This presentation is an overview of the NJ ASK, including changes to the test, PARCC ramifications, and changes to the math and language arts sections.
2. CHANGES AND UPDATES
• 2015 - entire testing system changes
• Tests administered by:
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
and Career (PARCC)
•Testing will take place 4 times a year
–de-emphasize the impact of a single test score
–give more opportunitiesfor students to exhibit
knowledge & skills
3. LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY
• 2013: first year the NJ ASK will test in-line with Common Core
State Standards (CCSS) specifically
– Key Ideas and Details
– Craft and Structure
• Biggest changes: Writing sections of English Language Arts
– OLD: students read a multi-paragraph passage& incorporating details into
their writing,
– NEW: students given one short paragraph and must supplement their essays
with information from texts or other media.
– SCORES: based on how much information a student put into a their work
4. READING FOR GRADES 3 - 5
• 2 OUT OF 3 WRITING STYLES TESTED
– Informative/Explanatory& Narrative
• Informative/Explanatory
– a short paragraph or a poem on a familiar topic
– students write a response using their own
experience, opinions, and knowledge
• Narrative
– a one-paragraph scenario
– students develop into a complete story
5. READING FOR GRADES 6 - 8
• 2 OUT OF 3 WRITING STYLES TESTED
– Informative/Explanatory& Narrative
• Informative/Explanatory
– a short paragraph or a poem on a familiar topic
– students write a response using their own
experience, opinions, and knowledge
• Narrative
– a one-paragraph scenario
– students develop into a complete story
6. MATH 2013
• 2013 – first year NJ ASK tests in-line with new
Common Core State Standards (CCSS), but
only for grades 3-5
• New standards: more focused and cohesive
than prior New Jersey Core Curriculum
Content Standards (NJCCCS)
• Emphasis on critical topics will increase
7. MATH 2013
• GRADES 3-5: the four arithmetic operations are heavily
emphasized
• GRADES 4-5: fractions become the main focus
• The numerical operations increase from 40% to 60+% of the
test
• Terminology reflects a more specific demand.
– Old: “Demonstrate an understanding of whole number
place value concepts.”
– New: “Use place value understanding to round whole
numbers to the nearest 10 or 100.”
• The changes for grades 6 to 8 will take place in 2014
8. MATH 2013
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
• Score reflects student’s current skills
• Score impact next year academic placement
ADVANCED PROFICIENT: 250-300
PROFICIENT: 200-249
PARTIALLY PROFICIENT: 199 and below
13. HOW TO IMPROVE THE SCORE
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Comprehensively understand score
Evaluate current study habits
Setup action plan
Basic skills and habits develop
Test Taking Skills = Motivation to completion
14. MEK Programs for NJ ASK
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Critical Reading& Writing
Problem Solving Math
Comp Math
Writing Lab and Literacy @ the Lab
Reading’s So Great!