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 2-17, 2025
  • Grades 5 and 8: May 12-23, 2025
  • Three sessions. The 15-minute student questionnaire will be removed starting in Spring 2025.

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

 

Important Dates

Date

Task

February 25, 2025

Pre-administration activities, such as assigning supports/accommodations, creating additional proctor groups, and printing test tickets, become available in ADAM for high school students.

February 21 – March 12, 2025

The standard and large print paper-based test order form is open for the high school assessment.

March 10 - May 23, 2025

Support call center open (M-F) - Toll Free Number: 855-544-0842.
March 18 - April 4, 2025 The standard and large print paper-based test order form is open for the grades 5 & 8 assessment.

April 2 - 17, 2025

High school administration window
April 2, 2025 Grade 5 & 8 student rosters are available in ADAM, and pre-administration activities can begin for grades 5 & 8.
May 12 - 23, 2025 Grades 5 & 8 administration window

 

Post-Administration Questionnaires

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

Please complete all questionnaires by May 30, 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
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