ACT Aspire scores are converted into percentile scores comparing a student's performance to others nationally. A percentile of 75 means the student scored as well as or better than 75% of other students. The Guam Department of Education administered the ACT Aspire in English, reading and math for grades 3-10. It also administered the Guam Standards-based Assessments (SBA) in reading, math, science and social studies, which was developed by Guam educators to assess progress towards local standards. Scores on the SBA fall into four levels: advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. In 2015, a Guam history test was also administered to high school students.

1. ACT Aspire raw scores are also transmuted into percentile
scores to compare the relative standing of a student with
other students in the same grade in the national reference
group. A percentile rank of seventy-fifth (75th) means that
for a particular subtest, the student performed as well as or
better than seventy-five percent (75%) of the students in the
reference group.
GDOE administered the ACT Aspire among students in
Grades 3-10 for the following: English, Reading, and Math.
Guam Standards-based Assessments
(SBA) Test
The SBA is a locally-developed test based off the Guam
Content Standards in Reading, Math, Science, and Social
Studies. Guam educators created the test with the technical
assistance of the Pacific Resource for Education and Learning
(PREL). After a pilot test in 2014, GDOE administered the
SBA in spring 2015. The Standards-based Assessment has
the following four performance levels:
• ADVANCED - superior performance beyond grade-level
mastery
• PROFICIENT - students are prepared for the next grade
• BASIC - indicates partial mastery
• BELOW BASIC - little or no mastery
In addition to the subjects tested GDOE for the first time
developed and administered a district wide summative test
in Guam History. High school students enrolled in Guam
History took this test in Spring 2015.
Why Standards-based Assessments?
In Spring 2015, the GDOE administered the districtwide
standards-based summative tests because we want it know
if, and to what degree students are making progress towards
explicit learning goals. These learning goals are reflective of
the learning standards outlined in the Common Core State
Standards (CCSS) adopted by the Guam Education Board in
2012. The CCSS is a set of high quality academic standards
that ensure all students are ready for success after high school
through clear, consistent guidelines for what every student
should know and be able to do.
With the districtwide implementation of the CCSS in Guam
public schools, the Department adopted standards-based
assessment summative tests to ensure that we test what we
teach. These are the (1) ACT Aspire test that is aligned with
the Common Core and (2) the locally developed standards-
based assessment (SBA) test which is aligned with the Guam
Content Standards.
ACT Aspire
The Act Aspire is a vertically-scaled and benchmarked system
of standards-based assessment that can be used to track
progress towards the Common Core State Standards and
the ACT College Readiness Standards. Vertically-scaled test
allows the comparison of proficiency through the grades
along the same standards by utilizing test items that become
increasingly difficult in higher grades.
Scores in ACT Aspire are expressed in scaled scores and
percentile scores, A student’s raw score is transmitted into
three-digit scale score that provides a common language and
metric for discussing student achievement over time as the
student progresses from grade to grade. Scale scores are
organized into ranges based on the grade level and subject
tested and classified according to the following proficiency
levels:
• READY - Students met the ACT Readiness Benchmark and
are on target for 50% or higher likelihood of college
course success by Grade 11
• CLOSE - scored below but near the ACT Readiness Benchmark
• IN NEED OF SUPPORT - scored substantially below the ACT
Readiness Benchmark
COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (CSAS)
GUAM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Jon J.P. Fernandez
Superintendent of Education
STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENT
“TEST WHAT YOU TEACH”
For more information please contact Guam Department of Education, Research, Planning, and Evaluation (RP&E) Division
Tel: (671) 300-1241/44 • Email: znnatividad@gdoe.net
Guam Department of Education SY 2014-2015