What's New!
Questions & Answers - Updated September 11, 2023
OVERVIEW
What is assessed?
- Maine Science and Engineering Standards (i.e., the Next Generation Science Standards)
- The assessment focuses on performance level expectations based on three-dimensional learning that incorporates science & engineering practices and cross-cutting concepts with disciplinary core ideas.
Who participates in the Maine Science Assessment?
- Students in grades 5, 8, and 3rd year of high school
What is the format of the assessment?
- Online (Paper-based forms are available as an accommodation per an IEP or 504 plan.)
- Questions occur in clusters around a common problem scenario.
When is the assessment given?
- May 13-24, 2024
- Three 60-minute assessment sessions + one 15-minute questionnaire
- Resources
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Resources for the 2023-24 school year are in development. Last year's resources are labeled with 2022-23.
Maine Science Desk Help
855-544-0842
Click here to Self-submit a help request ticket
ME Science Zendesk: A one-stop resource for video tutorials, document downloads, request help forms, and FAQs.
Practice Assessments and Tutorials
https://adamexam.com/tester/2022-23 Lockdown Browser Installation Training
2022-23 Rostering Training
2022-23 Proctoring Training
2022-23 Accessibility and the General Assessments
- Accessibility Recording
- Accessibility Slides
- Read Aloud Protocol
- Note: To order braille forms, please reach out to Krista Averill at Krista.Averill@maine.gov
Assessment Blueprints: All items on the Maine Science Assessment are aligned to a science topic and to a specific performance expectation. To ensure ample coverage of all grade-level science topics, the blueprint specifies targets for the minimum and maximum number of operational score points aligned to each topic.
Achievement Level Descriptors: The Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) documents are intended to be used as a guideline to describe the four levels of achievement on the Maine Science Assessment: Well Below, Below, At, and Above State Expectations. The ALDs are written to align with the Next Generation Science Standards.
Released Items: Released items are test questions that are no longer in use and have been made available to the public. The "For Student" copy resembles a test booklet. The "For Teachers" version contains the answer key, standards alignment, and rubrics for constructed-response questions.
- Grade 5 Released Items: For Students and For Teachers
- Grade 8 Released Items: For Students and For Teachers
- High School Released Items: For Students and For Teachers
Understanding Your Spring 2022 Maine Science Assessment Scores
Spring 2022 Technical Report: The Spring 2022 Technical Report details the following:
- Test design and development
- Assessment administration
- Overview of the July 2022 standard setting event
- Item-level scoring
- Classical item analysis
- Calibration and scaling
- Reliability
- Validity
- Technical Advisory Committee
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Maine's TAC is made up of experts and leaders within their field of expertise, sharing their broad experience developing, implementing, and/or validating statewide school accountability systems in order to provide both a local and national perspective.