PASS Spring Testing will begin May 9-13 for third through fifth grades.

English/Language Arts  May 9

Math May 11

Science or Social Studies * May 12

Social Studies** May 13 

Make-up Testing May 16-20 

*All students in grades 4 and 7 will take the science test. Students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 8 will take either the science or the social studies test. 

**All students in grades 4 and 7 will take the social studies test. Make-up tests in all subjects for grades 3, 5, 6, and 8 may be administered on this date. 

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Writing Test Taking Tips

  NCLB | PASS DATES |WRITING

Read all the directions and questions first! Take notice of the number of questions, the range of difficulty and the time available. Write any answers that come to your mind immediately. Write down any other key information you don't want to forget.

Analyze the test question and divide it into its main parts and sub-parts. From the parts, you should quickly make an outline of what you will write about.

Read the instructional words included in the question carefully, for example, "Compare and contrast the culture of your country with the culture of a different country." If the directions say to compare and contrast, then your answer must be a comparison essay!

Make an outline as a "map" to answer the essay question. If you don't have time to finish, this outline may give you some points! More importantly, the outline helps you to stay focused.

Make your answer as specific as possible. If you know the answer, write only what you are asked. Avoid generalities and always try to give specific examples.

Use part of the test question sentence in your test answer at the beginning of the paragraph. This tells the reader that you are answering this part of the essay here. This will earn you points!

Include a topic statement at the beginning and a conclusion paragraph at the end.

Review your answers. Your essay is written in a hurry and with a deadline, but it is scored under much more relaxed conditions. Give yourself enough time at the end of the test to check for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, omitted words, incorrect dates, etc. This is when you will be glad you wrote in pencil or erasable ink! 

ANALYZE

When you are asked to analyze, you must separate a thing or idea into its parts to explain their relationship to each other.

COMMENT

When you're asked to comment, you should explore the importance and meaning of something, or write a note of explanation, or write a criticism or example of something written or said. You may also write a remark or make a critical observation or express your opinion.

COMPARE

Here, you must look for similarities. The term compare is usually stated as compare with, and it means that you are to emphasize similarities, although differences may be mentioned.

CONTRAST

Show the differences between two or more topics.

CRITIQUE

Express your opinion with respect to the correctness or merits of the factors under consideration. Give the results of your own analysis and discuss the limitations and good points or contributions of the plan or work in question.

DEFINE

When asked to define something, your definition must contain concise, clear, and authoritative meanings. Details are not required, but boundaries or limitations of the definition should be given. Keep in mind the group/class/category to which a thing belongs and whatever differentiates the particular object from all others in the group/class/category.

DIAGRAM

You must draw a chart, a plan or a graphic representation in your answer. You may be expected to label the diagram or add a brief explanation or description.

DISCUSS

Examine the topic, analyze it carefully and then present detailed considerations pro and con regarding the problems or items involved. This type of essay question is common.

EVALUATE

Present a careful analysis of the problem, and stress both the advantages and limitations. Evaluation means an authoritative and personal appraisal of both contributions and limitations.

EXPLAIN

Clarify and interpret the material you present. State the "how" or "why," explain differences of opinion or experimental results, and state any causes if it's possible. In short, tell how it all happened!

JUSTIFY, PROVE

To justify your answer, provide factual evidence or logical reasons. In this type of answer, the evidence should be presented in a convincing form. Establish your answer with certainty by evaluating and giving evidence or by logical reasoning.

LIST, ENUMERATE

Write an itemized list, series or tabulation. Be concise.

OUTLINE

Give the main points and essential supplementary materials. Leave out the minor details and present the information in a clear systematic arrangement or classification.

SUMMARIZE

Give the main points or facts in condensed form. Brief examples can help make your summary more specific.

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