FAQs about Ohio's State Tests

School administrators, teachers and parents will find answers to questions about Ohio’s State Tests here. Find further information by: 

Test Times, Scheduling and Results

Test Administrators

Graduation Requirements

English Language Arts Tests

Mathematics Tests

Third grade reading guarantee


Test Times, Scheduling and Results

How will the tests be scored?
Starting in 2015, the Department began using machine scoring for several item types and has increasingly used this functionality. Ohio expanded to a fully online administration and machine scoring system for all grades and content areas beginning spring 2018. By making this transition, test results will be available one to three weeks earlier than originally scheduled. Further information on machine scoring can be found on the Assessments for English Language Arts page.

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What are the testing dates and times?

Information about testing dates is on the Test Dates page. Information about testing times is on the Key Documents page. These times reflect the amount of time students have to complete each part of the test. Test administrators are responsible for ensuring students have the specified amount of time to take the test in one day, and for enforcing testing time for each part of the test. Only students with extended time accommodations are permitted time in excess of the publishing testing times, which cannot exceed one school day.

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When can districts expect test results?

Results dates can be found on the Test Dates pages under the specific test administrations.

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May districts schedule make-up tests outside of their district set window?

No. Makeup tests are included within the district set window. The number of dates specified as allowable for each test are the maximum number of dates permitted. For more information, see the Test Dates page.

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Do the dates a district selects within the state’s testing windows apply for all schools within a district?

Yes. Schools within a district will need to complete their testing within the district test window. Individual schools in the district will not be able to select testing windows that differ from the district testing window.

 

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Test Administrators

Do test administrators need to sign a non-disclosure agreement form?

No. The Department does not require the use of a statewide non-disclosure agreement. However, districts may have a local policy regarding non-disclosure. Test administrators should discuss any local policy regarding non-disclosure with their superintendents or other district staff members.

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Can a paraprofessional, substitute teacher or an individual contracted through an educational service center be a test administrator?

Yes, as long as the person meets the following criteria: any person administering a test must be an employee of the district and hold a license, certificate or permit issued by the Ohio Department of Education. If a district contracts with a service provider, the employees of that service provider are de facto employees of the district. 

The ratio for testing purposes is one test administrator to 30 students in any testing room. For any group of more than 30 students, a proctor or monitor must be in the room with the test administrator. The proctor or monitor is not required to meet the criteria for administering a test.

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Where can school personnel find the manuals?

Find the Test Coordinator’s Manual, Directions for Administration Manual and Online Testing Checklist on the Department’s Test Administration Resources Web page and on the Administration Manuals & Guidance Documents page of Ohio’s State Tests portal.

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Graduation Requirements

Information and frequently asked questions about Ohio’s graduation requirements can be found here
Information and frequently asked questions about Ohio’s graduation requirements can be found  on the Department's Graduation Requirements website.

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English Language Arts Tests

How will the writing portion of the English language arts assessment be scored?
All tests will be machine-scored, including the writing section of the English language arts assessments. Information about machine-scoring on these tests can be found on the Assessments for English Language Arts page.

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What are the components for the English language arts assessments?

The assessments will be separated into the following parts:

  • Grades 3-5
    • Part One: Reading and one Extended Writing Response
    • Part Two: Reading only
  • Grades 6 through English Language Arts II
    • Part One: Reading and one Extended Writing Response
    • Part Two: Reading and one Extended Writing Response

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What can districts do to prepare for the upcoming assessments?

They can familiarize themselves and their students with sample online items and practice tests available on the Ohio's State Tests portal (see the Student and Families section or look for the practice tests icon on the portal’s home page). There are sample items for Ohio English language arts and mathematics, as well as online practice tests and released items for the Ohio science and social studies tests. Students will see the types of questions that Ohio may administer online. Additionally, the online items give students the opportunity to navigate through the online testing system, use the available tools and features, and familiarize themselves with the testing experience. Online practice tests will score automatically. Released item tests will not. They may, however, find answer keys in the Student Practices folder under each subject area.
 

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Will state tests offer partial credit for certain questions?

Yes, state tests will offer partial credit for particular item types.

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Will there be one or two pieces of writing on the test this year? How many points will they be worth?

 All extended writing responses will be worth 10 points. Grades 3-5 will continue to have one extended writing response, and grades 6 through English Language Arts II will have two extended writing responses.
 

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Mathematics Tests

What types of paper can districts provide students other than blank paper?

In addition to blank paper, districts may provide students with grid paper, wide-ruled paper, Braille paper, raised-line paper, bold-line paper, raised-line graph paper, bold-line graph paper, colored paper, etc. The paper provided cannot contain any writing that may give the student an unfair testing advantage.

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What are some examples of additional designated supports districts can provide students on the mathematics tests?

Districts may provide students with compasses, protractors, rulers, and/or angled rulers for testing. These materials are not required for testing; however, students may want to use them on the test if they are already familiar with them from their instruction.

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Third grade reading guarantee

What test will students take to meet the Third Grade Reading Guarantee?

The state test for grade 3 English language arts will meet the requirements of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
 

 

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Who developed the English language arts test?

The Ohio Department of Education worked with volunteer educators and Cambium Assessment to develop the grade 3 English language arts test. This test uses the same testing platform as the other Ohio’s State Tests.

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Are there sample items aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards?

Sample items are available on the Ohio's State Tests portal (see the Student and Families section on the portal’s home page). 

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When are decisions about the cut scores made?

Information about the promotion score and the reading subscore for the Grade 3 English language arts test can be found on the Third Grade Reading Guarantee page. The reading subscore will continue to be an approved alternative promotion score. Students who meet or exceed the reading subscore will be eligible for promotion even if they did not meet the promotion score.

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Last Modified: 7/25/2024 10:23:24 AM