Introducing the New
Iowa Assessments
Science
Levels 12 – 14
ITP Assessment Tools
Math Interim Assessments: Grades 3 – 8
• Administered online
Constructed Response Supplements
• Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics at Levels 9 – 17/18
• Available free of charge in Fall 2011
Iowa Algebra Readiness Assessment (IARA)
• Administered online
Iowa End of Course Assessments (IEOC)
• Administered online
• Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Matrix Algebra, Probability
& Statistics, English Language Arts, Physical Science,
Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, U.S. Government
The Iowa Assessments™
Test Development
Test
Specifications
Item Writing
Internal Review
Item Tryout
Internal Review
External Review
Data Review
Operational Forms
Construction
New Iowa Assessments™
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New forms
All new items
All items written and reviewed by Iowa educators
All items field tested on Iowa students
All items align to the Iowa Core
http://www.corecurriculum.iowa.gov/
Major Changes from Current Forms
All Levels
• New order of tests within the booklet
• Adjusted number of items and administration times
• New page layouts in full color
Levels 9 – 14
• Maps and Diagrams and Reference Materials tests have
been dropped.
• Mathematics test (two separately timed parts) has
replaced Math Concepts & Estimation and Math Problem
Solving & Data Interpretation tests.
Administration Times: Levels 9 – 14
Subject Area
Reading†
Written Expression
Mathematics†
Administration Time
30 + 30
40
30 + 30
Science
35
Social Studies
35
Vocabulary
15
Spelling
10
Capitalization
10
Punctuation
10
Computation
20
Word Analysis*
20
Listening*
25
†Two
separate sessions
9 only
*Level
Science: Levels 9 – 14
• Includes both stimulus based and discrete
items
• Material is drawn from the areas of Life
Science, Earth & Space Science, and Physical
Science
• Scientific inquiry embedded throughout the
test
Science Domains & Standards
Life Science
• Organisms & their habitats
• Changes in organisms
• Interactions in an ecosystem
• Human body, health, & safety
Physical Science
• Types & properties of matter
• Forces & motion
• Forms of & changes in energy
• Physical & chemical changes
Earth & Space Science
• Structure of Earth
• Natural resources
• Climate & weather
• Natural events
• The universe
Scientific inquiry is embedded
throughout the assessment.
Science Item Distribution
Domain
Level 12 Total Items Level 13 Total Items Level 14 Total Items
Earth & Space
Science
14
14
13
Life Science
12
14
15
Physical Science
13
13
15
Total
39
41
43
Cognitive Levels of
Items Above
Level 12 Total Items Level 13 Total Items Level 14 Total Items
Essential
Competencies
14
12
17
Conceptual
Understanding
20
24
21
Extended
Reasoning
5
5
5
Cognitive Levels
Essential Competencies
• Identify basic scientific information such as
facts, definitions, terminology, principles,
concepts, and relationships
• Recognize fundamental components of
scientific investigations
Cognitive Levels
Conceptual Understanding
• Understand scientific concepts and apply
them to explain phenomena
• Analyze and interpret scientific information
• Make simple inferences, predictions, and
conclusions
• Formulate hypotheses
Cognitive Levels
Extended Reasoning
• Propose solutions to scientific problems
• Make in-depth inferences, predictions, and
conclusions
• Evaluate the appropriateness of scientific
findings, conclusions, and experimental
design
• Integrate ideas from various scientific
disciplines and phenomena
Sample Items
Directions: Use the information below and your knowledge of science to answer
questions 1 – 4.
A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or
expands when it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled
water into a plastic graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and
placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The next day, the students determined the
change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are shown in the table
below.
Core – Understand and apply knowledge of elements, compounds, mixtures, and solutions based on the
nature of their physical and chemical properties; Learner formulates explanations from evidence
Physical Science – Types & properties of matter
Cognitive Level – Extended reasoning
A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when
it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic
graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer
overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The
students’ results are shown in the table below.
1
Which conclusion is supported by the students’ results?
A Water expands on freezing because its volume
increases.
B Water contracts on freezing because its volume
increases.
C Water expands on freezing because its volume
decreases.
D Water contracts on freezing because its volume
decreases.
Core – Understand and apply knowledge of physical and chemical changes and their relationship to the
conservation of matter and energy; Learner connects explanations to scientific knowledge
Physical Science – Types & properties of matter
Cognitive Level – Conceptual understanding
A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when
it freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic
graduated cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer
overnight. The next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The
students’ results are shown in the table below.
2
When the students removed the cylinders from the
freezer to determine the change in volume, they
observed water droplets on the outside of the cylinders.
What process caused these water droplets?
A Evaporation
B Condensation
C Melting
D Boiling
Core – Understand and apply knowledge of elements, compounds, mixtures, and solutions based on the
nature of their physical and chemical properties; Learner gives priority to evidence in responding to questions
Physical Science – Types & properties of matter
Cognitive Level – Conceptual understanding
A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it
freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated
cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The
next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are
shown in the table below.
3
Each student pair calculated the percent change in volume. The students’ results are shown
in the bar graph below.
If the actual value for volume change is 9.0%, which student pair was the most accurate?
A
1
B
2
C
3
D
4
Core – Understand and apply knowledge of physical and chemical changes and their relationship to the
conservation of matter and energy; Learner connects explanations to scientific knowledge
Physical Science – Types & properties of matter
Cognitive Level – Conceptual understanding
A group of students designed an experiment to find out if water contracts or expands when it
freezes. Each pair of students poured a different volume of distilled water into a plastic graduated
cylinder, covered the cylinder with plastic wrap, and placed the cylinder in a freezer overnight. The
next day, the students determined the change in volume in milliliters (mL). The students’ results are
shown in the table below.
4
On average, compared to the water molecules in the frozen samples, the water molecules
in the liquid samples were
A
farther apart and moving faster.
B
farther apart and moving slower.
C
closer together and moving faster.
D
closer together and moving slower.
Core – Understand and apply knowledge of the structure and processes of the Earth system and the processes
that change Earth and its surface
Earth Science – Natural resources
Cognitive Level – Essential competencies
5 Which type of alternative energy uses the heat
inside Earth to produce electricity?
A Wind energy
B Geothermal energy
C Nuclear energy
D Solar energy
Core – Understand and apply knowledge of the structure and processes of the Earth system and the processes
that change Earth and its surface
Earth Science– Natural events
Cognitive Level – Conceptual understanding
6 Which natural event do scientists predict using
earthquake activity?
A Tornado
B Drought
C Volcanic eruption
D Glacier formation
Answer Folder Changes
• Colors are being used to help teachers more
easily verify that the correct form is being used.
• The optional section for Tryout Items is now
located in the interior of the answer folders. Use
the adjacent “Other Information” box to grid in
the Tryout Form number.
Scratch Paper
• Each student should have a supply of scratch
paper for all testing sessions.
• Collect all scratch paper after each session.
• Destroy all used scratch paper.
Security
• Test booklets are SECURE materials.
• NO booklets are to be retained at the
district or school level.
Security
For security reasons, tests may be viewed on
only two occasions:
1. When students are taking an assessment
- Order only enough materials to test
your students.
2. When educators are reviewing Item Analysis
Reports (Item Response Record)
- Contact ITP for review copies.
Content Included on Level 12 – 14
Practice Tests
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Reading
Written Expression
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Vocabulary
Spelling
Capitalization
Punctuation
Computation
Details
• Presentation will be available on the Iowa Testing
Programs website at http://itp.education.uiowa.edu.
– Contact your testing coordinator if you need assistance
accessing materials.
• A Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) is posted on our
website and will be updated frequently.
• Contact [email protected] with any
additional questions.