PASA Assessment Level Descriptions

PASA MATH, GRADE 3/4, LEVEL A

Activities on the PASA, Grade 3/4, Level A Math assessment involve the use of objects that the student would commonly encounter in his/her environment. Test activities for Number Sense & Operations include matching or comparing sets of one or two objects; distinguishing money from other objects and a clock from other objects; matching or comparing two- and three-dimensional objects based on length, area, or volume; matching three-dimensional shapes; and extending a repeating pattern. All questions are answered by selecting from a group of 3 objects. In all cases, the correct answer looks very different from the other two choices.

PASA MATH, GRADE 5/6, LEVEL A

Activities on the PASA, Grade 5/6, Level A Math assessment involve the use of objects that the student would commonly encounter in his/her environment. Test activities include matching or comparing sets of objects; distinguishing money from other objects and a clock from other objects; matching or comparing two- and three-dimensional objects based on length, area, or volume; sorting three-dimensional shapes; and extending a repeating pattern. All questions are answered by selecting from a group of 3 objects. In all cases, the correct answer looks very different from the other two choices.

PASA MATH, GRADE 7/8, LEVEL A

Activities in the PASA, Grade 7/8, Level A Math assessment involve some very early mathematical concepts. Test items include matching or comparing sets of objects, selecting the set that contains only 1 item; matching numerals 1 and 2; recognizing money; matching or comparing two- and three-dimensional objects based on length, area, and volume; matching digital time; sorting three-dimensional shapes; and extending a repeating pattern. All questions are answered by selecting from a group of 3 objects. In all cases, the correct answer looks very different from the other two choices.

PASA MATH, GRADE 11, LEVEL A

Activities on the PASA, Grade 11, Level A Math assessment involve some very early mathematical concepts and numbers from one to five. Test items include matching or comparing sets of objects; selecting the set with only 1 item; matching numerals; identifying part and whole; recognizing money; matching and comparing items based on length, area, and volume; matching digital time displays; sorting three-dimensional shapes; and extending a repeating pattern. All questions are answered by selecting from a group of 3 objects. Answer choices involving numbers and numerals are very different from one another, making the correct choice more obvious. Incorrect choices involving objects are similar in some way to the correct answer choice.

PASA MATH, GRADE 3/4, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 3/4, Level B, Math assessment involves beginning mathematical concepts and numbers from one to five. Test activities include counting up to 5 items (objects, pennies, or dollar bills); selecting the set that has a particular number of items; reading numerals and prices; comparing and measuring length, area, and volume; matching digital time displays; sorting three-dimensional shapes; completing a repeating pattern; and reading a simple graph or a table. Test questions are typically answered by selecting from a set of 4 choices in which the incorrect choices are similar in some way to the correct answer choice.

PASA MATH, GRADE 5/6, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 5/6, Level B Math assessment involves some early mathematical concepts and numbers/quantities up to nine. Test activities include counting (objects, pennies, or bills); selecting the set that has a particular number of items; reading and sequencing numerals and prices; identifying coins by name; comparing and measuring length, area, and volume; reading digital time; sorting three-dimensional shapes; completing a repeating pattern; and reading a simple graph or a table. Test questions are most typically answered by selecting from a set of 4 choices in which incorrect choices are similar in some way to the correct answer choice.

PASA MATH, GRADE 7/8, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 7/8, Level B Math assessment involve basic mathematical concepts and numbers up through 19. Test activities include counting (objects, pennies, or bills) starting from a number other than 1; identifying coins by value; sequencing objects, numerals, or prices; recognizing an item divided equally into specified numbers of parts; adding or subtracting numbers using manipulatives; measuring length, area, and volume; reading digital and analog clocks; sorting three-dimensional shapes; completing a repeating number pattern; and reading a graph or a table. Test questions may be open-ended or may be answered by selecting from a set of 4 in which incorrect choices are similar in some way to the correct answer choice.

PASA MATH, GRADE 11, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 11, Level B Math assessment involve some computational, mathematical concepts, and numbers up through 99. Test activities include counting (objects, pennies, or bills) by 2s or 5s; naming the value of a coin; sequencing nonconsecutive numbers; solving addition and subtraction problems using a calculator; solving multiplication problems using manipulatives; measuring and comparing length, area, and volume; reading clock faces; sorting three-dimensional shapes; completing a repeating number pattern; and reading a graph or a table. Test questions may be open-ended or may involve selecting from a set of 4 choices in which incorrect choices are similar in some way to the correct answer.

PASA MATH, GRADE 3/4, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 3/4, Level C Math assessment involve basic math concepts and numbers up through nine. Test activities include counting up to 9 items (objects, pennies, dollar bills); adding and subtracting numbers using manipulatives; recognizing coins and specific denominations of bills; sequencing sets of items or numerals; measuring length and volume up to 9 units; reading digital time displays and analog clocks; sorting three-dimensional shapes; selecting an equation that solves a simple word problem; extending a number pattern; reading a simple graph or a table; and predicting a probable outcome. Most questions are open-ended; others involve choosing the correct answer from an array of 5 choices.

PASA MATH, GRADE 5/6, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 5/6, Level C Math assessment involves some basic math concepts and numbers up through 19. Test activities include counting (objects, pennies, dollar bills) by 2s and 5s; naming the value of coins; sequencing sets of items, numerals, and prices; selecting items divided into a specified number of pieces; adding or subtracting using a calculator; measuring length and volume; reading clocks; sorting three-dimensional shapes; selecting the equation that solves a word problem; extending a number pattern; reading a simple graph or a table; and predicting a probable outcome. Most questions are open-ended; others involve selecting the correct answer from an array of 5 choices.

PASA MATH, GRADE 7/8, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 7/8, Level C Math assessment involve understanding more advanced mathematical concepts and numbers up through 99. Test items include counting (objects, bills, or coins) by a combination of 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s, and 25s; reading fractions and selecting items divided into specified number of pieces; solving addition and subtraction word problems with a calculator; solving multiplication and division word problems using manipulatives; measuring length to the ½ inch or volume to the ½ cup; reading analog clocks; solving word problems involving time; sorting three-dimensional shapes; selecting an equation that solves a word problem; determining the unknown value in an equation; extending a number pattern; reading a graph or a table; selecting the largest value in a data set; and predicting a probable outcome. Questions are typically open-ended; others involve selecting the correct answer from an array of 5 choices.

PASA MATH, GRADE 11, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 11, Level C Math assessment involves some advanced mathematical concepts and numbers up through 500. Test activities include counting items (objects, bills, or coins) by a combination of 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s, and 25s; reading mixed fractions; dividing items into fractional parts; solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division word problems using a calculator; measuring length to the ¼-inch mark; measuring volume; solving word problems that involve the passage of time; sorting three-dimensional shapes; selecting an equation that solves a word problem; determining the unknown value in an equation; extending a decreasing number pattern; reading a graph or a table; determining the mean or mode in a data set; and predicting a probable outcome. Questions are typically open-ended; others involve selecting the correct answer from an array of 5 choices.

PASA READING, GRADE 11, LEVEL A

Activities on the PASA, Grade 11, Level A Reading assessment involve recognizing and understanding pictures, photographs, and commonly encountered icons. "Reading" activities include matching identical pictures, photographs, or icons; selecting a picture when given its name; selecting a picture based on how the pictured item is used or from a description of a particular feature of the item; showing how two objects in a picture are used together; selecting a picture based on a category label; and answering 'who,' 'what,' or 'where' questions after listening to a sentence. All questions are answered by making a selection from a group of 3 pictures, photographs, or icons. Answer choices involving icons are very different from one another. Incorrect choices involving pictures and photographs are more challenging in that they share some similarity to the correct answer choice.

PASA READING, GRADE 3/4, LEVEL A

Activities on the PASA, Grade 3/4, Level A Reading assessment involve the use of objects that the student would commonly encounter in his/her environment. Test activities for "reading" include matching identical objects and selecting an item when given the name. Test activities for comprehension include selecting an object based on how it is used; matching 2 objects that are used in similar ways; determining in which category an object belongs; and answering 'who' or 'what' questions after listening to a sentence. All questions are answered by making a selection from a group of 3 objects. In all cases, the correct answer looks very different from the other two choices.

PASA READING, GRADE 5/6, LEVEL A

Activities on the PASA, Grade 5/6, Level A Reading assessment involve the use of objects that the student would commonly encounter in his/her environments. Test activities for "reading" include matching identical objects and selecting an item when given the name. Test activities for comprehension include selecting an object based on how it is used; matching 2 objects that are used in similar ways; determining in which category an object belongs; and answering 'who' or 'what' questions after listening to a sentence. All questions are answered by making a selection from a group of 3 objects. One incorrect answer choice looks very different from the correct choice. The second incorrect choice bears some similarity to the correct choice.

PASA READING, GRADE 7/8, LEVEL A

Activities in the PASA, Grade 7/8, Level A Reading assessment involve recognizing and understanding pictures and photographs. Test activities for "reading" include matching identical pictures and selecting a picture when given the name. Test activities for comprehension include selecting a picture based on how it is used or from a description of a particular feature; showing how two objects in a picture are used together; selecting a picture based on a category label; and answering 'who,' 'what,' or 'where' questions after listening to a sentence. All questions are answered by making a selection from a group of 3 pictures or photographs. In all cases, the correct answer looks very different from the other two choices.

PASA READING, GRADE 3/4, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 3/4, Level B Reading assessment include pre-reading skills like matching identical words; selecting a picture with a particular beginning or ending (rhyming) sound; and naming actions portrayed in a picture. Test activities for comprehension include selecting pictures depicting prepositions; identifying icons by their meaning; selecting pictures based on how the item depicted is used; determining in which category a picture belongs; identifying pictures based on associations; and answering 'who,' 'what,' or 'where' questions after listening to a sentence. Test questions are most typically answered by selecting from a set of 4 picture choices in which incorrect choices share some characteristics with the correct answer choice.

PASA READING, GRADE 5/6, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 5/6, Level B Reading assessment include pre-reading skills like matching identical words; selecting a word named; selecting a picture with the same or different beginning or ending (rhyming) sound; naming an action or setting in a picture; and naming icons. Test activities for comprehension include selecting a specific icon; selecting a picture based on its function or from a description of a particular feature of the item; determining in which category a picture belongs; answering 'who,' 'what,' or 'where' questions after listening to a sentence; and selecting a picture representing the first or last event in a story. Test questions are typically answered by selecting from a set of 4 picture choices in which incorrect choices all share some characteristics with the correct answer choice.

PASA READING, GRADE 7/8, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 7/8 Level B Reading assessment involve the transition from pictures to very commonly encountered printed words. Test activities for "reading" include selecting a word that is named; reading a word with help from an accompanying picture; identifying a word with the same beginning sound or that rhymes with a pictured word; and naming activities depicted in a picture. Test activities for comprehension include selecting words based on function or from a particular feature; determining in which category a word belongs; selecting the word that is missing from a sentence; answering 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' or 'when' questions after listening to a sentence; and selecting the first/last event or main event of a story. Questions may be open-ended or may involve selecting from a set of 4 words.

PASA READING, GRADE 11, LEVEL B

Activities on the PASA, Grade 11, Level B Reading assessment involve basic understanding of text that a student is likely to encounter in his/her environment. Test activities include reading high frequency words in isolation or in context; selecting the correct printed word; selecting words based on function, meaning, or from particular features described; determining in which category a word belongs; selecting the word that is missing from a sentence; answering 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' 'when,' or 'why' questions after listening to a sentence; selecting a picture to identify the main event of a story; and sequencing 3 events in a story. Questions may be open-ended or may involve selecting from an array of 4 words.

PASA READING, GRADE 3/4, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 3/4, Level C Reading assessment involves understanding of basic text without the support of pictures. Test activities include reading high frequency words in isolation or embedded in a paragraph; selecting a picture after reading one word; and selecting a printed word with a particular beginning sound. Test activities for comprehension include reading one word and defining the function of the word or determining in which category the word belongs; answering 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' or 'when' comprehension questions after listening to a paragraph; and sequencing events from a story. Questions are typically open-ended; however, some involve selecting the correct answer from an array of 5 choices.

PASA READING, GRADE 5/6, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 5/6, Level C Reading assessment involves reading and understanding simple text no more than 10 words in length. Test activities for comprehension include supplying the correct missing word in a short sentence; following a written direction; answering 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' 'when,' and 'how' questions after listening to a paragraph; sequencing events from a story; and describing an event or a fact after listening to narrative or expository text. Questions are typically open-ended; however, some involve selecting the correct answer from an array of 5 choices.

PASA READING, GRADE 7/8, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 7/8, Level C Reading assessment involves working with blocks of novel text up to 29 words in length. Test activities include reading short paragraphs; supplying the correct missing word in a paragraph; following written directions; locating information in a real resource (newspaper, store directory, etc.); answering literal and inferential 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' 'when,' 'why,' and 'how' questions after reading a paragraph; and describing 3 events or facts from narrative or expository text. Questions are typically open-ended.

PASA READING, GRADE 11, LEVEL C

Activities on the PASA, Grade 11, Level C Reading assessment involves working with blocks of novel text up to 50 words in length. Test activities include reading paragraphs; supplying the correct missing word in a paragraph; following written directions; locating information in a real resource (newspaper, store directory, etc.); identifying synonyms for words read; answering literal and inferential 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' 'when,' 'why,' and 'how' questions; and describing 4 events or facts from a narrative or expository text. Questions are typically open-ended.