Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
What is the MCAS?
Participation in the MCAS, is required by the commonwealth of Massachusetts for all students “seeking to earn a high school diploma”. Read more here for qualifying exceptions.
Students in their sophomore year who are eligible to take the Mathematics and ELA MCAS and must receive a scaled score of 240 on both tests or a scaled score between 220 and 238 and meet all of the requirements outlined in an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP).
In addition to math and English, students must take one of the Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) tests.
Generally, students take the MCAS Biology exam in May of their freshmen year although eligible students who transfer to a Massachusetts public school from out of state or from a private institution after their freshmen year may opt to take the MCAS Chemistry, Introductory Physics or Engineering/Technology exam. The following information is designed to help students better understand and prepare for the Mathematics component of the MCAS only.
Students in their sophomore year who are eligible to take the Mathematics and ELA MCAS and must receive a scaled score of 240 on both tests or a scaled score between 220 and 238 and meet all of the requirements outlined in an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP).
In addition to math and English, students must take one of the Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) tests.
Generally, students take the MCAS Biology exam in May of their freshmen year although eligible students who transfer to a Massachusetts public school from out of state or from a private institution after their freshmen year may opt to take the MCAS Chemistry, Introductory Physics or Engineering/Technology exam. The following information is designed to help students better understand and prepare for the Mathematics component of the MCAS only.
When is the Mathematics MCAS?
This year (2014) the test dates are two days in May. If you are a junior or senior and believe you are eligible to take the retest, contact to your guidance counselor to confirm. The retest dates are in November and March.
What does the MCAS look like?
What does the MCAS tests?
The Math MCAS tests students’ mastery of materials covered primarily in Algebra I and Geometry. Test content is divided into each of the five strands indicated by the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks.
[CONTENT]
Number Sense and Operations
Patterns, Relations, and Algebra Geometry Measurement Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability |
[DAY ONE]
8-9
5-7 1-2 1-2 4-5 |
[DAY TWO]
|
Though the number of questions varies per year, Number Sense and Operations and Patterns, Relations, and Algebra tend to dominate day one of testing, while day two is more heavily populated by Geometry and Measurement questions as students are allowed calculators to aid them with more complicated calculations. Data questions are often evenly spread between days.
How much time do I have
to take the MCAS?
Students
have the entire day to take the Mathematics MCAS. Though suggested times will
be announced periodically during testing, students are encouraged to take as
much time as they need to complete their test.
What kinds of questions
are on the MCAS?
Questions
will appear in one of two forms: [1]
Multiple Choice [2] Short Answer [3] Open-Response
During the first day of testing, students will answer approximately 14-16 multiple choice questions, 4 short answer, and 3-4 open response questions. During the second day of testing, students will answer 18-20 multiple choice questions and 3-4 open response questions. Open-Response questions are answered on a special answer sheet that includes a grid for questions that require a graphical representation as part of the answer. Students must label all parts of their answer, and may only write inside of the designated box. No work and/or explanation outside of this area will be scored. Students may write over the grid if it not an integral part of the question asked.
During the first day of testing, students will answer approximately 14-16 multiple choice questions, 4 short answer, and 3-4 open response questions. During the second day of testing, students will answer 18-20 multiple choice questions and 3-4 open response questions. Open-Response questions are answered on a special answer sheet that includes a grid for questions that require a graphical representation as part of the answer. Students must label all parts of their answer, and may only write inside of the designated box. No work and/or explanation outside of this area will be scored. Students may write over the grid if it not an integral part of the question asked.
How do I practice for the
MCAS?
MCAS
tutoring is held my classroom, Room 109, periodically throughout the year.
There will also be MCAS tutoring in the library during the April vacation.
Currently MCAS tutoring is on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday from 2:45pm-4:15pm. Tutoring will take a brief hiatus beginning March 11, prior to the start of the Mathematics Retest, and resume during the second week of April to allow sufficient time for sophomores to review and practice before their exam in May.
Currently MCAS tutoring is on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday from 2:45pm-4:15pm. Tutoring will take a brief hiatus beginning March 11, prior to the start of the Mathematics Retest, and resume during the second week of April to allow sufficient time for sophomores to review and practice before their exam in May.