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Metroplex Baby & Kids' Guide On
The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills (TAKS™) Testing
Based on information from
the Texas Education Center
About the Student
Assessment Program
•
Frequently Asked Questions
•
Information
Booklets By Subject & Grade
•
Sample Tests & Answer Keys
About the Student
Assessment Program
The Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test is a standardized test used in Texas
primary and secondary public and charter schools to assess students'
attainment of reading, writing, math, science, and social studies skills
required under Texas education standards. Students being home-schooled
or attending private schools are not required to take the TAKS test;
however, optional TAKS tests are now available to them.
The Texas Legislature is attempting reform of the TAKS system (HB3
(House Bill 3) and SB3 (Senate Bill 3)). If they pass, the reforms will
affect the 2011 schjool year.
Under the system currently in place, Texas public high school students
must pass their classes as well as four (4) sections of the TAKS exit
level test in order to receive a diploma and graduate. Students first
take the Exit Level of the TAKS test in the spring of their junior year.
Students will have five (5) opportunities prior to their graduation to
take and pass the four exit level TAKS test.
TAKS is administered for:
•Grades
3–9 reading
•Grades
3–10 and exit level mathematics
•Grades 4
and 7 writing
•Grade 10
and exit level English language arts (ELA)
•Grades
5, 8, 10, and exit level science
•Grades
8, 10, and exit level social studies
TAKS includes an accommodated form called TAKS (Accommodated) for
students served by special education who meet the eligibility
requirements for certain specific accommodations. The TAKS
(Accommodated) form includes format accommodations (larger font, fewer
items per page, etc.) and contains no embedded field-test items.
TAKS and TAKS (Accommodated) are available in Spanish and are
administered for:
•Grades
3–6 reading
•Grades
3–6 mathematics
•Grade 4
writing
•Grade 5
science
End-of-Course Assessments
End-of-course (EOC) assessments are new requirements starting with the
freshman class of 2011–2012 for secondary-level courses in Algebra I,
Algebra II, geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English
II, English III, world geography, world history, and United States
history.
TAKS–Modified (TAKS–M)
TAKS–Modified (TAKS–M) is an alternate assessment based on modified
academic achievement standards and is designed for students receiving
special education services who meet participation requirements for
TAKS–M and for whom TAKS is not appropriate. TAKS–M covers the same
grade-level content as TAKS, but the assessment itself has been
simplified through modifications in format (larger font, fewer items per
page, etc.) and test design (fewer answer choices, simpler vocabulary
and sentence structure, etc.).
TAKS–Alternate (TAKS–Alt)
TAKS–Alternate (TAKS–Alt) is an alternate assessment based on alternate
academic achievement standards and is designed for students with
significant cognitive disabilities who meet the participation
requirements. Unlike other statewide assessments in Texas, TAKS–Alt is
not a traditional paper or multiple-choice test. Instead, the assessment
involves teachers observing students as they complete teacher-designed
activities that link to the grade-level TEKS curriculum. Teachers then
score student performance using the TAKS–Alt rubric and submit results
and evidence through an online instrument.
TAKS–Alt is administered for:
•Grades
3–9 reading
•Grades
3–11 mathematics
•Grades 4
and 7 writing
•Grades
10 and 11 English language arts (ELA)
•Grades
5, 8, 10, and 11 science
•Grades
8, 10, and 11 social studies
Testing Calendars
Click here for a calendar of upcoming testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please
click here to view frequently asked questions and answers by the
Texas Education Agency.
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