Release of English Language Arts I and II Sample Tests
Full-length sample tests for Ohio’s State Tests for English Language Arts I and II now are available in the Student Practice Site of Ohio’s State Test portal. The tests are comprised of released test items. Each sample test is reflective of the length of the operational test, meets blueprint expectations and is of similar difficulty. These sample tests give educators insight into the kinds of questions students experience, and they are a useful tool to inform classroom instruction. Both teachers and parents may use this resource to help students know what to expect on the state tests.
Included with each item on the sample tests are the associated learning standard(s) and scoring guides. Examples of student responses also are available to illustrate actual work and the corresponding points earned on the student examples.
The sample tests can be used as a classroom tool to give students experience working within the testing environment and exposure to the question types they will encounter. The released tests, like other released items currently in Ohio’s State Test portal, are not machine scorable until July. Answers to the individual items are in the Scoring Guide provided for each test. Teachers can encourage students to peer review essays using the writing rubric to guide the review. Sample responses provided in the scoring guide also can be used in whole-class instruction to show differences between responses at various score points.
New English Language Arts Professional Development
Resources for Students and Teachers
Using the Writing Rubrics in the Classroom provides an explanation of why the writing rubrics should be used as a teaching tool in the classroom. Multiple strategies for how the rubrics can be used are included.
Writing Rubric Questions for Persuasive/Argumentative Essays (Grades 6-12) is designed for student use. This resource breaks down the writing rubric into student-friendly language. Each section of the rubric is addressed by a series of questions that students can use to guide their writing. These checkpoints help students focus on the claims and counterclaims they are presenting to the reader, as well as the evidence and elaboration they need to support them.
Writing Rubric Questions for Informational/Exploratory Essays (Grades 6-12) is designed for student use. This resource breaks down the writing rubric into student-friendly language. Each section of the rubric is addressed by a series of questions that students can use to guide their writing. These checkpoints help students focus on the thesis or controlling idea they are presenting to the reader, as well as the evidence and elaboration they need to support them.
ELA Professional Learning for Educators
English language arts consultants at the Department are available to connect with the educational community through conferences, content area gatherings and professional learning opportunities at educational service centers or multi-district gatherings.
- Engaging English Language Arts: Using Webb’s Depth of Knowledge to Improve Reading and Writing in the Classroom
This session will focus on ways to encourage critical thinking using Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) tools. DOK measures the degree to which knowledge is elicited from students. DOK is used to describe the complexity of learning tasks and test items. Understanding how to develop critical thinking by asking questions and developing assignments is critical to student growth and success on Ohio’s State Tests.
- Understanding the Writing Rubric
This resource will help educators break down the components of the writing rubric. Participants will develop an understanding of the differences between the points for each category, learn how to score their students’ work using the rubrics and engage with examples of student papers available with the practice and released tests.
Practice Tests
Half-length practice tests continue to be available for each of Ohio’s State Tests. Practice test items and writing samples allow students to become familiar with the online test environment by showcasing the different item types, features and functionalities available to students during online testing. A scoring rubric is available in the Item Release Scoring Guide for each set of these practice items.
Teachers can review released test items and student writing samples to evaluate the level of reading comprehension and writing skills needed for students to be considered proficient. This analysis can help teachers examine their local curricula to determine if their instruction is providing students enough opportunities to take their reading comprehension and writing skills to a deeper level.
Practice Test Scoring Guides
The Practice Test Scoring Guides provide answer keys and scoring guidance for each of Ohio’s State Tests for English Language Arts. They include the item type, content standard and content statement assessed, an answer key, and the number of points associated with each item. They also include the scoring rubrics, sample responses and notes on scoring, and rationales that describe why response options are correct or incorrect.
Test Specifications
The English Language Arts Test Specifications continue to provide an overview of the structure and content of Ohio’s State Tests. This overview includes a description of the test design, as well as information on the types of items that will appear on the tests. Also included is a test blueprint, which is a document that identifies the range and distribution of points grouped into various reporting categories (Reading Literary Text, Reading Informational Text and Writing). The specifications also provide specific guidelines for the development of all items used for Ohio’s English language arts tests.
These documents are a resource for item writers, test designers, Ohio educators and other stakeholders who are interested in a deeper understanding of the tests.
Test Blueprints
Test blueprints continue to serve as a guide for test construction and provide an outline of the content and skills to be measured on the tests. They contain information about individual tests, including the number of points on the test and how the learning standards are grouped in order to report the test results. All standards identified on the blueprint are eligible to appear on a test and should be taught during instruction.
Performance Level Descriptors
The Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) continue to be the link between Ohio’s Learning Standards for English Language Arts and the performance standards. They were developed by Ohio educators and other content experts to illustrate the typical demonstration of learning for each of the five performance levels: Limited, Basic, Proficient, Accelerated and Advanced. Teachers can review the PLDs for each grade level or subject to match each descriptive statement with its course standards. Teachers can then review local curriculum materials to see if opportunities are being given to students to demonstrate deeper conceptual understanding of course content at the different performance levels.
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