[Reading] [Math] [Science] [Writing] [Question Types]

Reading Content

Passages and Questions Written to FCAT Test Item Specifications

• All FCAT benchmarks are included in FCAT Test Maker's item bank.
• FCAT Test Maker 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 bias or 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.

• Three indices of reading level are used to determine grade level appropriateness of a passage: Gunning-Fog, Flesch-Kincaid, Dale-Chall.
• Level I and Level II test items and performance tasks are included for each grade.
• FCAT Test Maker 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 are 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 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 item.

Math Content

All Questions Meet or Exceed FCAT Test Item Specifications

• All FCAT benchmarks are included in FCAT Test Maker's item bank.
• Each item is written to measure primarily one benchmark; however, other benchmarks may also be reflected in the item content.
• Items are appropriate for students in terms of grade-level difficulty, life experiences, and reading level.
• At a given grade, items range in difficulty from easy to challenging.
• Items do not disadvantage or disrespect any segment of the population in regard to age, gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, or geographic region.
• At grades 3-6, all items are written so they can be answered without using a calculator. At grades 7-10, students are allowed to use a calculator.
• Some items require the student to apply previously acquired mathematical knowledge from lower grade levels.
• Some items provide information for students to analyze and use to respond to the item.
• All items provide clear and complete instructions to students.
• Each item is written to clearly and unambiguously elicit the desired response.
• In Grades 3-5, all appropriate formulas are included with the item. In Grades 6-10, a reference sheet of appropriate formulas and conversions is provided.
• The item context is designed to interest students at the tested levels.
• The item context is designed to incorporate subject areas other than mathematics. Specifically, topics from the Florida Sunshine State Standards are used where appropriate. For example, items may require students to work with topics related to The Arts, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, or Health/Physical Education. In addition, topics related to the workplace are included for grades 6-10.
• As often as possible, items are presented in real-world contexts or are related to real-world situations.
• Items including specific information or data are accurate and documented against reliable sources.
• Information is presented through written text and/or through visual material, such as graphs, tables, diagrams, maps, models, and/or other illustrations.
• All graphs provided to the students are complete with title, scale, and labeled axes, except when these components are to be completed by the student.
• All graphics in items are uncluttered and should clearly depict the necessary information. Graphics contain relevant details that contribute to the student's understanding of the item or support the context of the item.
• Extraneous information may be included in items.
• An equal balance of male and female names is used, including names representing different racial and/or ethnic groups appropriate for Florida.

Science Content

Passages and Questions Written to FCAT Test Item Specifications

• All FCAT benchmarks are included in FCAT Test Maker's item bank.
• Over 800 items per tested grade level.
• Each item is written to measure primarily one benchmark; however, other benchmarks may also be reflected in the item content.
• Items are appropriate for students in terms of grade-level difficulty, life experiences, and reading level.
• At a given grade, items range in difficulty from easy to challenging.
• Items do not disadvantage or disrespect any segment of the population in regard to age, gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, or geographic region.
• Some items require the student to apply previously acquired science knowledge from lower grade levels.
• Some items provide information for students to analyze and use to respond to the item.
• All items provide clear and complete instructions to students.
• Each item is written to clearly and unambiguously elicit the desired response.
• All graphs provided to the students are complete with title, scale, and labeled axes, except when these components are to be completed by the student.
• All graphics in items are uncluttered and should clearly depict the necessary information. Graphics contain relevant details that contribute to the student's understanding of the item or support the context of the item.
• Extraneous information may be included in items.
• An equal balance of male and female names is used, including names representing different racial and/or ethnic groups appropriate for Florida.

Writing Content

Passages and Questions Written to FCAT Test Item Specifications

• All FCAT benchmarks are included in FCAT Test Maker's item bank.
• Includes every type of passage seen on the FCAT.
• Each item is written to measure primarily one benchmark; however, other benchmarks may also be reflected in the item content.
• Items are appropriate for students in terms of grade-level difficulty, life experiences, and reading level.
• At a given grade, items range in difficulty from easy to challenging.
• Items do not disadvantage or disrespect any segment of the population in regard to age, gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, or geographic region.
• Includes all passage and question types seen on the FCAT.
• All items provide clear and complete instructions to students.
• Each item is written to clearly and unambiguously elicit the desired response.
• Extraneous information may be included in items.
• An equal balance of male and female names is used, including names representing different racial and/or ethnic groups appropriate for Florida.

Question Types

Multiple Choice Items

• Multiple-choice items are used in grades 3 through 10 and should take approximately one minute per item to answer.
• Multiple-choice items have four answer choices (A, B, C, D or F, G, H, I).
• When the answer choices for an item are strictly numerical, they are arranged in ascending or descending order.
• Incorrect answer choices (distractors) relate to a common context. Each distractor is a believable answer for someone who does not really know the correct answer. Incorrect choices represent computational or procedural errors.
• Reponses such as "None of the Above," "All of the Above," and "Not Here" are NOT used.

Gridded Response Items

• GR items should take an average of 1.5 minutes per item to complete.
• In Grades 3-5, four-column grids are used for whole number answers and are preceded with a $ sign or followed by a % sign, as appropriate.
• A special grid is provided at grade 5 for gridding decimal numbers and currency. The grid is five columns wide with a fixed decimal point in the middle.
• Grades 6-10 use a five-column grid that includes the numbers zero to nine plus two symbols: the decimal point (.)and the slash(/) for gridding fractions.

Think, Solve, and Explain Performance Tasks

• Performance tasks are included for grades 3-10 so teachers can get students used to responding to such item types.
• FCAT Test Maker includes Short (2 pt.) and Extended (4 pt.) Response Tasks.
• Short-Response Tasks are written such that a student can answer within three to five minutes. A scoring rubric is provided.
• Extended-Response Tasks are written such that students might take approximately five to 15 minutes to complete each one. A scoring rubric is provided.
• A sample top-score response is included for each item.