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Testing
Testing > Maryland School Assessment
Overview
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The Maryland School Assessment (MSA) is a test of reading and math achievement that meets the testing requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The test is given each year in early March in reading and math at grades 3 through 8. Beginning in spring 2007, the MSA/Science will be field-tested in grades 5 and 8. Scores from the MSA and other state tests are posted on the Web at www.mdreportcard.org. The testing calendar is available as an Adobe PDF document. Sample test items are available on mdk12.org. |
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General MSA Information
- The test includes multiple-choice questions and questions requiring written responses.
- It measures basic as well as higher level skills.
- Students take the tests for approximately 90 minutes each day. There are four days of testing––two days for reading and two days for math.
- The testing vendor sends the scores for individual students to local school systems. The school systems then distribute the scores to parents.
- The MSA scores show how well students learned the reading and mathematics skills in the State Curriculum. A norm-referenced score is also provided to show how students performed compared to other students across the nation.
The documents below explain more about the test. For even more information, and to see sample MSA test questions, visit the MSA section of the School Improvement in Maryland Web site.
The following links provide additional information about the Maryland School Assessment:
- Sample MSA Home Reports
These are sample versions of the Home Report that is sent home to parents of children who took the MSA.
- Maryland School Assessment Facts
The School Improvement in Maryland Web site, designed especially for educators, provides sample MSA test items in reading and math. For more MSA information from School Improvement in Maryland, click here.
- A Parent’s Guide
Maryland’s plan for preK-12 education 2008
This booklet explains to parents Maryland’s state testing and reporting processes; programs available to support student achievement; ways parents can be involved in their child’s education; help for children with disabilities and special needs; and programs to help parents plan for their child’s future.
- Information Sheet: MSA Reading
This information sheet on the MSA reading test is designed to give educators specific information about test items, content covered, scoring and more. This attachment will launch a PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
- Information Sheet: MSA Mathematics
This information sheet on the MSA mathematics test is designed to give educators specific information about test items, content covered, scoring and more. This attachment will launch a PDF file in Adobe Acrobat. |
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| Maryland State Department of Education |
| 200 West Baltimore Street |
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| Maryland State Department of Education |
| 200 West Baltimore Street |
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