Michigan's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 7, the M-STEP covers English language arts and math every year, and M-STEP science and social studies are given in grades 5 and 8. In grade 8, English language arts and math are measured by the PSAT 8/9 from College Board instead of the M-STEP. The tests are given online, and paper tests are used only to meet a student's individual needs or when a school has an approved waiver. M-STEP tests are untimed and student-paced, so the M-STEP times below are the state's planning estimates; the PSAT 8/9 has set section times. Testing takes place in the spring.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|
| Grades 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 | Online; computer adaptive; one passage-based writing essay; listening questions heard through headphones; no performance task | Untimed; about 2 hours | Reading, writing, listening, and research |
|---|
| Grade 8 (PSAT 8/9) | PSAT 8/9 Reading and Writing section; online; multistage adaptive; mostly multiple choice | 64 minutes | Information and ideas, craft and structure, expression of ideas, standard English conventions |
|---|
On paper, the M-STEP English language arts test is given over two days: listening and reading on the first day, writing and research on the second. In grade 8, the PSAT 8/9 Reading and Writing and Math sections are taken together, with a 10 minute break between them.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|
| Grades 3, 4 and 5 | Online; computer adaptive; no calculator; no performance task | Untimed; about 1 hour 30 minutes | Concepts and procedures, problem solving, communicating reasoning, modeling and data analysis |
|---|
| Grades 6 and 7 | Online; computer adaptive; built-in calculator on some questions (basic in grade 6, scientific in grade 7); blank graph paper provided; no performance task | Untimed; about 2 hours | Concepts and procedures, problem solving, communicating reasoning, modeling and data analysis |
|---|
| Grade 8 (PSAT 8/9) | PSAT 8/9 Math section; online; multistage adaptive; two modules; calculator allowed on the whole section; some type-in answers | 70 minutes | Algebra, advanced math, problem-solving and data analysis, geometry and trigonometry |
|---|
On paper, the grades 3 to 7 M-STEP math test has two parts. In grades 6 and 7, Part 1 allows no calculator and Part 2 allows one, and students may not go back to Part 1 once they start Part 2.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|
| Grade 5 | Online; fixed form; seven clusters of questions, each built around a science phenomenon (one cluster is a field test); basic calculator allowed on every question (optional) | Untimed; about 1 hour 30 minutes | Physical science, life science, earth science |
|---|
| Grade 8 | Online; fixed form; seven clusters of questions, each built around a science phenomenon (one cluster is a field test); scientific calculator allowed on every question (optional); periodic table | Untimed; about 1 hour 30 minutes | Physical science, life science, earth science |
|---|
Social Studies
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|
| Grade 5 | Online; fixed form; stand-alone questions and question sets built around a short source | Untimed; about 1 hour | U.S. history, civics, Michigan history, economics, geography |
|---|
| Grade 8 | Online; fixed form; stand-alone questions and question sets built around a short source | Untimed; about 1 hour | Geography, U.S. history, world history, civics, economics |
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Read the full Michigan State Test Guide →
