Content (Changes)

A major change between the first and second generations of the CAPT science assessment is that the science content that is measured will be better defined and more consistent from one year to the next. This change is in response to school district concerns that the content on the first generation CAPT has been a "moving target," making it difficult to prepare students or to make meaningful comparisons from one year to the next. Science specialists at the Connecticut State Department of Education, with input from the Science Advisory Committee, have adapted knowledge and skills from the science curriculum frameworks, which are most critical and which can be reasonably measured through the CAPT. A detailed summary of the "eligible" content for the CAPT will be shared with school districts, and the test will more consistently cover the specified skills and knowledge.

        The science test will assess conceptual understanding and applications of scientific knowledge and experimentation in three content domains: (1) life science; (2) physical science; and (3) earth science. Each of these domains encompasses the content in several of the content strands that are specified in Connecticut’s science curriculum frameworks.

        The content in each of the domains is listed on pages 16-22. Each content strand (e.g., Ecosystems) within each of the domains will be assessed in every test form.

Test Format

The experimentation domain will center on the performance task that precedes the written test.  School districts showed strong support for the hands-on task and expressed a desire that it should have even more prominence in the scoring of the test. In the written test, follow-up questions will include both open-ended and multiple-choice items. In the first generation science test, the open-ended items related directly to the performance task, but the multiple-choice items were generic questions about experimentation. In the second generation, all experimentation test items will be directly related to the performance task.

        In each of the other domains (life science, physical science and earth science), the test will include both multiple-choice and open-ended items. Multiple-choice items will be organized in clusters that center on a common theme. To assist in making the test more consistent from year to year, each of the four content strands within a content domain (e.g., life science: ecosystems, genetics and evolution, cells, and human biology) will be assessed on every test.

        The format of the second generation CAPT science assessment is similar to that of the first generation. For sample items and performance tasks, see the CAPT Released Item Packets (1994-1999).

Test Design

The CAPT science test will consist of the following numbers of items:

Reporting of Results

The state goal in science will continue to be established on the total science score and will be the basis for certification of mastery. Additional standards are likely to be established below the state goals. Subscores will be reported in experimentation, life science, physical science and earth science.

Testing Time

In order to enable more detailed reporting, it is necessary to have a sufficient number of test items in each of the content domains. This requires the addition of 10 minutes to the test. The second generation science test will take 100 minutes (broken into two 50-minute sessions. The performance task will require 90 minutes.

 

14 & 15