CAST Paper–Pencil Testing DFA—Grade Eight

Grade Eight Science

Be sure that students have their own test booklet, scratch paper, and a pencil with an eraser. Students will record their answers in their test booklet. Scientific calculators and the provided reference sheet and periodic table of the elements are allowed for this test. The reference sheet and periodic table are provided within each student’s test booklet.

Read the following SAY box and all subsequent SAY boxes to the students.

SAY:

Turn to the front cover of your test booklet. Make sure you have written your name on the test booklet. Please do not open your test booklet until I tell you to do so. Make sure you are using a pencil with an eraser when taking this test. Pens are not allowed.

Pause to make sure the students have their own test booklet.

SAY:

Now open the front cover of your test booklet. Inside you will see folded sheets of paper. These pages contain a reference sheet and periodic table of the elements that you can refer to while you test. Remove the sheets of paper and then unfold them.

Demonstrate unfolding the pages that include the reference sheet and periodic table of the elements.

(Note for large print and braille: If the test is being given in large-print format, the reference sheet will be found inside the front cover of the large-print test booklet. If the test is being given in braille, the reference sheet will be contained in a separate booklet accompanying the test.)

SAY:

You may use a scientific calculator and the reference sheet and periodic table of the elements to help you answer questions on your science test. Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions, and then continue.

SAY:

Now you will be taking the California Science Test. Open your test booklet to page 1.

Pause to make sure that the students are on the correct page.

SAY:

We will begin by doing some sample questions. This test booklet contains several different types of questions. Each sample shows what a certain type of question looks like in the test booklet. Respond to each problem in your test booklet. Let’s practice!

Look at Sample A. For some questions in the test, there will be more than one correct response. Sample A is an example of this type of test question. Be sure to read the question carefully so you mark the right number of responses required by the question. Marking too many will cause you to have to review the question again and might result in your not receiving points.

For Sample A, mark the two boxes that go with the answers you choose. You can use an “x” or a check mark to mark the boxes. Be sure to make your mark heavy and dark. If you want to change an answer, completely erase the mark you made before making a new mark.

For the paper–pencil CAST to match the computer-based CAST, there are system constraints in the DEI, where certain items specify how many answers (responses) are required. The system will not allow a greater number of answers to be entered. If a student marked more answers than called for in the test question on the paper–pencil CAST, the test administrator will need to return the test booklet to the student so the student can make sure that the required number of answers is selected for the question.

Give students time to answer Sample A.

Students should respond to the sample items in their test booklet. The correct answers to the sample items are shown in the test booklet beginning on page 5. However, wait until students answer all sample items in their test booklet before directing them to check their answers against the keys beginning on page 5 in the test booklet.

The correct answers to Sample A are choices 1 and 3.

SAY:

Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions, then continue.

SAY:

Now go to Sample B. For Sample B, fill in only the bubble that goes with the answer you choose. Be sure to fill in the bubble completely and make your mark heavy and dark. If you want to change an answer, completely erase the mark you made before making a new mark.

Give students time to answer Sample B.

The correct answer to Sample B is choice E.

SAY:

Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions, then continue.

SAY:

Now go to Sample C. For this type of question in the test, you will write your own response. You will write your answer to Sample C on the lines in the test booklet. Now read the question for Sample C. Make sure you follow directions and make sure your response is complete.

Give students time to answer Sample C. They do not need to finish the entire response.

Do not read the sample aloud.

SAY:

There are several ways to answer this type of question. Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions, then continue.

SAY:

Now go to Sample D. For some questions in the test, you will need to complete a table. For Sample D, read the sample question. Then mark the box or boxes in your test booklet that go with the answers you choose for each row in the table. Marking too many boxes will cause you to have to review the question again and might result in your not receiving points. You can use an “x” or a check mark to mark the boxes. Be sure to make your mark heavy and dark. If you want to change an answer, completely erase the mark you made before making a new mark.

Give students time to answer Sample D.

The correct answers in column 1 are choices 2 and 4. The correct answers in column 2 are choices 1 and 3.

SAY:

Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions, then continue.

SAY:

Now turn to page 5 in your test booklet and read the sample answers provided in your test booklet. Are there any questions about how to mark your answers?

Give students time to read the sample responses in their test booklet. Do not read the samples aloud.

Pause to answer any questions, then continue.

SAY:

Read each question carefully and follow the directions. You may do your work in the blank areas of this test booklet, but you must mark your answers in the test booklet just as you did for the sample questions. You may also use the scratch paper provided if you need more room to work.

Pause to answer any questions the students might have. When you are sure that the students understand the directions, continue.

SAY:

When you come to the STOP symbol at the bottom of page 43, you will have finished the first section of the test. If you want to check your work on the first section, you must do so before you continue to the next section.

Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions the students might have. When you are sure that the students understand the directions, continue.

SAY:

After you finish the first section, there will be three more sections of the test. Each section will consist of a performance task. Read the information about the task, and then provide answers for each of the questions that follow, referring back to the information as often as needed. Be sure to write your answers in your test booklet.

You may use scratch paper to help you with the performance task, but be sure to answer the questions in the space provided in your test booklet.

Pause to answer any questions the students might have. When you are sure that the students understand the directions, continue.

SAY:

When you have finished each performance task, you will see a STOP symbol. If you want to check your work on that performance task, you must do so before you continue to the next performance task. You may not go back to any previous section, but you may go on to the next performance task when you have finished checking your work.

Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions the students might have. When you are sure that the students understand the directions, continue.

SAY:

When you have finished the last performance task, Performance Task 3, you will see a STOP symbol. If you finish early, you may check your work on Performance Task 3 only. You may not go back to any previous sections.

Are there any questions?

Pause to answer any questions the students might have. When you are sure that the students understand the directions, continue.

SAY:

Turn to page 11 in your test booklet. You may begin.

Make sure that the students are on page 11.

If students will continue testing during another session (even if that session is on another day).

SAY:

Stop. This is the end of our test session for now. Please close your test booklet.

Collect the scratch paper and calculators. The scratch paper must be given to the testing coordinator.

Collect the test booklets and the pages that contain the reference sheet and periodic table of the elements, and then collect the pencils. Make sure students’ names are on the front cover of their test booklet. Before dismissing the students, count the test booklets to ensure that all have been turned in.

If testing will continue later, store the testing materials securely until the next test session. When restarting, repeat the script, beginning with the “After you finish the first section” SAY box.

When the students have finished,

SAY:

Stop. This is the end of the California Science Test. As mentioned at the start of the test, it is important that you marked the right number of responses required for each question. Marking too many responses might result in your not receiving points. Take a moment and go back and look at the answers to all your test questions to make sure you marked the proper number of responses.

For the paper–pencil CAST to match the computer-based CAST, there are system constraints in the DEI, where certain items specify how many answers (responses) are required and will not allow a greater number of answers to be entered. If a student marked more answers than called for in the test question on the paper–pencil CAST, the test administrator will need to return the test booklet to the student so the student can make sure that the number of answers provided is the number indicated in the question.

Pause while the students check their answers.

SAY:

Please close your test booklet.

Collect the scratch paper and calculators. The scratch paper must be given to the testing coordinator.

Collect the test booklets and the pages that contain the reference sheet and periodic table of the elements and then collect the pencils. Make sure students’ names are on the front cover of their test booklet. Before dismissing the students, count the test booklets, reference sheets, and periodic table of the elements sheets to ensure that all have been turned in.

Return all test materials to your testing coordinator.