14 39–45 8–10 26–32 10–12 29–45 9–11 26–31 12–14 24–28 CSE
17–19 55–61 17–19 55–61 19–21 54–60 19–21 54–60 29–31 58–62
KLA
3–5 10–16 3–5 9–14 4–6 11–17 6–8 12–16
Total 31 100 31 100 35 100 35 100 50 100 Notes. POW = Production of Writing; KLA = Knowledge of Language; CSE = Conventions of Standard English.
The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 2. Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for ACT Aspire English Assessments
Grades 3–5 % of Pts
Grades 6–8 Points
% of Pts
EHS
Points
Points
% of Pts
MC
27–28 84–88 31–33 89–94 46–48 92–96
TE
3–4 12–16 2–4 6–11 2–4 4–8
Total 31 100 35 100 50 100 Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple–Choice; TE = Technology– Enhanced. Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Roughly 1/3 of each English test is assessing
DOK Level 3. Table 3. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire English Assessments
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–8
EHS
DOK 1 52–56%
43–49%
44–48%
DOK 2 12–28%
17–26%
20–24%
DOK 3
16–32% 31–34% 30–34%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Reading Each ACT Aspire reading assessment contains several passages, including literary narratives (prose fiction, memoirs, personal essays) and informational text (social science, natural science). Within and across grade levels, the passages span a range of complexity levels in order to provide students, teachers, and parents with information about how well students understand texts of increasing difficulty. Students answer questions that assess their abilities to recognize meaning in, reason logically about, and make connections between and among texts.
Passage Types Students will encounter a variety of reading passages on ACT Aspire reading tests. In Grades 3–5, half the questions (12) will pertain to literary narratives and the rest will be divided evenly between social science and natural science informational texts. In Grades 6–EHS, questions will be distributed evenly across the three passage types (i.e., 8 items each).
3
Reporting Categories Key Ideas and Details (KID): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to read texts closely; determine central ideas and themes; summarize information and ideas accurately; and understand sequential, comparative, and cause-effect relationships Craft and Structure (CS): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to determine word and phrase meaning, analyze an author’s word choice rhetorically, analyze text structure, and understand purpose and point of view Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (IKI): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to understand how arguments are constructed and make connections to prior knowledge as well as between and among texts
Table 4. Points and Percentage of Points by Content Category for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments Notes. KID = Key Ideas and Details; CS = Craft and Structure; IKI = Integration of Knowledge and Ideas.
Grades 3–7
Grades 8–EHS
Points % of Pts
KID
14–18 48–62 17–18 45–58
CS
7–11 24–38 7–11 23–35
IKI
4–6 14–21 4–6 13–19
Points
% of Pts
65
minutes
Total 29 100 31 100 The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 5. Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple-Choice; TE = Technology-Enhanced. Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Grades 3–7
Points % of Pts
MC
18–20 62–69 20–21 65–68
TE
1–3 3–10 0–1 0–3
CR
Grades 3–7
Grades 8–EHS
DOK 1 8–21%
23–29%
DOK 2 50–67%
38–54%
DOK 3
Points
% of Pts
8 28 10 32
Total 29 100 31 100
Table 6. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments
Grades 8–EHS
21–33% 21–38%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Between
21–38%
of each Reading test is assessing
DOK Level 3.
Table 7. Passage Coverage by Text Complexity for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments
Basic
Grade 3
Grade 4 Grade 5 Grades 6–7 Grade 8 EHS
X X X
Straightforward X X X X Somewhat Challenging
X
X
More Challenging Complex
X X X X
X
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Writing
4
ACT Aspire writing assessments consist of summative writing tasks for grades 3 through 8 and early high school. They ask students at each grade level to respond in essay form to a single writing stimulus. The assessments are designed to provide a strong indication of whether students have the writing skills they will need to succeed as they begin work at their next grade level. Student responses are evaluated according to grade-specific analytic rubrics that assess the generation, development, organization, and communication of ideas in standard written English.
Rubric Domains Ideas and Analysis: Competent writers understand the issue they are invited to address and the purpose for writing. They generate ideas that lead to productive arguments, analyses, or reflection. Development and Support: Competent writers explain and explore their ideas, discuss implications, and illustrate through examples. They help the reader understand their thinking about the issue. Organization: Competent writers arrange their essay in a way that clearly shows the relationship between ideas, and they guide the reader through their writing. Language Use and Conventions: Competent writers make use of the conventions of grammar, syntax, word usage, and mechanics. They are also aware of their audience and adjust the style and tone of their writing to communicate effectively.
Table 8. Points by Category for the ACT Aspire Writing Assessment
45
minutes
Grades 3–5
40
minutes
Grades 6–EHS
Total Points
20
24
Ideas and Analysis
5
6
Development and Support 5 6 Organization
5 6
Language Use and Conventions
5
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
6
3
Writing Modes n
Reflective Narrative (Grades 3, 6)
n
Analytical Expository (Grades 4, 7, EHS)
n
Persuasive Argumentative (Grades 5, 8)
All ACT Aspire writing prompts are assessing
DOK Level 3.
Mathematics
9
ACT Aspire mathematics tests provide a picture of the whole of a student’s mathematical development, including a look at the concepts and skills new to the grade level as well as whether the student has continued to strengthen, integrate, and apply mathematics from earlier grades. These components are important in judging how a student is progressing and what next steps are appropriate. If administered on computers, ACT Aspire mathematics tests include questions in three formats: selected response/multiple choice (MC), constructed response/Justification and Explanation (JE), and technology enhanced (TE). For paper administration, TE questions are replaced with additional MC questions.
Reporting Categories Grades 3–5 Numbers & Operations in Base 10 Number & Operations—Fractions Operations & Algebraic Thinking
Grades 6–7
Grade 8
EHS
The Number System
Number & Quantity
Expressions & Equations
Algebra
Ratios & Proportional Relationships
Geometry Measurement & Data
Functions Geometry
Statistics & Probability
Four Additional Reporting Categories n
Grade-Level Progress: reporting how well students are doing with the topics new to their grade
n
Integrating Essential Skills: reporting grade-level success at using content acquired in earlier years; these questions have greater cognitive complexity overall than those in Grade-Level Progress
n
Modeling: reporting on those questions in Grade-Level Progress and Integrating Essential Skills that provide information about how students can apply mathematics in real-world situations
n
Justification and Explanation: reporting on constructed-response questions in Grade-Level Progress and Integrating Essential Skills which provide evidence of a student’s ability to explain his or her mathematical reasoning and why mathematical results hold
The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 9. Number of Items, Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for ACT Aspire Mathematics Assessments
65
minutes
65
minutes
Grade 3
Grade–Level Progress
#
Points % of Pts
Grade 4 #
65
minutes
Points % of Pts
Grade 5 #
Points % of Pts
MC/TE 20 20 51 19 19 49 20 20 51 JE
1 4 10 1 4 10 1 4 10
Integrating Essential Skills MC/TE
7 7
18 8 8 20.5 7 7
18
JE
2 8
21 2 8 20.5 2 8
21
Total 30 39 21 30 39 100 30 39 21
75
minutes
Grade–Level Progress
Grades 6–7 #
75
minutes
Points % of Pts
Grades 8–EHS #
Points % of Pts
MC/TE 20 20 43 21 21 39 JE
2 8 17 3 12 23
Integrating Essential Skills MC/TE 10 10 22 12 12 23 JE 2 8 17 2 8 15 Total
34
46
100
38
53
100
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple-Choice; TE = Technology-Enhanced; JE = Justification and Explanation (Constructed-Response). Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Table 10. Points by Content Category for the ACT Aspire Mathematics Assessments
Grade Level Content Category
3 4 5 6 7 8 EHS
Total
39 39 39 46 46 53 53
Number & Operations in Base 10
5–7
5–8
5–8
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–2
Number & Operations—Fractions 3–5 6–8 6–8 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–2 The Number System
3–5
3–5
2–4
1–3
Number & Quantity 1–3 Operations & Algebraic Thinking 6–8 4–6 3–5 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 Expressions & Equations
3–5
3–5
5–7
2–4
Ratios & Proportional Relationships
3–5
3–5
0–2
1–3
Algebra 2–4 Functions 3–5 3–5 Measurement & Data (Measurement)
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–3
Geometry
3–5 3–5 4–6 5–7 4–6 6–8 5–7
Measurement & Data
5–7
3–5
3–5
Measurement & Data (Data)
0–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
Statistics & Probability
3–5
3–5
4–6
4–7
Justification and Explanation
16
16
20
20
Notes.
12
12
12
If points are listed in a category that is not a reporting category for a particular grade level, those points represent questions included in the Integrating Essential Skills reporting category for that grade.
Table 11. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire Math Assessment
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–7
Grades 8–EHS
DOK 1 8–14%
9–13%
9–13%
DOK 2 30–35%
35–39%
32–36%
DOK 3
54–59% 50–54% 53–57%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Approximately 50% of each mathematics test is assessing
DOK Level 3.
Science
3
ACT Aspire science tests focus on the assessment of science practices using real-world scientific scenarios. The content of the tests includes materials from biology (life sciences at the earlier grades), chemistry and physics (physical science at the earlier grades), and Earth/space sciences (such as geology, astronomy, and meteorology). Advanced knowledge in these areas is not required, but background knowledge acquired in general, introductory science courses may be needed to answer some of the questions in the upper grade assessments. The ACT Aspire tests stress science practices over recall of scientific content, complex mathematics skills, and reading ability.
Reporting Categories Interpretation of Data (IOD): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to manipulate and analyze data presented in tables, graphs, and diagrams (e.g., selecting and comparing data, finding trends in data, converting tables into graphs, extending from trends in data) Scientific Investigation (SIN): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s understanding of experimental tools, procedures, and design (e.g., identifying variables and controls) and their ability to compare, extend, and improve experiments (e.g., predicting the results of additional trials) Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results (EMI): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to judge the validity of scientific information and to formulate conclusions and predictions based on that information (e.g., determining which explanation for a scientific phenomenon is supported by new findings)
Table 12. Points and Percentage of Points by Domain for the ACT Aspire Science Assessments
60
minutes
Grades 3–5 Points
IOD
14–19 39–53 19–20 48–50 17–19 43–48
SIN
8–11 22–31 9–11 23–28 9–11 23–28
EMI
9–13 25–36 9–12 23–30 11–12 28–30 36
100
Points
40
% of Pts
Grades 8–EHS
Total
% of Pts
Grades 6–7
100
Points
40
% of Pts
100
Notes. IOD: Interpretation of Data; SIN: Scientific Investigation; EMI: Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results. Scores in Mathematics and Science will be used to provide a STEM score.
The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 13. Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for ACT Aspire Science Assessments
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–7
% of Pts
Points
Grades 8–EHS
Points
% of Pts
Points
% of Pts
MC
29–30 55–57 22–23 55–58 23–24 58–60
TE
3–4 6–8 3–4 8–10 3–4 8–10
CR 20 38 14 35 13 33 Total 36 100 40 100 40 100 Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple-Choice; TE = Technology-Enhanced; CR = Constructed-Response. Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Table 14. Passage Formats for ACT Aspire Science Assessments
Grade Level Passage Format
3 4 5 6 7 8 EHS
Conflicting Viewpoints
1
1
Research Summaries 1 2 2 Data Representation 1 1 2 2 Student Viewpoints
1
1
Scientific Investigation
2
2
1
Data Presentation
2 2 2
2
2
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Table 15. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire Science Assessment
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–EHS
DOK 1 10–25%
5–20%
DOK 2 45–65%
45–65%
DOK 3
20–35% 25–40%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Between 25–40%
of each ACT Aspire Science test is assessing
DOK Level 3.
© 2017 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. ACT Aspire® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. 3895
*024105150*
Rev 4
®
Summative Assessments Overview
www.discoveractaspire.org
English
3
ACT Aspire® English tests assess students’ developed ability to revise and edit texts. A typical English test contains several stimuli, or essays, and a series of selected-response and technology-enhanced questions that ask the student to make editorial choices. Essays used in the assessments represent different modes of writing (including informational, persuasive, and narrative) and cover a variety of engaging topics from different content areas.
Reporting Categories Production of Writing (POW): Reporting on questions that require students to apply their understanding of the rhetorical purpose and focus of a piece of writing to develop a topic effectively and to use various strategies to achieve logical organization, topical unity, and general cohesion. Conventions of Standard English (CSE): Reporting on questions that require students to apply an understanding of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics to revise and edit text. Knowledge of Language (KLA)*: Reporting on questions that require students to demonstrate effective language use through ensuring precision and concision in word choice and maintaining consistency in style and tone. *Knowledge of Language is not reported in Grade 3.
Table 1. Points and Percentage of Points by Content Category for the ACT Aspire English Assessments
Grade 3
40
minutes
Grades 4–5
Points % of Pts Points
% of Pts
Grade 6
40
minutes
Points % of Pts
Grades 7–8
EHS
45
minutes
Points % of Pts Points % of Pts
POW 12–14 39–45 8–10 26–32 10–12 29–45 9–11 26–31 12–14 24–28 CSE
17–19 55–61 17–19 55–61 19–21 54–60 19–21 54–60 29–31 58–62
KLA
3–5 10–16 3–5 9–14 4–6 11–17 6–8 12–16
Total 31 100 31 100 35 100 35 100 50 100 Notes. POW = Production of Writing; KLA = Knowledge of Language; CSE = Conventions of Standard English.
The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 2. Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for ACT Aspire English Assessments
Grades 3–5 % of Pts
Grades 6–8 Points
% of Pts
EHS
Points
Points
% of Pts
MC
27–28 84–88 31–33 89–94 46–48 92–96
TE
3–4 12–16 2–4 6–11 2–4 4–8
Total 31 100 35 100 50 100 Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple–Choice; TE = Technology– Enhanced. Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Roughly 1/3 of each English test is assessing
DOK Level 3. Table 3. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire English Assessments
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–8
EHS
DOK 1 52–56%
43–49%
44–48%
DOK 2 12–28%
17–26%
20–24%
DOK 3
16–32% 31–34% 30–34%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Reading Each ACT Aspire reading assessment contains several passages, including literary narratives (prose fiction, memoirs, personal essays) and informational text (social science, natural science). Within and across grade levels, the passages span a range of complexity levels in order to provide students, teachers, and parents with information about how well students understand texts of increasing difficulty. Students answer questions that assess their abilities to recognize meaning in, reason logically about, and make connections between and among texts.
Passage Types Students will encounter a variety of reading passages on ACT Aspire reading tests. In Grades 3–5, half the questions (12) will pertain to literary narratives and the rest will be divided evenly between social science and natural science informational texts. In Grades 6–EHS, questions will be distributed evenly across the three passage types (i.e., 8 items each).
3
Reporting Categories Key Ideas and Details (KID): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to read texts closely; determine central ideas and themes; summarize information and ideas accurately; and understand sequential, comparative, and cause-effect relationships Craft and Structure (CS): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to determine word and phrase meaning, analyze an author’s word choice rhetorically, analyze text structure, and understand purpose and point of view Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (IKI): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to understand how arguments are constructed and make connections to prior knowledge as well as between and among texts
Table 4. Points and Percentage of Points by Content Category for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments Notes. KID = Key Ideas and Details; CS = Craft and Structure; IKI = Integration of Knowledge and Ideas.
Grades 3–7
Grades 8–EHS
Points % of Pts
KID
14–18 48–62 17–18 45–58
CS
7–11 24–38 7–11 23–35
IKI
4–6 14–21 4–6 13–19
Points
% of Pts
65
minutes
Total 29 100 31 100 The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 5. Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple-Choice; TE = Technology-Enhanced. Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Grades 3–7
Points % of Pts
MC
18–20 62–69 20–21 65–68
TE
1–3 3–10 0–1 0–3
CR
Grades 3–7
Grades 8–EHS
DOK 1 8–21%
23–29%
DOK 2 50–67%
38–54%
DOK 3
Points
% of Pts
8 28 10 32
Total 29 100 31 100
Table 6. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments
Grades 8–EHS
21–33% 21–38%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Between
21–38%
of each Reading test is assessing
DOK Level 3.
Table 7. Passage Coverage by Text Complexity for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessments
Basic
Grade 3
Grade 4 Grade 5 Grades 6–7 Grade 8 EHS
X X X
Straightforward X X X X Somewhat Challenging
X
X
More Challenging Complex
X X X X
X
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Writing
4
ACT Aspire writing assessments consist of summative writing tasks for grades 3 through 8 and early high school. They ask students at each grade level to respond in essay form to a single writing stimulus. The assessments are designed to provide a strong indication of whether students have the writing skills they will need to succeed as they begin work at their next grade level. Student responses are evaluated according to grade-specific analytic rubrics that assess the generation, development, organization, and communication of ideas in standard written English.
Rubric Domains Ideas and Analysis: Competent writers understand the issue they are invited to address and the purpose for writing. They generate ideas that lead to productive arguments, analyses, or reflection. Development and Support: Competent writers explain and explore their ideas, discuss implications, and illustrate through examples. They help the reader understand their thinking about the issue. Organization: Competent writers arrange their essay in a way that clearly shows the relationship between ideas, and they guide the reader through their writing. Language Use and Conventions: Competent writers make use of the conventions of grammar, syntax, word usage, and mechanics. They are also aware of their audience and adjust the style and tone of their writing to communicate effectively.
Table 8. Points by Category for the ACT Aspire Writing Assessment
45
minutes
Grades 3–5
40
minutes
Grades 6–EHS
Total Points
20
24
Ideas and Analysis
5
6
Development and Support 5 6 Organization
5 6
Language Use and Conventions
5
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
6
3
Writing Modes n
Reflective Narrative (Grades 3, 6)
n
Analytical Expository (Grades 4, 7, EHS)
n
Persuasive Argumentative (Grades 5, 8)
All ACT Aspire writing prompts are assessing
DOK Level 3.
Mathematics
9
ACT Aspire mathematics tests provide a picture of the whole of a student’s mathematical development, including a look at the concepts and skills new to the grade level as well as whether the student has continued to strengthen, integrate, and apply mathematics from earlier grades. These components are important in judging how a student is progressing and what next steps are appropriate. If administered on computers, ACT Aspire mathematics tests include questions in three formats: selected response/multiple choice (MC), constructed response/Justification and Explanation (JE), and technology enhanced (TE). For paper administration, TE questions are replaced with additional MC questions.
Reporting Categories Grades 3–5 Numbers & Operations in Base 10 Number & Operations—Fractions Operations & Algebraic Thinking
Grades 6–7
Grade 8
EHS
The Number System
Number & Quantity
Expressions & Equations
Algebra
Ratios & Proportional Relationships
Geometry Measurement & Data
Functions Geometry
Statistics & Probability
Four Additional Reporting Categories n
Grade-Level Progress: reporting how well students are doing with the topics new to their grade
n
Integrating Essential Skills: reporting grade-level success at using content acquired in earlier years; these questions have greater cognitive complexity overall than those in Grade-Level Progress
n
Modeling: reporting on those questions in Grade-Level Progress and Integrating Essential Skills that provide information about how students can apply mathematics in real-world situations
n
Justification and Explanation: reporting on constructed-response questions in Grade-Level Progress and Integrating Essential Skills which provide evidence of a student’s ability to explain his or her mathematical reasoning and why mathematical results hold
The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 9. Number of Items, Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for ACT Aspire Mathematics Assessments
65
minutes
65
minutes
Grade 3
Grade–Level Progress
#
Points % of Pts
Grade 4 #
65
minutes
Points % of Pts
Grade 5 #
Points % of Pts
MC/TE 20 20 51 19 19 49 20 20 51 JE
1 4 10 1 4 10 1 4 10
Integrating Essential Skills MC/TE
7 7
18 8 8 20.5 7 7
18
JE
2 8
21 2 8 20.5 2 8
21
Total 30 39 21 30 39 100 30 39 21
75
minutes
Grade–Level Progress
Grades 6–7 #
75
minutes
Points % of Pts
Grades 8–EHS #
Points % of Pts
MC/TE 20 20 43 21 21 39 JE
2 8 17 3 12 23
Integrating Essential Skills MC/TE 10 10 22 12 12 23 JE 2 8 17 2 8 15 Total
34
46
100
38
53
100
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple-Choice; TE = Technology-Enhanced; JE = Justification and Explanation (Constructed-Response). Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Table 10. Points by Content Category for the ACT Aspire Mathematics Assessments
Grade Level Content Category
3 4 5 6 7 8 EHS
Total
39 39 39 46 46 53 53
Number & Operations in Base 10
5–7
5–8
5–8
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–2
Number & Operations—Fractions 3–5 6–8 6–8 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–2 The Number System
3–5
3–5
2–4
1–3
Number & Quantity 1–3 Operations & Algebraic Thinking 6–8 4–6 3–5 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 Expressions & Equations
3–5
3–5
5–7
2–4
Ratios & Proportional Relationships
3–5
3–5
0–2
1–3
Algebra 2–4 Functions 3–5 3–5 Measurement & Data (Measurement)
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–3
Geometry
3–5 3–5 4–6 5–7 4–6 6–8 5–7
Measurement & Data
5–7
3–5
3–5
Measurement & Data (Data)
0–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
Statistics & Probability
3–5
3–5
4–6
4–7
Justification and Explanation
16
16
20
20
Notes.
12
12
12
If points are listed in a category that is not a reporting category for a particular grade level, those points represent questions included in the Integrating Essential Skills reporting category for that grade.
Table 11. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire Math Assessment
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–7
Grades 8–EHS
DOK 1 8–14%
9–13%
9–13%
DOK 2 30–35%
35–39%
32–36%
DOK 3
54–59% 50–54% 53–57%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Approximately 50% of each mathematics test is assessing
DOK Level 3.
Science
3
ACT Aspire science tests focus on the assessment of science practices using real-world scientific scenarios. The content of the tests includes materials from biology (life sciences at the earlier grades), chemistry and physics (physical science at the earlier grades), and Earth/space sciences (such as geology, astronomy, and meteorology). Advanced knowledge in these areas is not required, but background knowledge acquired in general, introductory science courses may be needed to answer some of the questions in the upper grade assessments. The ACT Aspire tests stress science practices over recall of scientific content, complex mathematics skills, and reading ability.
Reporting Categories Interpretation of Data (IOD): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to manipulate and analyze data presented in tables, graphs, and diagrams (e.g., selecting and comparing data, finding trends in data, converting tables into graphs, extending from trends in data) Scientific Investigation (SIN): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s understanding of experimental tools, procedures, and design (e.g., identifying variables and controls) and their ability to compare, extend, and improve experiments (e.g., predicting the results of additional trials) Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results (EMI): Reporting on questions that measure a student’s ability to judge the validity of scientific information and to formulate conclusions and predictions based on that information (e.g., determining which explanation for a scientific phenomenon is supported by new findings)
Table 12. Points and Percentage of Points by Domain for the ACT Aspire Science Assessments
60
minutes
Grades 3–5 Points
IOD
14–19 39–53 19–20 48–50 17–19 43–48
SIN
8–11 22–31 9–11 23–28 9–11 23–28
EMI
9–13 25–36 9–12 23–30 11–12 28–30 36
100
Points
40
% of Pts
Grades 8–EHS
Total
% of Pts
Grades 6–7
100
Points
40
% of Pts
100
Notes. IOD: Interpretation of Data; SIN: Scientific Investigation; EMI: Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results. Scores in Mathematics and Science will be used to provide a STEM score.
The testing time and number of test items shown on these two pages reflect only operational (scored) test items. Any test form may also include a number of field test items, which would increase the numbers and time shown here.
Table 13. Points and Percentage of Points by Item Type for ACT Aspire Science Assessments
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–7
% of Pts
Points
Grades 8–EHS
Points
% of Pts
Points
% of Pts
MC
29–30 55–57 22–23 55–58 23–24 58–60
TE
3–4 6–8 3–4 8–10 3–4 8–10
CR 20 38 14 35 13 33 Total 36 100 40 100 40 100 Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10); MC = Multiple-Choice; TE = Technology-Enhanced; CR = Constructed-Response. Paper-and-pencil tests do not have TE items. MC items are used in their place.
Table 14. Passage Formats for ACT Aspire Science Assessments
Grade Level Passage Format
3 4 5 6 7 8 EHS
Conflicting Viewpoints
1
1
Research Summaries 1 2 2 Data Representation 1 1 2 2 Student Viewpoints
1
1
Scientific Investigation
2
2
1
Data Presentation
2 2 2
2
2
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Table 15. Percentage of Points by DOK Level for the ACT Aspire Science Assessment
Grades 3–5
Grades 6–EHS
DOK 1 10–25%
5–20%
DOK 2 45–65%
45–65%
DOK 3
20–35% 25–40%
Notes. EHS = Early High School (Grades 9 and 10)
Between 25–40%
of each ACT Aspire Science test is assessing
DOK Level 3.
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Rev 4
