Maine Science Assessment

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
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

MEScience@adamexam.com

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.

Manuals and Guides

Video Tutorials & Webinars

 

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

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.

Understanding Your Spring 2022 Maine Science Assessment Scores

Spring 2022 Technical ReportThe 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

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.