Maine Science Assessment

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?

  • High School: April 1-17, 2026
  • Grades 5 and 8: May 11-22, 2026
  • Three sessions, each 50 minutes in length for high school and each 60 minutes in length for grades 5 & 8

For more information on scheduling the Maine Science Assessment, please see Part 3: Assessment Schedule & Environment in the Assessment Coordinator Manual.

 

Spring 2025 Administration: Important Dates

Date

Task

April 2 - 17, 2025

High school administration window

May 12 - 23, 2025

 Grades 5 & 8 administration window

Anticipated August 26, 2025

 Reports become available in the Kite Reporting Platform

 

Post-Administration Questionnaires

Educator and administrator questionnaires provide valuable information about local science education practices.

Please complete all questionnaires by June 13, 2025.

 

Preparing for the Assessment Administration

ME Science Zendesk: A one-stop resource for video tutorials, document downloads, request help forms, and FAQs.

Maine Science Desk Help

 

For District and School Assessment Coordinators

For Proctors

For Technology Coordinators

For Students and Families

Content

A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas

Maine Learning Results in Science & Engineering, heavily adapted from the Next Generation Science Standards

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:

Grade 8 Released Items:

High School Released Items:

The New Meridian Framework for Quality Review of NGSS Science Assessment Items

Accessibility

2024-25 Accessibility Guide 

Supplemental Guidance for Text-to-Speech

2024-25 Human Reader Protocol

Request Form for Paper-Based Assessments (Standard & Large Print)

  • Any braille needs should be communicated via email to Krista Averill, Assessment Coordinator, at Krista.Averill@maine.gov 

Bilingual Word-to-Word Glossaries: A paper-based bilingual word-to-word glossary without definitions is an acceptable designated support for multilingual learners with an Individual Language Acquisition Plan (ILAP).

  • Grades 5 & 8: If the student is already using a paper-based bilingual glossary in the classroom, that paper-based glossary can be utilized for the assessment. If the student has been using an online bilingual glossary and needs a paper-based option, NYU Steinhardt's Bilingual Glossaries is a potential resource.
  • High School: If the student is already using a paper-based bilingual glossary in the classroom, that paper-based glossary can be utilized for the assessment. If the student has been using an online bilingual glossary and needs a paper-based option, please see below:

 

Scoring & Reporting

Kite Reporting Platform

 

Individual Student Report (ISR) Template Translations

Grade 5 (English)

Grade 8 (English)

High School (English)

If you are a Maine parent/guardian with an exceptionality who requires an alternate format to access any of the above resources, please reach out to Assessment Team Office Specialist, Daniella Crone, at Daniella.Crone@maine.gov 

Other Resources

A Tale of Three Assessments: What are the similarities and differences between the Maine Science Assessment, the multiple administrations of the Maine Through Year Assessment, and NWEA's MAP Growth assessment?

Spring 2024 Maine Science Assessment Technical Report: The Spring 2024 Technical Report details the following:

  • Test design and development
  • Assessment administration
  • Item-level scoring
  • Classical item analysis
  • Calibration and scaling
  • Reliability
  • Score reporting
  • Validity
  • Student performance

Note: Proprietary information and personally identifiable information have been redacted in this version of the technical report.

 Contact:
 Krista Krista Averill
Assessment Coordinator
Phone: 207-215-6528
Email: krista.averill@maine.gov