Vermont Practice Tests
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VTCAP·
Vermont's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP) tests English language arts and math every year, plus science in grades 5 and 8; English language arts and math continue in grade 9, and science is tested again in grade 11. The tests are taken online and are computer adaptive, so the questions adjust to each student's answers; fixed forms, including paper, large print and braille, are used only for students who need them. Test sessions are not timed, and the times below are the state's estimates for scheduling. Testing takes place in the spring.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4 and 5 | Online; computer adaptive; three sessions; listening questions with headphones; one essay, written from paired passages in Session 3 | Untimed; about 160 to 170 minutes in all (sessions of about 60 to 65, 40 to 45 and 60 minutes) | Reading and listening (literary text 52%, informational text 28%, listening 20%); writing and language (writing analysis 41 to 50%, language conventions 14 to 23%, and the essay, scored for written expression 18% and conventions 18%) |
| Grades 6, 7 and 8 | Online; computer adaptive; three sessions; listening questions with headphones; one essay, written from paired passages in Session 3 | Untimed; about 160 to 170 minutes in all (sessions of about 60 to 65, 40 to 45 and 60 minutes) | Reading and listening (literary text 28%, informational text 52%, listening 20%); writing and language (writing analysis 41 to 50%, language conventions 14 to 23%, and the essay, scored for written expression 18% and conventions 18%) |
Reading and listening and writing and language each get their own score. The essay is scored by hand on two traits, written expression and conventions.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen four-function calculator (with square root and percent) on some questions; written-response questions scored by hand | Untimed; about 110 to 120 minutes in all (sessions of about 50 to 55 and 60 to 65 minutes) | Operations and algebraic thinking (24 to 35%), number and operations in base ten and fractions (25 to 33%), measurement and data and geometry (27 to 37%), and mathematical practices, scored on the written responses (12%) |
| Grade 4 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen four-function calculator (with square root and percent) on some questions; written-response questions scored by hand | Untimed; about 110 to 120 minutes in all (sessions of about 50 to 55 and 60 to 65 minutes) | Operations and algebraic thinking (20 to 31%), number and operations in base ten and fractions (35 to 51%), measurement and data and geometry (18 to 27%), and mathematical practices, scored on the written responses (12%) |
| Grade 5 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen four-function calculator (with square root and percent) on some questions; written-response questions scored by hand | Untimed; about 110 to 120 minutes in all (sessions of about 50 to 55 and 60 to 65 minutes) | Operations and algebraic thinking (14 to 22%), number and operations in base ten and fractions (35 to 55%), measurement and data and geometry (27 to 43%), and mathematical practices, scored on the written responses (12%) |
| Grade 6 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen scientific calculator on some questions; written-response questions scored by hand | Untimed; about 115 to 125 minutes in all (sessions of about 55 to 60 and 60 to 65 minutes) | Ratios and proportional relationships (15 to 22%), the number system and expressions and equations (30 to 44%), geometry and statistics and probability (22 to 37%), and mathematical practices, scored on the written responses (11%) |
| Grade 7 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen scientific calculator on some questions; written-response questions scored by hand | Untimed; about 115 to 125 minutes in all (sessions of about 55 to 60 and 60 to 65 minutes) | Ratios and proportional relationships (15 to 22%), the number system and expressions and equations (26 to 41%), geometry and statistics and probability (30 to 41%), and mathematical practices, scored on the written responses (11%) |
| Grade 8 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen scientific calculator on some questions; written-response questions scored by hand | Untimed; about 120 to 130 minutes in all (two sessions of about 60 to 65 minutes) | Functions (18 to 29%), the number system and expressions and equations (27 to 38%), geometry and statistics and probability (36 to 51%), and mathematical practices, scored on the written responses (11%) |
Each written-response question is scored by hand for both the math and the reasoning behind it. On the online adaptive test, students cannot go back to earlier questions. Students on a fixed accommodated form use no calculator in Session 1 and may use one in Session 2.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen four-function calculator (with square root and percent) on some questions; question clusters built around one science event or problem; open-ended written responses scored by hand | Untimed; about 140 to 150 minutes in all (two sessions of about 70 to 75 minutes) | Physical sciences (40%), life sciences (30%), earth and space sciences (30%) |
| Grade 8 | Online; computer adaptive; two sessions; on-screen four-function calculator (with square root and percent) on some questions; question clusters built around one science event or problem; open-ended written responses scored by hand | Untimed; about 140 to 150 minutes in all (two sessions of about 70 to 75 minutes) | Physical sciences (35%), life sciences (35%), earth and space sciences (30%) |
Science is a grade-band test based on the Next Generation Science Standards: the grade 5 test can ask about any grade 3, 4 or 5 standard, and the grade 8 test about any middle school standard. A student on an accommodated form takes the same questions in three sessions, about 150 to 165 minutes in all.