| |
Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM
Sixth Grade Fast Track Battery Test Information
KIDTEST FAST TRACK BATTERIES PUT POWER INTO YOUR HANDS BY offering independent
online assessment identifying academic strengths and weaknesses, providing
peer comparisons and helping your student maximize performance and potential.
- IDENTIFY academic strengths and weaknesses!
- TRACK progress over time!
- RECEIVE private, confidential feedback!
- EXPERIENCE a realistic timing component!
- LEARN and PRACTICE test-taking skills!
- PREPARE and SCORE HIGH on achievement test!
Estimated time to complete each test --- 10 minutes (just a little over an hour in total!).
Maximum time allowed to complete each test --- see below.
The Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM Sixth Grade Fast Track Battery contains eight (8) subjects:
| a. | Mathematics Computation...................... | 14 minutes, 14 questions |
| b. | Mathematics Applications....................... | 14 minutes, 11 questions |
| c. | Reading.............................................. | 25 minutes, 25 questions |
| d. | Study Skills.......................................... | 25 minutes, 25 questions |
| e. | Language............................................ | 25 minutes, 25 questions |
| f. | Spelling.............................................. | 25 minutes, 25 questions |
| g. | Social Studies..................................... | 25 minutes, 25 questions |
| h. | Science.............................................. | 25 minutes, 25 questions |
Each subject was created to test an appropriate element of widely recognized national
standards for student ability and knowledge at specific grade levels. Each subject in this
battery is timed separately. Students may and in some cases should take the individual tests
within the battery at different times to make sure that he or she is not overwhelmed with the
volume of questions asked. The Kidtest.comSM computer system will track the completion
progress of each student as he or she takes battery tests.
The Kidtest.comSM scoring system will produce a report providing detailed performance
information according to the test scores, including percentile comparisons to a number of
student samples for which Kidtest.comSM has data. Overall, aggregate battery performance will
accompany performance breakdowns within all eight (8) categories covered by the battery.
The groups that Kidtest.comSM ranks scores against will include the Kidtest.comSM universe for a
given grade and, in many cases, will include sub-groups identified by age, country of
residence, state of residence and so on. What comparisons appear in any given report will
depend on the number of scores in Kidtest.comSM database and will only be reported
if deemed appropriate.
It is important to note that the exams in the Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM on the
Kidtest.comSM web site are different from standardized tests. A standardized test is one that
attempts to measure academic skills and scholastic development relative to others in a grade
or age level. Scores of one person in a variety of subjects are compared to those from the
same exam taken under precisely the same conditions by others. Standardized tests are
sometimes called "norm-referenced" tests because of this comparison.
A Benchmarked test is the type of test that Kidtest.comSM offers. It mimics standardized
tests because it compares your test scores in several important subjects to those of your peers.
However, since we cannot verify the conditions under which these tests are taken, we do not
call these exams fully "standardized". Kidtest.com'sSM benchmarked exams are potentially highly
informative. But they cannot measure performance as accurately as standardized exams given
under controlled test-taking conditions. This means the percentile scores you receive from
Kidtest.comSM are related to many other tests taken under the same uncontrolled
conditions under which you took your test. This produces an error factor that is unknown.
Standards Used in Creating Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM Tests
Introduction
The standards below represent the general framework under which the
Kidtest Benchmarked Sequence tests were created. Each sequence battery
assesses grade and age appropriate elements of this framework.
Each Kidtest.comSM test was created using National Standards as well as Instructional
Goals and Objectives from various states. Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM tests are not
intended to be used as replacements for nationally standardized tests. They are intended to
be an independent assessment for students and parents.
Science
The assessment components for Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM tests are based
on the National Science Education Standards, published by the National Research Council.
These standards represent the contributions of thousands of scientists and teachers to describe
a scientifically literate society.
| 1. Unifying Concepts and Process |
- Systems, order and organization
- Evidence, models, explanation
- Change, consistency, measurement
- Evolution and equilibrium
- Form and function
|
| 2. Science as Inquiry |
- Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- Understandings about scientific inquiry
| |
3. Physical Science |
- Properties and changes of properties of matter
- Motions and forces
- Transfer of energy
| |
4. Life Science |
- Structure and functioning in living systems
- Reproduction and heredity
- Regulation and behavior
- Populations and ecosystems
- Diversity and adaptation of organisms
| |
5. Earth and Space Science |
- Structure of the earth system
- Earth's history
- Earth in the Solar System
|
Language, Spelling and Reading
The International Reading Association and the National Council of
Teachers have approved twelve National Standards for English Language Arts.
Kidtest Benchmarked SequenceSM tests were designed with these twelve
national goals in mind.
| 1. | Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding
of texts, of themselves and of the cultures of the United States and the world.
Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
|
| 2. | Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to
build an understanding of the many dimensions of human experience.
|
| 3. | Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret,
evaluate and appreciate texts.
|
| 4. | Students adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language to
communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
|
| 5. | Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different
writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences and for different purposes.
|
| 6. | Students apply knowledge of language structure, spelling and punctuation,
media techniques, figurative language and genre to create, critique and discuss print and nonprint texts.
|
| 7. | Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and
questions and by posing problems.
|
| 8. | Students use libraries, person-to-person interviews, databases, the Internet,
video, etc. to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
|
| 9. | Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language
use, patterns and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions and social roles.
|
| 10. | Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language
to develop competency in the English language arts and develop understanding of
content across the curriculum.
|
| 11. | Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative and critical members
of a variety of literacy communities.
|
| 12. | Students use spoken, written and visual language for learning, enjoyment,
persuasion and the exchange of information.
|
Math
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has developed a list of standards
that they deem necessary for the understanding of mathematics. Kidtest Benchmarked
SequenceSM tests reflect these standards.
Instructional programs from pre-kindergarten
through grade 12 should enable all students to understand and use:
| 1. Number operations |
- understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships
among numbers and number systems,
- understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another,
- compute fluently and make reasonable estimates.
|
| 2. Algebra |
- understand patterns, relations and functions,
- represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures
using algebraic symbols,
- use mathematical models to represent and understand
qualitative relationships,
- analyze change in various contexts.
|
| 3. Geometry |
- analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional
geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric
relationships,
- specify locations and describe spatial relationships issuing
coordinated geometry and other representational systems,
- apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze mathematical
situations,
- use visualization, spatial reasoning and geometric modeling
to solve problems.
|
| 4. Measurement |
- understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems and
processes of measurement,
- apply appropriate techniques, tools and formulas to determine
measurements.
|
| 5. Data Analysis and Probability |
- formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect,
organize and display relevant data to answer them,
- select and use appropriate statistical methods to analyze data,
- develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data,
- understand and apply basic concepts of probability.
|
| 6. Problem Solving |
- build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving,
- solve problems that arise in mathematics and other contexts,
- apply and adapt a variety of appropriated strategies to solve problems,
- monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving.
|
| 7. Reasoning and Proof |
- recognize reasoning and proof as fundamental aspects of mathematics,
- make and investigate mathematical conjectures,
- develop and evaluate mathematical arguments and proofs,
- select and use various types of reasoning and methods of proof.
|
Social Studies
The National Council for the Social Studies has identified 10 strands to form the basis of Social Studies instruction. Kidtest Benchmarked
SequenceSM tests cover the appropriate material for each grade.
- Culture
- Time, Continuity and Change
- People, Places and Environment
- Individual Development and Identity
- Individuals, Groups and Institutions
- Power, Authority and Governance
- Production, Distribution and Consumption
- Science, Technology and Society
- Global Connections
- Civic Ideals and Practices
|