A Quick Key to Testing for Grades 6-8

Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS)
In accordance with Act 282 (passed by the State Legislature in June 2008), the South Carolina Department of Education is developing a new statewide assessment program for students in grades three through eight. The new program, known as the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS), will be aligned to the state academic standards and will include tests in writing, English language arts (reading and research), mathematics, science, and social studies. The PASS test results will be used for school and school district accountability purposes beginning with the 2008-09 school year. The assessment results will also be used for federal accountability purposes (No Child Left Behind).

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
MAP is given in grades 2 - 10 for reading, language, and math.  Students take the test on a computer. The test adjusts to the student, based on how well the student performs. If the student is having difficulty, the test will become easier. If the student is answering all the questions correctly, the test will become more difficult. The tests are electronically scored and measure performance on an individual, classroom, school, and district level.  The tests provide accurate and immediate scores to help teachers plan instructional programs, place students in appropriate classes, and screen students for special programs.  

English Language Development Assessment (ELDA)
ELDA is used to determine how well students, who are identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP), can read, write, comprehend, and communicate in their first year in a United States school.

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
CogAT measures students’ general abstract reasoning abilities and capacity to apply these abilities to cognitive tasks in three batteries--verbal, quantitative and nonverbal.