Introducing the NewIowa Assessments

ScienceLevels 12 – 14

ITP Assessment ToolsMath Interim Assessments: Grades 3 – 8

• Administered onlineConstructed Response Supplements

• Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics at Levels 9 – 17/18• Available free of charge in Fall 2011

Iowa Algebra Readiness Assessment (IARA)• Administered online

Iowa End of Course Assessments (IEOC)• Administered online• Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Matrix Algebra, Probability

& Statistics, English Language Arts, Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, U.S. Government

The Iowa Assessments™

Test Development

Test Specifications

Item Writing Internal Review

External ReviewInternal ReviewItem Tryout

Data ReviewOperational Forms

Construction

New Iowa Assessments™

• New forms

• All new items

• All items written and reviewed by Iowa educators

• All items field tested on Iowa students

• All items align to the Iowa Core

http://www.corecurriculum.iowa.gov/

Major Changes from Current Forms

All Levels• New order of tests within the booklet

• Adjusted number of items and administration times

• New page layouts in full color

Levels 9 – 14• Maps and Diagrams and Reference Materials tests have

been dropped.

• Mathematics test (two separately timed parts) has replaced Math Concepts & Estimation and Math Problem Solving & Data Interpretation tests.

Administration Times: Levels 9 – 14Subject Area Administration Time

Reading† 30 + 30

Written Expression 40

Mathematics† 30 + 30

Science 35

Social Studies 35

Vocabulary 15

Spelling 10

Capitalization 10

Punctuation 10

Computation 20

Word Analysis* 20

Listening* 25†Two separate sessions*Level 9 only

Science: Levels 9 – 14

• Includes both stimulus based and discrete items

• Material is drawn from the areas of Life Science, Earth & Space Science, and Physical Science

• Scientific inquiry embedded throughout the test

Science Domains & Standards

Life Science

• Organisms & their habitats

• Changes in organisms

• Interactions in an ecosystem

• Human body, health, & safety

Earth & Space Science

• Structure of Earth

• Natural resources

• Climate & weather

• Natural events

• The universe

Physical Science

• Types & properties of matter

• Forces & motion

• Forms of & changes in energy

• Physical & chemical changes

Scientific inquiry is embedded throughout the assessment.

Science Item DistributionDomain Level 12 Total Items Level 13 Total Items Level 14 Total Items

Earth & Space Science

14 14 13

Life Science 12 14 15

Physical Science 13 13 15

Total 39 41 43

Cognitive Levels of Items Above

Level 12 Total Items Level 13 Total Items Level 14 Total Items

Essential Competencies

14 12 17

Conceptual Understanding

20 24 21

Extended Reasoning

5 5 5

Cognitive Levels

Essential Competencies

• Identify basic scientific information such as facts, definitions, terminology, principles, concepts, and relationships

• Recognize fundamental components of scientific investigations

Cognitive Levels

Conceptual Understanding

• Understand scientific concepts and apply them to explain phenomena

• Analyze and interpret scientific information

• Make simple inferences, predictions, and conclusions

• Formulate hypotheses

Cognitive Levels

Extended Reasoning

• Propose solutions to scientific problems

• Make in-depth inferences, predictions, and conclusions

• Evaluate the appropriateness of scientific findings, conclusions, and experimental design

• Integrate ideas from various scientific disciplines and phenomena

Directions: Use the information below and your knowledge of science to answer questions 1 – 4.

A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are shown in the table below.

Sample Items

Core – Understand and apply knowledge of elements, compounds, mixtures, and solutions based on the nature of their physical and chemical properties; Learner formulates explanations from evidence

Physical Science – Types & properties of matterCognitive Level – Extended reasoning

1 Which conclusion is supported by the students’ results?A Water expands on freezing because its volume

increases.B Water contracts on freezing because its volume

increases.C Water expands on freezing because its volume

decreases.D Water contracts on freezing because its volume

decreases.

A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are shown in the table below.

2 When the students removed the cylinders from the

freezer to determine the change in volume, they observed water droplets on the outside of the cylinders. What process caused these water droplets?

A Evaporation

B Condensation

C Melting

D Boiling

Core – Understand and apply knowledge of physical and chemical changes and their relationship to the conservation of matter and energy; Learner connects explanations to scientific knowledge

Physical Science – Types & properties of matterCognitive Level – Conceptual understanding

A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are shown in the table below.

3 Each student pair calculated the percent change in volume. The students’ results are shown in the bar graph below.

If the actual value for volume change is 9.0%, which student pair was the most accurate?

A 1

B 2

C 3

D 4

Core – Understand and apply knowledge of elements, compounds, mixtures, and solutions based on the nature of their physical and chemical properties; Learner gives priority to evidence in responding to questions

Physical Science – Types & properties of matterCognitive Level – Conceptual understanding

A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are shown in the table below.

4 On average, compared to the water molecules in the frozen samples, the water molecules in the liquid samples were

A farther apart and moving faster.

B farther apart and moving slower.

C closer together and moving faster.

D closer together and moving slower.

Core – Understand and apply knowledge of physical and chemical changes and their relationship to the conservation of matter and energy; Learner connects explanations to scientific knowledge

Physical Science – Types & properties of matterCognitive Level – Conceptual understanding

A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are shown in the table below.

Core – Understand and apply knowledge of the structure and processes of the Earth system and the processes that change Earth and its surface

Earth Science – Natural resourcesCognitive Level – Essential competencies

5 Which type of alternative energy uses the heat inside Earth to produce electricity?

A Wind energy

B Geothermal energy

C Nuclear energy

D Solar energy

Core – Understand and apply knowledge of the structure and processes of the Earth system and the processes that change Earth and its surface

Earth Science– Natural eventsCognitive Level – Conceptual understanding

6 Which natural event do scientists predict using earthquake activity?

A Tornado

B Drought

C Volcanic eruption

D Glacier formation

Answer Folder Changes

• Colors are being used to help teachers more easily verify that the correct form is being used.

• The optional section for Tryout Items is now located in the interior of the answer folders. Use the adjacent “Other Information” box to grid in the Tryout Form number.

Scratch Paper

• Each student should have a supply of scratch paper for all testing sessions.

• Collect all scratch paper after each session.

• Destroy all used scratch paper.

Security

• Test booklets are SECURE materials.

• NO booklets are to be retained at the district or school level.

Security

For security reasons, tests may be viewed on only two occasions:

1. When students are taking an assessment

- Order only enough materials to test your students.

2. When educators are reviewing Item Analysis Reports (Item Response Record)

- Contact ITP for review copies.

Content Included on Level 12 – 14 Practice Tests

• Reading

• Written Expression

• Mathematics

• Science

• Social Studies

• Vocabulary

• Spelling

• Capitalization

• Punctuation

• Computation

Details

• Presentation will be available on the Iowa Testing Programs website at http://itp.education.uiowa.edu.– Contact your testing coordinator if you need assistance

accessing materials.

• A Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) is posted on our website and will be updated frequently.

• Contact iowa-testing-programs@uiowa.edu with any additional questions.