Q & A about MCA Math Test Resources
Q1: What can you do to help prepare students for the MCA?
A1: Get to know the benchmarks for your grade by looking at the test specifications. Test specification documents contain benchmark language for each grade and are located here: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/spec/
Q2: How can you make sure you are teaching the full spectrum of skills expected for each benchmark?
A2: Read the Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) to see examples in each of the following categories: “Does Not Meet,” “Partially Meets,” “Meets,” and “Exceeds.” http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/ald/
Q3: Where can you find practice questions for students?
A3: The Item Sampler is an online practice quiz with approximately 30 questions. Use it to gain familiarity with the online testing platform. The Item Sampler Teacher Guide provides detail about the questions on the sampler. Item Samplers and Teacher Guides are located here: http://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/item-samplers/
Q4: Where can you find additional practice questions?
A4: Non-Minnesota released test questions may also be used for student practice. The test questions at these websites may not align to Minnesota benchmarks. Before using any of them be sure to check alignment to Minnesota benchmarks.
- NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) questions that can be checked for alignment to Minnesota benchmarks: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt/
- PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) released test questions that can be checked for alignment to Minnesota benchmarks: https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisaproducts/pisa-test-questions.htm
- TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) released items that can be checked for alignment to Minnesota benchmarks: https://nces.ed.gov/timss/educators.asp
- Math Reasoning Inventory resources that can be checked for alignment to Minnesota benchmarks: https://mathreasoninginventory.com/
- MAP (Mathematics Assessment Project) Shell resources that can be checked for alignment to Minnesota benchmarks: http://map.mathshell.org/
As always, please do not hesitate to contact Angela and Ann with any questions or concerns.
Angela Hochstetter – Math Assessment Specialist
angela.hochstetter@state.mn.us
Ann Page – Math Assessment Specialist
ann.page@state.mn.us