5th grade MISA test

[Anonymous]

I just got notice that 5th graders at our school will soon be taking g the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment. This is something I have never heard of, and I’m concerned about more testing anxiety for my kid. (They had a rough time let spring with MCAP ELA, MCAP math, and MAP assessments over multiple days.) Looks like the MISA is four consecutive days — does anyone know how long the test takes each day? Is the material super challenging? Would like to prepare my child as much as possible…..

TIA

[Anonymous]

The purpose of the MAP and the MCAP tests is to measure the efficacy of the education your kid is receiving. So really, the pressure is on the educators and I imagine any prep necessary for the tests comes from them and is not on the student.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the test covers?

[Anonymous]

There are 4 sections. Each section is 40 mins. Schools can decide to do 1 section per day for 4 days or 2 sections per day for 2 days.

It covers 4th and 5th science topics and includes a lot of reading passages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what the test covers?

Science teacher here. The 5th grade and 8th grade MISA test cover general science topics across all science domains (biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/Space.) The structure of the test gives students a stimulus which includes reading and graphs, and then asks questions related to the stimulus. It’s really about reading and interpreting provided information and thinking like a scientist.

You can find sample questions on the state website

[Anonymous]

Thanks to both the PPs with information on the tests. This is very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Is there any course/program placement associated with the Science test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any course/program placement associated with the Science test?

I don’t think so. This is the equivalent of the MCAP for science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any course/program placement associated with the Science test?

I don’t think so. This is the equivalent of the MCAP for science.

So is this just some other unproven test the state just made up recently and has never been widely used?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any course/program placement associated with the Science test?

I don’t think so. This is the equivalent of the MCAP for science.

So is this just some other unproven test the state just made up recently and has never been widely used?

Ah, gotcha, you are the person obsessed with complaining about the MCAP. Nothing to see here. Move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any course/program placement associated with the Science test?

I don’t think so. This is the equivalent of the MCAP for science.

So is this just some other unproven test the state just made up recently and has never been widely used?

Ah, gotcha, you are the person obsessed with complaining about the MCAP. Nothing to see here. Move on.

That was a different poster. I was the one interested in knowing if MCPS uses this appropriately (e.g., for broad assessment of instructional effectiveness) or inappropriately (i e., for placement decisions based on spot assessment algorithms lacking the robustness to provide reasonable levels of certainty). We know they do the latter with MAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any course/program placement associated with the Science test?

I don’t think so. This is the equivalent of the MCAP for science.

So is this just some other unproven test the state just made up recently and has never been widely used?

Ah, gotcha, you are the person obsessed with complaining about the MCAP. Nothing to see here. Move on.

That was a different poster. I was the one interested in knowing if MCPS uses this appropriately (e.g., for broad assessment of instructional effectiveness) or inappropriately (i e., for placement decisions based on spot assessment algorithms lacking the robustness to provide reasonable levels of certainty). We know they do the latter with MAP.

I don't know of any special access to support or assistance - or, on the other hand, to acceleration or enrichment - that is connected with the MISA.

[Anonymous]

It’s fairly newish in the State. The high school MISA is required for graduation. Students take the test in 5th, 8th, and 11th (I think, but please correct me if I am wrong).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fairly newish in the State. The high school MISA is required for graduation. Students take the test in 5th, 8th, and 11th (I think, but please correct me if I am wrong).

I think in HS they take it in the year they take biology, which for most I believe is 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fairly newish in the State. The high school MISA is required for graduation. Students take the test in 5th, 8th, and 11th (I think, but please correct me if I am wrong).

10th, not 11th.