NC State Required Tests
Amy C. Rice
Testing & Accountability Coordinator
ricea@gcs.k12.nc.us
Dinah Carter
Data Manager for Testing & Accountability
carterd@gcs.k12.nc.us
- ACCESS Testing
- ACT
- ACT Workkeys
- Beginning of Grade: 3rd Grade Reading
- End-of-Grade Tests: Reading & Mathematics Grades 3-8, Science Grade 5 & 8
- End-Of-Course Tests: Biology, English II, NC Math 1, & NC Math 3
- PreACT
- Read to Achieve Test for Grade 3
- WIDA Screener
- NC Alternative Assessments
- NC Check-Ins & NC Check-Ins 2.0
ACCESS Testing
Name of Test: ACCESS/Alt. ACCESS Testing
School Level: All
Subject/Type: English Proficiency Test
Required or Optional?: Required by the state and a federal requirement. When is it Given? January 23 - March 10, 2023
Length of Test: The 4 parts are untimed to allow students to work at their own pace. Generally no one part takes more than 60 minutes and the 4 parts are not given in the same day.
Who takes it?: Students who are designated as English Learners
What is it and why is it important?:The ACCESS for ELLs is North Carolina’s required annual English language proficiency assessment that complies with Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards and assesses each of the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
How are the results used?
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Help Educators, parents and students understand students’ current level of English proficiency along the developmental continuum.
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To monitor students’ progress on an annual basis
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To establish when ELs have attained English language proficiency according to state criteria.
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To inform classroom instruction.
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To aid in programmatic decision making.
ACT
Name of Test: ACT
School Level: High School
Subject/Type: Standardized College Entrance Exam
Required or Optional?: Required by the state
When is it Given? Test Date 1: March 7, 2023, Test Date 2: March 21, 2023, Test Date 3: April 18, 2023
Length of Test: English Test - 45 minutes, Math Test - 60 minutes, Reading Test - 35 minutes, Science Test - 35 minutes. Total testing time - 175 minutes.
Who takes it?: All 11th grade students
What is it and why is it important?: The ACT College Admissions Assessment is widely accepted by college admission offices. The test consists of four areas: English, mathematics, reading and science. Colleges use the ACT for admission decisions, course placement, academic advising, loans and scholarships.
How are the results used? The UNC system of colleges and universities considers a composite score of 19 on the ACT as an indicator of a student’s college readiness. High school counselors use the results for academic advising and counseling. Schools use the results for programmatic decision making for improving overall academic performance of students in the areas of English, mathematics, reading and science. Results are also part of the NC Accountability Model for High School.
ACT Workkeys
Name of Test: ACT Workkeys
School Level: High School
Subject/Type: Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? Fall: November 14 - December 9, 2022, Spring: February 21 - March 24, 2023
Length of Test: Workplace Documents - 55 minutes, Applied Math - 55 minutes, Graphic Literacy - 55 minutes. Total testing time - 165 minutes.
Who takes it?: Students in grade 12 who are identified as Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators.
What is it and why is it important?: Students who achieve qualifying scores on the Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents assessments can earn a WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (WorkKeys NCRC) at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels of readiness.
How are the results used? The nationally recognized certificate provides employers with information on the skill levels of potential employees and aids with employment, promotion, and training decisions. The results are also included in the NC Accountability Model for High Schools.
Beginning of Grade: 3rd Grade Reading
Name of Test: Beginning of Grade 3 Reading Test
School Level: Elementary
Subject/Type: ELA/State Standardized
Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? First 15 days of the school year.
Length of Test: 40 Questions, 90 minutes standards time (180 minutes maximum)
Who takes it?: All third grade students, except those students with disabilities who, according to their IEP documentation, participate in the NCEXTEND 1 alternate assessment.
What is it and why is it important?: The BOG3 Reading Test is linked to the Read to Achieve Program which has a goal of ensuring “that every student reads at or above grade level by the end of third grade.”
How are the results used? The BOG3 serves as a baseline measure for beginning third grade students’ reading comprehension. Students scoring a level 3 or higher on the BOG are given a Good Cause Exemption for proficiency should they not score proficient on the third grade EOG. The test is also used for school accountability growth and student growth for teachers and administrators.
Beginning of Grade Test Specifications
Beginning of Grade Released Items for Practice and Review
End-of-Grade Tests: Reading & Mathematics Grades 3-8, Science Grade 5 & 8
Name of Test: End-of-Grade Tests: Reading and Mathematics Grades 3-8, Science Grade 5 and 8 School Level: Elementary and Middle
Subject/Type: English/Language Arts, Mathematics and Science Standardized State Test Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? Final 10 instructional days for the school year.
Length of Test: Reading Grades 3-5: 48 questions, Reading Grades 6-8: 52 questions, Mathematics Grades 3 and 4: 46 questions, Mathematics Grade 5: 48 questions, Mathematics Grades 6-8: 53, Science Grades 5 and 8: 65 questions. All tests are 120 minutes (180 maximum)
Who takes it?: All students in membership take the EOG. Those students with disabilities, who according to their IEP documentation, participate in the NCEXTEND 1, take the NCEXTEND 1 as their reading, mathematics and science EOG.
What is it and why is it important?: The EOG tests measure students’ proficiency on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for reading, mathematics and science in grades 5 and 8.
How are the results used? Results are used to measure student achievement/proficiency, as well as student growth. Test results are also used for school and district accountability in the accountability model and for federal reporting purposes.
Grade 3-8 Mathematics Test Specifications
Grade 3-8 Reading Test Specifications
End-Of-Course Tests: Biology, English II, NC Math 1, & NC Math 3
Name of Test: End-Of-Course Tests: Biology, English II, NC Math 1, and NC Math 3
School Level: Primarily High School (Math 1 is given at the middle school level to select students)
Subject/Type: English/Language Arts, Mathematics and Science Standardized State Test
Length of Test: Biology EOC - 120 minutes (180 maximum), English 2 - 150 minutes (240 maximum), Math 1 and Math 3 - 180 minutes (240 maximum)
Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? Final 5 instructional days of the semester or the final 10 instructional days for yearlong courses.
Who takes it?: All students in membership in each course must take the EOC. Those students with disabilities, who according to their IEP documentation, participate in the NCEXTEND 1, take the NCEXTEND 1 as their Biology, English II and Math 1 EOC.
What is it and why is it important?: The EOC tests are used to sample a student’s knowledge of subject-related concepts as specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for English II, NC Math 1 and Math 3 and the North Carolina Essential Standards for Biology to provide a global estimate of the student’s mastery of the material in the content area.
How are the results used? Results are used to measure student achievement/proficiency, as well as student growth. Test results are also used for school and district accountability in the accountability model and for federal reporting purposes. 16 N.C. Admin Code 06D.0309 states that “public schools shall use results from all operational EOC tests as a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the student’s final grade for each respective course.”
English II Test Specifications
Math 1 and Math 3 Specifications
Released Forms of EOCs for Practice and Review
PreACT
Name of Test: PreACT
School Level: High School
Subject/Type: Standardized College Entrance Exam
Length of Test: English Test - 30 minutes, Math Test - 40 minutes, Reading Test - 30 minutes, Science Test - 30 minutes. Total testing time - 130 minutes.
Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? October 17 - December 16, 2022
Who takes it?: All tenth grade students.
What is it and why is it important?: The PreACT simulates The ACT testing experience within a shorter test on all four subjects of The ACT: English, reading, math, and science. The multiple choice test predicts future success aligned to The ACT test and provides both current achievement and projected future ACT test scores.
How are the results used? Detailed Results and Item Responses help to identify specific areas of strength and weakness. Additional reporting insights on STEM, Career Readiness and Understanding Complex Texts are provided.
Read to Achieve Test for Grade 3
Name of Test: Read to Achieve Test for Grade 3
School Level: Elementary
Subject/Type: ELA/Reading State Standardized assessment Length of Test: 120 minutes (180 maximum)
Required or Optional?: Optional
When is it Given? 3 windows within the year: Fall 2022 (for students in 3/4 transition classroom), Final 10 instructional days of the year, and in the Summer of 2023 after Reading Camp.
Who takes it?: Third grade students that are not proficient on the 3rd grade Reading EOG and do not have a Good Cause Exemption may take the Read to Achieve assessment as an approved alternative reading assessment.
What is it and why is it important?: General Statute §115C-83.7(a) states that the State Board of Education (SBE) “shall require that a student be retained in the third grade if the student fails to demonstrate reading proficiency appropriate for a third-grade student as demonstrated on a State-approved standardized test of reading comprehension administered to third-grade students.” Students may, however, be exempt from mandatory retention in third grade for good cause by demonstrating reading proficiency appropriate for third-grade students on an alternative assessment approved by the SBE. The Read to Achieve Test is a valid and reliable standardized alternative assessment of reading comprehension that has been approved for good cause by the SBE.
How are the results used? The results are used as a valid indicator of third grade reading proficiency.
WIDA Screener
Name of Test: WIDA Screener
School Level: Elementary, Middle and High
Subject/Type: State designated EL proficiency identification test.
Length of Test: 4 part; Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing. Each part is approximately 30 minutes.
Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? Within 30 calendar days of enrollment.
Who takes it?: All students whose Home Language Survey indicates a language other than English.
What is it and why is it important?: State designated EL proficiency identification test. This screener identifies students whose primary language is something other than English as possibly being an English Learner.
How are the results used? Once the composite score is calculated and students are determined to be English Learners, the students are eligible to receive EL services. The scores are used to determine the level of services the students receive and also act as a baseline for measuring their English language growth after their first year.
NC Alternative Assessments
Name of Test: North Carolina Alternative Assessments
School Level: Elementary, Middle and High Subject/Type: ELA/Reading, Mathematics, Science
Length of Test: Varies depending on the test
Required or Optional?: Required
When is it Given? Alternative assessments follow the calendar of the standard assessments.
Who takes it?: Those students with disabilities, who according to their IEP documentation, participate in the alternate assessment for all required assessments.
What is it and why is it important?: According to 16 N.C. Admin. Code 06G .0315 all students with disabilities are required to participate in the statewide testing program by taking either the general state-mandated tests with or without accommodations or by participating in North Carolina Alternative Assessments with or without accommodations. To participate in alternative assessments, students must meet specific eligibility criteria established by the Annual Testing Program, and the decision to participate in the alternate assessments must be documented in the students’ current IEPs.
How are the results used? Results are used for the same purposes as each general state-mandated test’s results.
General State Mandated Test
- ACCESS
- EOG and EOC Tests PreACT and ACT
Alternative Assessment
- Alternate Access NCEXTEND 1 Tests
- CCRAA for Grades 10 and 11
NC Extend 1 for 3rd - 8th Reading EOG Test Specifications
NC Extend 1 for 3rd - 8th Math EOG Test Specifications
NC Extend 1 5th & 8th Science EOG Test Specifications
NC Extend 1 Biology Test Specifications
NC Extend 1 English 2 Test Specifications
NC Extend 1 Math 1 Test Specifications
Extend 1 Released Items for Practice and Review
NC Check-Ins & NC Check-Ins 2.0
Name of Test: NC Check-Ins and NC Check-Ins 2.0
School Level: Elementary, Middle and High
Subject/Type: Reading, Math, Science (5th/8th), Biology, English 2, Math 1 and Math 3
Length of Test: The length of the tests vary but most can be given in a typical class period.
Required or Optional?: Optional by the state but GCPS requires these for its students.
When is it Given? At various points throughout the school year.
Who takes it?: All students enrolled in grades 3-8, Biology, English 2, Math 1 and/or Math 3.
What is it and why is it important?: The NC Check-Ins and NC Check-Ins 2.0 are formative interim assessments developed by the NC Department of Public Instruction and are aligned to North Carolina grade-level content standards.
How are the results used? The results provide students, teachers, and parents or guardians with immediate in-depth data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on selected subsets of content standards. The results allow teachers to differentiate instruction for students in order to accelerate for those that have mastered the standards and remediate for those that have not yet mastered the standards.