This document provides information about the 4th grade STAAR tests for writing, math, and reading. It outlines the format and content of each test including dates, time limits, number and types of questions. Sample questions are provided for each subject to demonstrate the format and level of complexity. The writing test will be split over two days and include composition, revision, and editing questions. The math test covers four reporting categories and includes multiple choice and griddable questions. The reading test focuses on making connections across genres and includes fiction, informational, poetry, and other texts.

2. WELCOME TO
4th GRADE
STAAR NIGHT
Writing/Math/Reading

4. Writing Test
• Dates: March 30-31, 2015
• 9 revision questions
• 19 editing questions
• Total 28 questions
• 2 Compositions

5. How will Writing be tested?
• Assessment split evenly over two days
• Day 1–First half of multiple-choice
questions and 1 prompt
• Day 2–Second half of multiple-choice
questions and 1 prompt
• The test will have a time limit-four hours
each day.

6. Composition
• Students will write two one-page compositions
addressing different types of writing.
– Personal Narrative: Write about important
personal experiences (TEKS−17A)
– Expository: Create brief composition that
establishes a central idea in a topic sentence,
contain a concluding statement, and include
supporting sentences with simple facts, details,
and explanations
(TEKS−18 A and i, ii, and iii)

7. Sample Questions:
What is the BEST way to combine sentences 9
and 10?
A. After we finished planting, we had a tasty
picnic at a table we had set up under a tree.
B. We finished planting, then we had a tasty
picnic we had set up under a tree.
C. Finishing planting, we had a picnic at a table
we had set up under a tree that was tasty.
D. We finished planting and had a tasty picnic it
was at a table we had set up under a tree.

8. Sample Questions
What is the correct way to write sentence 33?
The shrimp swam after the clown fish, the coral
cheered, waving its arms wildly.
A. The shrimp swam after the clown fish, and
the coral cheered, it waved its arms wildly.
B. The shrimp swam after the clown fish, and
the coral cheered. Waving its arms wildly.
C. The shrimp swam after the clown fish. The
coral cheered, waving its arms wildly.

9. Sample Questions
What change, if any, should be made in
sentence 20?
A. Change striped to stripped
B. Change said to says
C. Delete the quotation marks after the period
D. The sentence should not be changed.

11. STAAR Information
• Date: April 21, 2015
• Time Limit: 4 hours
• Changes: The test will be more
rigorous with greater item
complexity.

12. Types of Math Questions
• There are 48 total questions: 45 multiple choice and
three griddable.
• There are 4 Reporting Categories
• Category 1: Numerical Representations and
Relationships (12 questions)
• Category 2: Computations and Algebraic
Relationships (16 questions)
• Category 3: Geometry and Measurement
(15 questions)
• Category 4: Data Analysis and Personal Financial
Literacy ( 5 questions)

13. Sample Questions
1. Aaron purchased 2 bags of candy that
cost $2.35 each. He then purchased 2
tickets to the concert that cost $15.50
each. He had $50 in his pocket before he
bought the candy and the tickets. How
much money does he have left?
3. Jamie purchased 26 bars of soap to
donate to the local American Red Cross.
Ashley donated 37 more bars of soap than
Jamie and April donated 19 bars of soap.
About how many total bars of soap did
the three girls donate?
2. Micah was practicing tossing the football
in his backyard with his brother Josh.
Micah’s longest toss was 76 feet. His
shortest toss was 53 feet. Josh’s longest
toss was 13 times longer than Micah’s
longest toss. How many feet was Josh’s
longest toss?
4. Joseph bought 83 DVDs for a good price
at the local video store. He chose 53 to
keep for himself and gave the remaining
DVDs to his 6 friends. If each friend
received the same number of DVDs, how
many DVDs did each friend receive?

14. Samples Questions Continued..
• A.
• B.
• C.
• Look at the amounts of money above. In which of the
amounts does the digit 1 represent the tenths place?

16. Reading
•Date: April 22, 2015
•6 Stories
•3100 Word Count
•44 questions

17. Genres Assessed
Literary Informational
Poetry Expository
Fiction Procedural
Nonfiction Biography
Drama Autobiography

18. The Reading Test Will Emphasize:
• “Going beyond” a literal understanding;
Critical thinking, not skills in isolation
• Making connections between different
genres
• Fiction objective: Describe the
interactions of characters, including their
relationships and the changes they
undergo

19. Sample Questions:
Marvin’s parents looked at Marvin, first on TV, then on
the stairs.
What are Marvin’s parents most likely thinking right now?
F. They hope Marvin will become a leader someday.
G. They realize Marvin had wanted to tell them
something important.
H. They wish Marvin had asked the president a better
question.
J. They wonder why Marvin didn’t tell them about
meeting the president.

20. Sample Questions:
Which words from paragraph 6 help the reader
know the meaning of distinct?
A. Difficult for others to copy
B. Made recordings
C. Mixed up the patterns
D. Didn’t call back

21. Sample Questions:
Which of the following is the best summary of the section
“Singing with Purpose”?
A. Peter Narins is a scientist who studies frogs and frog calls.
By observing many frogs in nature, Narins has learned
some interesting things about a species of frog in Puerto
Rico.
B. The scientist Peter Narins studies frog calls. He records
the calls, plays them back to other frogs, and observes the
frogs’ responses. Narin has discovered different meanings
in the frog calls.
C. Scientists study all kinds of things, including frog calls.
One scientist who studies frog calls is Peter Narins. He is
interested in learning about how frogs use their calls.

22. STAAR-A
• An online accommodated version of the
STAAR test for students with identified
disabilities who are receiving special
education services or services under Section
504
• Same standards as STAAR
• STAAR A provides embedded supports
designed to help students with disabilities
access the content being assessed.

23. STAAR-A
• Online Tools: Answer eliminator, highlighter,
eraser, pencil, notepad
• Accessibility Features: Text-to-Speech, zoom,
color and contrast, place marker
• Embedded Accommodations: Pop-Ups,
rollovers, blank graphic organizers, writing
checklists

24. Visit the TEA
website
www.tea.state.tx.us
For more information and
updates and
Student Assessment page

25. Thank you for coming!