FCAT test Format
FCAT test format includes two basic sections, CRT (Criterion-referenced Test) and NRT (Norm-referenced Test). The CRT helps in evaluating the performance of students in reading, writing, science and mathematics as per the Florida Sunshine State Standards and NRT helps in evaluating the performance of an individual student of Florida against students nationwide. Depending on the grade level of the student and subjects, there are several FCAT test question formats, classified as follows:
Multiple Choice (MC) Questions: The students ought to choose the best answer out of four options given for a question and should mark their answers by filling the appropriate “bubble” in their answer books.
Gridded Response (GR) Questions: The students are required to solve the given problem and mark or “bubble” their answer against the appropriate answer grid.
Performance Task Questions require the students to develop independent thinking and answer questions in their own words. There are two kinds of formats under performance task questions, Short Response (SR) questions and Extended Response (ER) questions.
A grade 3 student will be generally asked only multiple choice questions and grades 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11 students are required to answer performance task questions in addition to MC and GR questions.
FCAT test reading format which requires the student to “read, think and explain” is presented in multiple choice formats and performance task formats (Both SR and ER). The content of FCAT test reading includes about six to seven passages, 40 to 45 MC questions, 3 to 4 SR and 1 to 2 ER questions. Students are required to read the questions thoroughly, plan and write their answers based on the information from given passages. While an SR requires a student to explain the developmental change of a particular character in a story, an ER may require a more detailed explanation by comparing actions or behavior of two or more characters.
FCAT test Mathematics questions are given in three formats, MC, GR and performance task questions. It follows the “think, solve and explain” procedure. The students are supposed to read a problem, analyze and find a way to solve it, and then write the solution in their own wordings. While an SR question provides a problem situation and asks for a representing equation to that problem, the ER questions may require a more detailed explanation with construction of graphs etc., as per requirement.
FCAT test science questions are also produced in three formats, MC, GR and performance task questions. This requires the students to “read, inquire and explain”. The performance task questions require students to read, plan, and explain the scientific process used for determining their answer in their own words. While an SR may ask only for a scientific concept, an ER question may require a detailed step by step description of an experiment.
For FCAT test writing, students of grade 4, 8 and 10 are required to write on an assigned topic (prompt) within a stipulated time period. While the students of grade 4 are required to reply to a prompt that requires explanation (called expository writing) or tell a story (called narrative writing), the grade 8 and 10 students will be asked for either expository writing or persuade (called persuasive) writing.