2020 Parent Brochure
Science
Grades 3 through 5 Science Assessment Overview
The science assessments are administered in one subpart and NO calculators are allowed to be used during the grade 3-5 science assessment. The science assessments for grades 3-5 will consist of the following Selected Response item types:
- Multiple choice – item with four answer options and only one correct answer
- Multiple select – item with five answer options and either two or three correct answers
The question will always indicate the number of correct answers by asking, “Which two” or “Which three”.
For grade 5 only, a series of consecutive items may also share a stimulus or phenomenon. These types of items are called “cluster items”. Cluster items sets are designed to fully address the multidimensionality of the Tennessee Academic Standards for Science. The only item types that will appear as part of the cluster item sets are Selected Response items.
- As many as eight consecutive items may share a common stimulus, context or phenomenon.
- These items are independent of one another for reporting purposes and will be worth one point each.
Grades 6 through 8
The science assessments are administered in one subpart and calculators are allowed in all grades 6-8. The science assessments for grades 6-8 will consist of the following Selected Response item types:
- Multiple choice – item with four answer options and only one correct answer.
- Multiple select – item with five answer options and either two or three correct answers.
The question will always indicate number of correct answers by asking, “Which two” or “Which three”.
For all grades, a series of consecutive items may also share a stimulus or phenomenon. These types of items are called “cluster items”. Cluster items sets are designed to fully address the multidimensionality of the Tennessee Academic Standards for Science. The only item types that will appear as part of the cluster item sets are Selected Response items.
- As many as eight consecutive items may share a common stimulus, context or phenomenon.
- These items are independent of one another for reporting purposes and will be worth one point each.
Practice Test