EDCI 559/ENG 599

Assessment Analyses
Language-Proficiency Tests, Standardized Content Area Tests
and Classroom-Based Assessments
Due on Sunday, 2/14 @ 11:59 PM

For this individual project, you will analyze language-proficiency tests (LAS Links & WIDA
ACCESS), standardized content area tests (ISTEP+ and NAEP), and classroom-based
assessments. The types of assessment are divided into three categories below. Your task is to
analyze these different test items to identify the potential challenges that ELLs would face. You
must draw on the discussions and readings you have done for the course thus far.
Analysis should include the following:

cultural knowledge expectations;

language knowledge expectations;
grade level content expectations (reference academic standards);
any other information that the item contains that may relate to potential difficulties.

Based on your understanding about the role of language and culture in test performance, cultural
and language knowledge expectations in understanding, identification of linguistic challenges
according to each one of the content areas (i.e., English language arts, mathematics, science, and
history-social studies), and knowledge and understanding of ELL teaching and learning, you will
analyze these test items.
Format:
Typewritten
12-point font
1-inch margins
6 or more pages in length double spaced
Use of headings to introduce each item
Gottlieb framework (p. 81)
What language features are most evident in each test item?
What language features are absent?
What would you anticipate being difficult for your ELLs?
What is the impact of level of English proficiency?
What is the impact of cultural elements?

Category I: Language-Proficiency Tests

1. LAS Links: Content area: Reading (Grades K-1 and 9-12)
A. Grades K-1
B. Grades 9-12

2.

WIDA ACCESS: Content area: Reading (Grades 6-8)

3. Transparent Language, a group that provides language testing software to schools.

http://www.transparent.com/learn-english/proficiency-test.html

4. Speaking: Tell a story (Grades 2-5)

Category II: Standardized Content Area Tests

5. NAEP Mathematics 3rd Grade
Leona and her mother made a quilt. They used 56 squares to make 8 rows. How many squares
are in each row?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
6. ISTEP+ Mathematics Item Sampler Grades (3-5)
A. Extended Response Item (Measurement/Problem Solving)
The diagram below shows the three floors Elaine will mop for her summer job.

What is the total area, in square yards, that Elaine will mop if she mops each floor once?
Show All Work
Answer _____________________ square yards

B. Constructed Response Item (Number Sense/Measurement/Problem Solving)

Teri has a set of flower pots shown below.

Teri gave 2/5 of the set to a friend. Place an X to show the number of flower pots that Teri gave
to a friend.
Teri sold the rest of the flower pots for $8 each. How much money did Teri earn from the flower
pots she sold?
Show All Work
Answer $ ____________
If Teri had sold all of the flower pots and not given any to her friend, how much money would
she have earned?
Write your answer in the form of an addition (or multiplication) number sentence.
Answer ___________________________________________

7. NAEP Science 2005

8. NAEP Writing 12th Grade

The twentieth century has given us inventions that have changed our lives in many ways. Big
inventions, like television, computers, or microwave ovens, have had such a great impact on our
culture that they seem to overshadow the small ones, like ballpoint pens, headphones, or
calculators.
Write an essay in which you argue whether the "big" inventions or the "small" ones play a more
important role in your daily life and provide reasons to support your position. You may use the
examples of inventions given above or come up with some of your own. Give as many examples
as you feel necessary to support your position.

Category III: Classroom-based Assessments

9. Phonemic Awareness Assessment Content Area: Language Arts (Kindergarten)
Teacher asks: I am going to read some words for you. Tell me the sound you hear at the
beginning of each word. Lets try one. What is the beginning sound in: mouse.

10. Rhyming Assessment Content Area: Language Arts (Kindergarten)

Teacher asks: I am going to say some rhyming words. Tell me a real word or a made up word
that rhymes. For example, if I say: dog and log, you say hog or jog.
Now it is your turn. Tell me a real word or a made up word that rhymes with cat, hat.
The assessment would continue with house, mouse, man, ran.
11. Nonsense Word Fluency Content Area: Language Arts (1-2)
Student must sound out aloud each nonsense word. Assessor is listening for specific sounds in
each nonsense word sequence. For example, the assessor would want to hear the sounds f-o-j
specifically for the student to get a score of 3 points for that particular nonsense word.

12. From a CL Chemistry Class (grade 11, nuclear chemistry)

The nuclide 208Tl is the daughter nuclide resulting from the alpha decay of what parent nuclide?
a. 210Pb
b. 204Au
c. 207Hg
d. 212Bi
e. 4He