biology mcas review 2013

Biology MCAS Review 2013

Biology MCAS Review 2013

Agenda

1. Purpose of MCAS2. Composition of the Biology MCASNumbers and types of questionsMCAS Development

3. MCAS Scoring4. MCAS Preparation5. General test-taking advice

Purpose of MCAS

Purposes of the MCAS:1. Provide feedback to students, families, teachers, and schools on learning standards going unmet.

2. Improve instruction.3. Report on the performance of individual students, schools, districts.

4. Evaluate progress on achieving equity.

5. Ensure that all students receiving a high school diploma in Massachusetts have a base level of knowledge.

1. Purpose of MCAS2. Composition of MCAS3. MCAS Scoring4. MCAS Preparation5. General advice

Purpose of MCAS

Passing the Biology MCAS is a requirement that must be met in order to graduate with a high school diploma. Those who do not pass must address this through additional work: more on that later.


Composition of MCAS The MCAS is broken down into two sessions, June 4th and June 5th. Each session contains the same number of questions.

Sessions start at the beginning of the school day. There is no mid-session break.

Your room assignment will be posted in the lobby.Take the test at a reasonable pace.

Rush and you’ll make mistakes; dilly-dally and you won’t be as sharp by the time you finally get to the end.

After about 11 AM, mental processing drops off sharply. So a student who daydreams and wastes time will wind up having to take some questions after that point and will get a lower score.


Composition of MCAS

The scored MCAS contains 40 multiple choice questions (20 each day), and 5 open response questions consisting of 2-3 parts each (2-3 open response questions each day).


Composition of MCAS Rough multiple choice breakdown:

13% Biochemistry & Enzymes (mostly 1.2-1.3) 15% Cell Biology 17% Genetics 13% Anatomy 20% Evolution 20% Ecology (mostly 6.2-6.4)

One essay from each of the topic areas except biochemistry. The evolution essay is usually a natural selection question. The anatomy essay is usually, but not always, about the digestive system & homeostasis. The ecology essay is usually about a food web.


Composition of MCAS

Questions on the MCAS are constructed to determine if students understand the underlying concepts by asking them to apply their knowledge to new situations.Questions will pose scenarios that students need not have learned the specifics of, intentionally.

“Blue jays and Kingbirds are both classified in the order Passeriformes. In the current taxonomic system, this means that both birds belong to the same…”


Composition of MCAS

Each multiple choice question has one correct response and three “distractors.” The distractors are deliberately chosen to contain common misconceptions.

They are answers that someone who has not taken biology might gravitate towards, or that someone who has taken biology but isn’t paying attention might gravitate towards.

There are still keywords you can look for, like “common ancestor” or “reproductive success”

Again, what the test writers are thinking is, “Did this student learn what they were supposed to from their Biology class?”


Composition of MCAS

The MCAS will also contain “fake test items,” questions that will not count towards your score. These are questions that the DESE is considering for a future Biology exam.

They determine if questions are too easy or too hard by giving them to real students.

All the real questions on your test were constructed this way.

These items will be indistinguishable from the actual test items. They will be mixed in and unmarked.

So you will actually have more on the order of 55-60 multiple choice questions and 6-7 essays total.

Take every question seriously!


MCAS Scoring Multiple choice: A correct answer gets 1

point, an incorrect answer gets 0 points. No “guessing penalty.” Answer every question,

even if it’s a wild guess! Open response: Evaluated holistically.

Score of 0-4. 4 = The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the concept.

3 = The student demonstrates a general understanding of the concept.

2 = The student demonstrates a limited understanding of the concept.

1 = The student demonstrates a minimal understanding of the concept.

0 = The question is unanswered, or the response lies far outside the realm of the question.


MCAS Scoring

Not answering an open response question can result in failure of the test.

Each day is a one hour exam; we give you twice that much time. There is no reason why any question - multiple choice or open response - should go unanswered.


MCAS Scoring Open Response questions call for 1-2 complete

paragraphs in response to each part of the question.

Be sure to include: Topic sentence Answer Explanation + Evidence Connect Explanation + Evidence to Answer

It’s the Explanation and Evidence that most students neglect. Students must remember, their job is to prove not just that they know, but that they understand. Holistic score is improved by the inclusion of clear

evidence, by explaining concepts as they arise, and by using appropriate science vocabulary.


MCAS Scoring

Students receive a scaled score of 200-280, though there are 60 points possible on the test. 220-280 is considered passing for the student, but not necessarily for the teacher or school.Failing = 200-219 (Roughly 0-20 pts)

Needs Improvement = 220-239 (21-30)Proficient = 240-259 (31-47)Advanced = 260-280 (48-60)


MCAS Scoring

2008 Biology Results


CHS (%) Statewide (%)

Advanced 29 14

Proficient 59 43

Needs Improvement

12 31

Failing 1 12

MCAS Scoring




Advanced 40 16

Proficient 49 45

Needs Improvement

9 29

Failing 2 9

MCAS Scoring




Advanced 29 18

Proficient 55 47

Needs Improvement

15 28

Failing 1 8

MCAS Scoring




Advanced 49 25

Proficient 41 46

Needs Improvement

9 21

Failing 2 9

MCAS Scoring




Advanced 40 26

Proficient 47 46

Needs Improvement

11 21

Failing 1 8

MCAS Scoring Student results usually come out in September. Schoolwide results just report on advanced, proficient, etc.

Individual results are more detailed.

Your MCAS score does not affect your grade in Biology, or your level of Chemistry. However, students who don’t pass are usually signed up to retake a Biology remediation course, either by retaking 9th grade Biology or taking an additional course simultaneous with Chemistry.


MCAS Preparation

Set aside at least 30 minutes a night for studying. Some ideas:

1. Go through the standards with a parent, sibling, or friend. Questions are constructed to address each one.If you cannot perform the task the standard calls for, then that’s an indication of an area you should focus your reviewing time on.


MCAS Preparation

2. Practice questions.Practice questions from previous years’ exams are on the DESE’s website, and most are on Ms. Stang’s website as well.

Take a practice exam. Any questions you get wrong demonstrate areas for you to review.


MCAS Preparation

3. Sit down with a parent, sibling, or study buddy, and examine the sample essays. Discuss what it was about each essay that elevated or lowered the score.


MCAS Preparation

4. Write practice open responses to the questions available. Discuss with parent/sibling/study buddy your probable score afterwards by comparing your work to that of the example students.


General Advice

Of course, make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before the exams. Shoot for 9 hours!

And, eat a good, filling breakfast that morning. No lie, it will save a question or two for you that you would’ve missed otherwise!


General Advice

Leave your phone at home those days, if possible. You’re instructed to turn phones off and/or hand them in before beginning the test, but it’s still a risk.

If you can’t, leave it at home, leave it in your locker.

If you forget to leave it in your locker, TURN IT OFF, TURN IT OFF, TURN IT OOOOFFFFFFFFFFFF If you do NOT follow the cell phone rules, and your receives a call or text, you may automatically fail your test And everyone around you may automatically fail theirs.

DON’T BE THAT GUY


General Advice

Employ the complete test-taking arsenal.Skip the toughies for later.Use the test against itself.Eliminate answers.Underline key terms.Brain-dump.Double-check at the end: all answered, all on the right lines.

Etc.


General Advice

Bring:2 pencilsWater (no food)Layered clothingA BOOK

Trust me, we give you so much extra time, you will be VERY BORED otherwise.

General Advice

You have nothing to be scared of. Just be determined.You have learned everything they need. You can handle this hurdle, provided you’re focused in both your preparation and your test-taking strategies.

YOU ARE CAPABLE OF THIS :)


Review Sessions

I’m available for review sessions until 2:30 5/24, 5/28, 5/30, 5/31 and 6/3.I can be available later than that by request

Helpful websites:http://stangbio.wikispaces.com/Bio+CP1+Units

MCAS Info http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/MCAS Practice Questions http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html

MCAS Essays http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/student/

http://stangbio.wikispaces.com/Bio+CP1+Units

http://stangbio.wikispaces.com/Bio+CP1+Units

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/student/

biology mcas review 2013

Documents

mcas scoring4

mcas preparation5

samepurpose of mcascomposition

purpose of mcas2

number of questions

multiple choice questions

open response questions

school day