Students in grades three through eight in Aiken County and across the state will take a new series of timed tests this spring to measure academic performance.
ACT Aspire will be administered for English, reading, writing, mathematics and science. Students will be tested for approximately one hour each day, and the writing test must be completed in 30 minutes.
The Aspire English, language arts and math tests will be given April 28 to 30, and the Aspire science test will be given May 5.
"The ACT Aspire is a standards-based assessment that monitors student growth and progress," said Joy Shealy, the middle school academic officer for the Aiken County Public School District. "The results will be used to help teachers understand where their students are succeeding and where extra help and academic assistance is needed."
Students in grades four through eight will continue to take the S.C. Palmetto Assessment of State Standards tests for science and social studies, which students have taken in the past and are not timed. Students in the third grade will not take SCPASS assessments, which the state formerly used to measure students' proficiency levels in subject areas.
Having to complete the Aspire tests in a specific amount of time is the biggest difference between the new and former assessments, and the school district is helping students prepare for the change, said Janice Kitchings, an elementary school academic officer for the district.
"It's a natural reaction to be concerned and feel some anxiety because this is a change from what we have done for a very long time," Kitchings said. "Students are being encouraged to pace themselves to become comfortable with the expectations of the ACT Aspire. Teachers are providing practice items in class with time limits to help students prepare."
Teachers also have provided timed writing assignments other assignments that end when a bell rings to prepare students for the timed tests, Shealy said.
"Parents should encourage their children to do their best on the assessment but not stress," she said.
"They should emphasize the work they have put into this school year, and ACT Aspire is just one way to see their progress."
The types of questions the tests ask also are a little different from the former tests.
Most questions on the new tests will be multiple choice, but some, called constructive response, will ask students to write out their answers and explanations. The SCPASS used only the multiple-choice format.
"One distinct difference with the ACT Aspire is the addition of constructed response items in math," Kitchings said. "The SCPASS test in math had only multiple choice items. The ACT Aspire format is multiple choice and constructed response.
"The SCPASS science test will measure students' content knowledge, while ACT Aspire will be more process-oriented where students will have to apply their understanding or scientific thinking."
To help prepare their students, teachers have participated in professional development activities and accessed Web resources to educate themselves about ACT Aspire and what students can expect when they take the tests.
"First and foremost, our teachers are teaching, on a day-to-day basis, high quality curriculum and standards that aim to prepare students for real world experiences," Kitchings said.
Parents also can help their children be ready for the tests.
"Parents can talk positively about the tests and encourage their children to do their best," Kitchings said. "They can also make sure that their children get plenty of rest the night before. Parents should encourage their children to come to school on time with a positive attitude, follow the test directions and read the items carefully."
A native of Aiken, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter.