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Progress Testing Inc. has been providing educational software for more than 10 years. Based in Gainesville, FL, Progress Testing Inc. provides the highest quality, state-specific item banks in the country. Interested in enriching and enhancing the educational experience for our students? Contact us today!
Progress Testing Inc.
Toll Free: (800) 930-TEST
Phone: (352) 336-3780
Fax: (352) 336-3782
Email: Info@ProgressTesting.com
Phone: (352) 336-3780
Fax: (352) 336-3782
Email: Info@ProgressTesting.com
FCAT Reading
Passages and Questions Written to FCAT Test Item Specifications
Passages and Questions Written to FCAT Test Item Specifications
- ll FCAT benchmarks are included in FCAT Test Maker PRO's item bank.
- FCAT Test Maker PRO's Reading Passages consist of Literary and Informational Texts in accordance with FCAT Test Item Specifications. (see Text Distribution Table)
- Passages are based on topics presented in the Sunshine State Standards.
- Vocabulary is checked against accepted published word lists to ensure that it is appropriate for the intended grade level.
- Passages contain sufficient content, including details and development of ideas, and there are 15 to 20 items per reading passage.
- Passages at a given grade level include a range of age-appropriate and engaging selections that are relevant to students and not limited to classroom or school-related situations.
- Passages include a range of multicultural selections.
- Passages are free from any cultural bias, stereotyping (e.g., always having male doctors and female nurses), or offensive content.
- Controversial, confusing, or emotionally charged subjects are avoided.
- There are no references to trademarks, commercial products, and/or brand names in any reading passage unless such reference is essential to the content of the passage.
- Passages represent a range of cultural diversity. Characters, settings, and situations reflect the variety of interests and backgrounds that make up the student population of Florida.
- The reading level of each passage is within 8 months of or at the grade level for which the passage is intended.
- Selections for a given grade represent a range, with reading levels appropriate for both the beginning and end of the grade.
- Four indices of reading level are used to determine grade level appropriateness of a passage: Gunning-Fog, Flesch-Kincaid, Dale-Chall, and Lexile.
- Level I and Level II test items and performance tasks are included for each grade.
- FCAT Test Maker PRO items are clear and concise and use vocabulary and sentence structure appropriate for the grade level.
- Whenever possible, item stems are expressed as questions. Full capitalization is used to emphasize key words as appropriate for the grade level being tested (e.g., LEAST, EXCEPT, NOT, FIRST, BEST).
- Plural forms are used where appropriate to avoid gender-specific pronouns (e.g., "The students will make changes so that they . . ." instead of "the student will make changes so that he . . .").
- An equal balance of male and female names are used, including names representing different racial and/or ethnic groups appropriate for Florida.
- For all grades: story, article, passage, or poem, whichever is appropriate, is used when referring to reading selections. For grades 7-10, excerpt is used if the reading selection is an excerpt from a book or other material.
- Especially in grades 3, 4, and 5, the words ALIKE and DIFFERENT are used in items calling for comparison or contrast.
- Multiple-choice items are used in grades 3-10 and should take approximately one to two minutes per item to answer.
- Items have four answer choices (A, B, C, D or F, G, H, I).
- Performance tasks are included for grades 3-10 so teachers can get students used to responding to such item types.
- FCAT Test Maker PRO includes Short (2 pt.) and Extended (4 pt.) Response Tasks.
- Short-Response tasks are written such that a student can answer within five minutes. A scoring rubric is provided.
- Extended-Response tasks are written such that students might take approximately ten to fifteen minutes to complete each one. A scoring rubric is provided.
- A sample top-score response is included for each SR, ER, and Writing prompt.
- Next Generation Standards, according to FLDOE Crosswalks, have been applied to all content for use during the 2008-2009 school year. As no specifications have yet been published, we have used our best editorial judgment and will perform an update upon guidance from FLDOE.