NEW JERSEY ASSESSMENT OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

(NJ ASK)May 2011

What Is The NJ ASK?n The NJ ASK is an assessment which

measures proficiency in language arts and math for grades 7 & 8, and science for grade 8

n NJ ASK test scores enable schools to determine students strengths and weaknesses, as well as measure mastery

How are my NJ ASK scores used by the school and why are they important?W

Since scores are used to measure achievement and understanding of previously learned material, schools use the NJ ASK to help place and track students. It’s important for students to do their best on this assessment so that are placed in the appropriate level classes.

What Does My Score Mean?§Scores are placed into one of

three categories§Below 200 Partial

Proficiency§Below 250 Proficient§At or Above 250 Advanced

ProficiencyEvery student should score at or above proficiency as a New

Jersey standard

TEST DATES AND TIMING

Day 1May 3

Lang. ArtsGrade 7Grade 8

1 hour, 45 min1 hour, 45 min

Day 2May 4

Lang. ArtsGrade 7Grade 8

2 hours2 hours

Day 3May 5

MathGrade 7 Grade 8

1 hour, 4 min2 hours, 13 min

Day 4May 6

Math- Grade 7Science- Grade 8

1 hour, 9min2 hours

Language Arts- May 3 & 4, 2011 Days 1 & 2 (Grades 7 and 8)

• 36 MULTIPLE CHOICE • 4 OPEN-ENDED• 2 WRITING TASKS

Language Arts Overview• Reading Passages

– Narrative (story)– Informational (expository)– Interpreting and Analyzing / Critiquing

Text– 10 Multiple-Choice – 2 Open-Ended Questions for each

passage

Language Arts Overview• Writing Prompts

– Persuasive (45 minutes)5 paragraph essay

– (A)Explanatory OR (B)Speculative

(30 minutes)(A) life experience or quotation based(B) writing a short story with characters,

dialogue, etc.

Mathematics Overview- Grade 7Days 3 and 4

Type of Question # Questions

Multiple Choice 42

Extended Constructed-Responses 5

Short Constructed-Response 10

Mathematics Overview- Grade 8Day 3, Thursday, May 5

Type of Question # Questions

Multiple Choice 42

Extended Constructed-Responses 5

Short Constructed-Response 10

Mathematical Areas of Focus Constructed-Response Questions•Have no answer choices. Students must write answers to mathematical questions.•Answers require techniques of listing, counting and reasoning.•Calculators are not allowed to be used in this section

•An example of a constructed-response question is: How many ways can a teacher choose 2 students from a group of 4 students? Answer: 6

Multiple-Choice Questions•Students choose the one best answer from four answer choices

•An example of a multiple choice question is: What is the value of the expression 15 – 3(2+1)? A. 108 B. 36 C. 23 D. 6 Answer: D

Mathematical Areas of Focus, Cont’dExtended Constructed-Response QuestionsØ Have no answer choices. Students must write or draw answers to

questions.Ø Answers require techniques of recognizing, describing, extending and

creating patterns involving whole numbers, rational numbers and integers.Ø Students may or may not use a calculator in this section,

An example of an extended constructed-response is: The first 4 terms of Sequence A are shown below.

3, 5, 7, 9,……

This sequence can be described by the rule, NEXT = NOW + 2

• Give the first 4 terms of a different sequence that has the same rule.• Sequence A, above, has a rule for the nth term. It is 2n + 1. Give the rule

for the nth term of your sequence• What is the 100th term of your sequence? Show your work or explain your

answer.

CALCULATORREQUIREMENT

v Bring your own or use a school issuedBEST Calculator = The one you use EVERYDAY in Math Class

v Calculators will be used for 50% of the test

vo1

Slide 13

vo1 vorsi, 12/30/2004

MINIMUMACCEPTABLE FUNCTIONS

v Operations-should have the ability to perform the four basic mathematical operations and have the ability to do powers and roots of any degree

v Memory - at least one memory cell

v Clearing mechanismMemory MUST BE CLEARED

v Remove all reference materials

vo2

Slide 14

vo2 vorsi, 12/30/2004

test taking tips

üListen to and read the directions carefully BEFORE you look at any answers that may be provided.

üUnderline important points in the question.üMake sure you answer the question being asked.

Be complete and thorough.üUse the space provided in your ANSWER

FOLDER to WRITE and SHOW your work.üAsk yourself, “Does my answer make sense?”üIf you don’t know the answer, take an educated guess!ü Do your best and answer as many questions as possible.ü Check your work when finished each section.ü Trust yourself; you have a lot of knowledge!!

Preparing for NJ ASK

n Get a good nights restn Eat a healthy breakfast

n Wear comfortable clothes & wear layers

n Make an educated guess on every test questionn Bring a #2 pencil

nDo your best

TESTING SITE NO NO’S