Introduction
The Test
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) is a state-wide public school test assessing student achievement in reading and mathematics according to the Florida (Sunshine State) Standards. It has also been given to test very high achievers and limited English proficient students who have been studying ESL for two years or less. In 1998 and 1999 it was given the first week in February. In 1999 it was given a second time and expanded for 2000. FCAT in reading has been given in fourth grade, eighth grade, and tenth grade. As of early 2000, the FCAT program began including reading tests for grades 3 through 10. They are being field-tested and will start being administered fully in 2001. Thus, this Workbook provides Practice Reading Tests for grades 1 through 8, correlating to the eight levels of the Scott Foresman ESL program.
FCAT in reading takes about two to four hours on one or two days. The test has six or seven reading selections from a Literature Strand (fiction) and Information Strand (nonfiction). The reading passages come in different formats and have different writing styles: plays, stories, newspaper articles, poems, advertisements, editorials and so on. Some of the information can come in visuals such as graphs, diagrams, and pictures with captions.
Each reading selection has about eight comprehension questions. There are three types of questions for each passage: multiple-choice, short-answer, and long-answer. The short-answer and long-answer questions are designed to have students process the information in the passage, analyze it, and organize it for the answer. This differentiates FCAT tests from other standardized tests, because FCAT tests their analytical abilities, not just comprehension.
Multiple-Choice Questions
The multiple-choice questions have four possible answers labeled A, B, C, D or F, G, H, I. The students will choose one answer per question. There are about 45 multiple-choice questions in the full test. Each question correctly answered is given one point.
Short-Answer Questions |
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The short-answer questions have a "Read, Think, and Explain" symbol next to them. There are about six short-answer questions in the whole test. Students should spend about three to five minutes answering each short-answer question on the lines provided. Each question answered correctly is given up to two points; partial credit is given. There can be some variation in the answers. |
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| Long-Answer Questions |
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The long-answer questions have a "Read, Think, and Explain" symbol with more lines next to them. There are approximately two long-answer questions in the whole test. Students should spend about seven to ten minutes answering each long-answer question on the lines provided. Each question correctly answered is given up to four points and partial credit is given. There can be some variation in the answers. |
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Scoring
The actual FCAT Reading Test scores range from 100 to 500 with an average score of 300. The FCAT Achievement Level combines the reading and math scores and range from 1 to 5. There are also FCAT Subscores which estimate the student's achievement of content in a particular strand. The two strands in reading are Literature and Information.
The Practice Reading Tests in this book are scored on a point system that differs slightly by grade level. Grades 1 and 2 have fewer questions and no short- or long-answer questions. Grade 1 is based on a scoring rage of 0–6 points. Grade 2 is based on a scoring range of 0–12 points. Grades 3 through 8 are based on a scoring range of 0–22 points.
Using This FCAT Test Prep Site
This site has a practice test for each grade. Each test has a contents page, two reading passages, and question and answer sections.
In this site, the questions and multiple choice sections follow both reading selections. When students finish reading the selection and are ready to answer the questions, they click on the link "Now proceed to the Answer Section below" which takes them directly to the Answer Section. When students are in the Answer Section, they can click on the icon to the right of each question to return to the text for checking information (or they can scroll back up to the text).
To answer multiple choice questions, students click on the button next to their answer choice. For the short-answer and long-answer questions, students can key their answer directly into the essay box provided under the question.
When a student has completed the sample test, he or she can click on the "Submit" button. This will produce a screen showing the student's answers (multiple choice answers and the written answers), which can then be printed and given to the teacher for grading.
The Answer Key for all grades is available from your Pearson Education sales representative; please call 1-877-739-6374 to request these materials.
Further Information
Visit the Florida Department of Education's home web page www.firn.edu/doe/ for more information. Click on "Resources for Teachers" and then on "Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT)-Resources for Teachers".
How to Score the Practice FCAT Reading Test
Multiple-Choice Questions
Each multiple-choice question is worth 1 point.
Read, Think, and Explain
Short-Answer Questions
Short-answer "Read, Think, and Explain" questions are worth up to two points. There may be more than one acceptable answer for a short-answer question. (Sample answers are given for each question.) Partial credit can be given for answers that are correct, but incomplete.
2 points The answer shows that the student understands what the question is asking. The response is both accurate and complete. The student has supported the answer with information and/or examples from the passage, as asked for in the question. The answer must be based on the correct passage.
1 point The answer shows that the student understood or responded to only part of what the question asked. The information in the answer may be correct and based on the passage, but may not be clearly written, or exact enough. More supporting information and/or examples may be needed, as asked for in the question.
0 points The answer is incorrect or not based upon the passage, or the student gives no response.
Long-Answer Questions
Long-answer "Read, Think, and Explain" questions are worth up to four points. There may be more than one acceptable answer for a long-answer question. (Sample answers are given for each question.) Partial credit can be given for answers that are correct, but incomplete.
4 points The answer shows that the student has a thorough understanding of what the question asks. The response is both accurate and complete. The student has supported the answer with information and/or examples from the passage, as asked for in the question. The answer must be based on the correct passage.
3 points The answer shows that the student has a complete understanding of what the question asks. The information in the answer is correct, but more supporting information and/or examples based on the passage are needed.
2 points The answer shows that the student understood or responded to only part of what the question asked. The information in the answer may be correct and based on the passage, but may not be clearly written, or exact enough. More supporting information and/or examples may be needed.
1 point The answer shows that the student has little understanding of what the question has asked. The answer may be incomplete, may have several mistakes or inaccuracies, and may not fulfill the task required by the question.
0 points The answer is incorrect or not based upon the passage, or the student gives no response.
Practice FCAT Reading
This practice FCAT Reading will help you get to know the kinds of questions on the actual FCAT. This practice test has a Practice Reading Section and Questions. Each Reading Section has two reading passages for which there are a total of 16 comprehension questions. You should answer all the questions in about 30–45 minutes. Your teacher can explain any question in the test that you don't understand. After you finish taking the test, your teacher can review the answers with you.
Tips for Taking FCAT Reading
Read these tips to help you when you take FCAT Reading. Think of these tips as you take the practice FCAT Reading.
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- There are two kinds of questions in the FCAT: multiple-choice and "Read, Think, and Explain" questions.
- Take 5 minutes to write an answer for the short "Read, Think, and Explain" questions. Take 10 minutes to answer the long ones.
- Be sure to read all directions carefully. If you do not understand directions, ask your teacher for help.
- It is normal to be nervous when you take a test. Try to relax and think about the readings.
- Read the whole passage once before you answer any of the questions.
- You are allowed to go back and read the passages as many times as you want to. Read them carefully.
- Be careful not to leave marks around the answer bubbles. Try to fill them in neatly.
- When you answer the "Read, Think, and Explain" questions, think and organize what you want to say before writing down your ideas.
- Write your short and long answers neatly so that anyone can read them.
- After you read the passage, first answer the questions you know. Skip the ones that are too hard and go back later.
- Do not worry if you do not know the answers to questions. Keep going! Partial credit is given for "Read, Think, and Explain" questions, so write whatever you know.
- If there is time, go back and make sure that you are giving the best possible answer for each question.
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Questions about FCAT
This Workbook gives examples of FCAT Reading passages, questions, and possible answers. Taking the practice test will help you get to know the kinds of FCAT questions that you will see on the FCAT reading test. |
| What is the FCAT reading Reading test? |
FCAT Reading Test assesses comprehension and thinking skills using questions about literature and informational reading selections. Some passages fit into other content areas such as science, foreign language, mathematics, health education, physical education, social studies, and the arts. |
| What are the questions on the FCAT Reading test like? |
FCAT Reading has multiple-choice questions and short- and long-answer "performance task" questions. |
| What are performance tasks? |
Performance tasks have you think about the answers to questions before you answer them. They are called out with the directions "Read, Think, and Explain" in the symbols that are next to them in the test. |
| Why do students need to take this test? |
The students in Florida today need to learn a lot to be ready for the job market. The world requires many technical skills and high reading ability. FCAT Reading measures these higher standards that Florida students are learning. |
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