New CoAlt Science and Social Studies Items

Sample Items

These items may be used to help familiarize test examiners and students with the new assessment format.

Selected-Response – These are items in which students are presented with three answer choices, one of which is correct. Students are asked to select the correct answer. Selected-response items are designed to assess the highest level of content knowledge and cognitive complexity that can be appropriately measured through this type of item and is appropriate for the Extended Evidence Outcome.

Science Grade 8
Science High School
Social Studies Grade 4
Social Studies High School

Supported Performance Tasks – These are items in which students manipulate option cards in order to respond to three related prompts for each item. Students use the option cards to complete a chart or graphic. Supported Performance Tasks are designed to assess the highest level of content knowledge and cognitive complexity that can be appropriately measured through this type of item and is appropriate for the Extended Evidence Outcome. The items allow for responses that can be provided in approximately five-ten minutes or less.

Science Grade 5
Social Studies Grade 7

The 2013 CoAlt Field Test has several changes from the CoAlt assessment administered in previous years.

The student is presented with three answer options rather than four.
The student will work with the test item until they provide the correct answer or the maximum number of attempts is reached.
The scoring rubric incorporates the level of independence and answer, which will no longer be collected as two separate score points.
CoAlt test examiners may not reword prompts, but must follow the script exactly as written.
A cue for the student to engage is included as the additional prompt, and will no longer need to be created by the CoAlt test examiner.
CoAlt test examiners many mark student scores on the score recording form or in the test book, but the final student scores must be entered online via PearsonAccess.

Training on test administration will occur approximately one week prior to the field test administration.

Spring 2013 Field Test CoAlt Examiner's Manual