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FCAT Test BreakdownThe Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, FCAT, is a test that has been developed by the Florida State Board of Education, for use with students in grades 3-11. The test is used as part of Florida's education plan to implement higher academic standards to increase student achievement and success. The FCAT has two main components, criterion-referenced tests (CRT) that are based on the Sunshine State Standards (SSS). The CRTs test benchmarks in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. The other component of the FCAT is norm-referenced tests (NRT), and they measure performance against national standards. The NRTs test abilities in mathematics and reading. There is no formal registration for the FCAT. The FCAT is administered by school faculty to students in grades 3 to 11 during the normal school day's hours. The FCAT reading, mathematics, and science tests are given during a two week period in the spring, and the FCAT writing+ is administered in February. The NRTs are administered in the spring at the same time as the FCAT reading, mathematics and science tests. Not all tests are given to students in all grade levels. For example, the FCAT science is given to students in grades 5, 8, and 11. The FCAT writing+ is given to students in grades 4, 8, and 10. The FCAT tests students on their reading, mathematics, science, and writing abilities. Topics that are tested on the FCAT reading include word and phrases in context, main idea, plot, and purpose, comprehension and cause and effect, and reference and research. Students in all grade levels from 3-11 take the FCAT reading. Topics testing in the FCAT mathematics include number sense, concepts, and operations, measurement, geometry and spatial sense, algebraic thinking, and data analysis and probability. Students in all grade levels from 3-11 take the FCAT mathematics. The FCAT science is given to students in grades 5, 8, and 11, and it tests topics dealing with physical and chemical science, Earth and space science, life and environmental science, and scientific thinking. The FCAT writing+ is given to students in grades 4, 8, and 10 and tests the topics of focus, organization, support, and the conventions of writing. Specific details concerning the topics tested can be found in the FCAT handbook online from the Florida Department of Education. The FCAT consists of questions of varying types. The reading, mathematics, and science tests contain multiple choice questions, gridded response questions, and short and extended response performance tasks. The FCAT writing+ consists of an essay question as well as multiple choice questions. The essay is either a narrative, expository, or persuasive essay. The FCAT is given only in English. Each of the different types of questions on the FCAT is scored differently. All multiple choice and gridded response questions are scored using an automated scoring system, and each question is worth one raw score point. The short and extended response performance tasks are scored by hand and can have a raw score ranging from zero to two. The essay question from the FCAT writing+ is also scored by hand and is given a scaled score ranging from zero to six. Specific scoring methods and details can be found in the FCAT handbook online. Each of the four FCAT subject areas is given various “whole test” scores as well. The FCAT reading and mathematics test each have an overall scaled score which can range from 100 to 500. The scaled score is for a single grade level. Also, these tests are scored on a developmental scale for all grade levels, with scores ranging from 0 to 3000. Achievement levels, based on established cut off points, are also given for these tests. The FCAT science and the FCAT writing+ are also each given a scaled score ranging from 100 to 500, and an achievement level. There are no developmental scaled scores for the FCAT science and the FCAT writing+. The grade 10 FCAT is of particular importance, because students must pass both the FCAT reading and mathematics tests to receive a high school diploma. A scaled score on each of these two tests of at least 300 is required for passing. Click Here for FCAT Practice
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