FCAT Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FCAT?
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or FCAT is a standardized test given annually to Florida public school students to measure their knowledge and comprehension of reading, writing, math and science based on the expectations for their grade, which are established in the Sunshine State Standards.
Who takes the FCAT?
Students in third through eleventh grade in public school take the FCAT.
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Grade
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Reading
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Writing
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Math
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Science
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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When is the FCAT given?
The FCAT Writing test is given in February. The FCAT reading, math and science portions are given in March. All students in the state take the tests on the same day.
Why isn’t the FCAT given closer to the end of the school year?
In some grades, the FCAT contains performance questions which require students to show or explain their work. These answers are scored by hand by at least two individuals. Because of the time required to score these questions, the test must be given in April to be able to report student’s results before the end of the school year.
What format is used for the questions?
The FCAT questions come in three formats:
Multiple Choice: Students choose from three or four choices and fill in the corresponding bubble in a test booklet. Multiple choice questions are used on the FCAT in all subjects.
Gridded Response: Students answer numerical questions using corresponding numbered bubbles on a grid. For example, a grid might provide three columns of numbers 0 through 9. If the answer is 482, the student bubbles in the number 4 in the first column, 8 in the second and 2 in the last. Gridded responses are used only on the math and science FCAT.
Performance Items: Students respond in their own words or show the work for their solutions. Essay questions are used on the FCAT Writing in 4th, 8th and 10th grades. Short and extended response questions are used on the reading, math and science FCAT in certain grades. These types of questions measure a higher level of thinking skills by the student. In math, for example, a student can get credit on a performance item for following the appropriate steps to solve a complex problem even if the final answer is incorrect.
How is student performance measured on the FCAT?
In FCAT reading, math and science a student receives a score on a scale of 1 through 5. Level 3 is considered grade level performance, 1 and 2 are below grade level and 4 and 5 are above grade level.
In FCAT writing a student receives a score on a scale of 1 to 6, with a score of 3.5 indicating grade level performance.
Who grades the FCAT?
Multiple choice and gridded response questions are scored electronically by a computer, Scantron.
Written responses are hand-scored by a team of professionals including retired teachers, part-time graduate students and educators who are not currently employed in the Florida public school system. To ensure accuracy in scoring, written answers are graded by at least two different individuals. If those individuals do not agree, another individual scores the test until an agreement is reached.
Who creates the questions on the FCAT?
More than 700 hundred people, including teachers, parents, testing experts and education professionals, create, review and approve the questions.
As part of the review of questions, any one person can eliminate a question from being used on the FCAT if the question does not meet the criteria below.
Questions are rigorously reviewed in five areas:
•Standards: questions must be aligned to the Sunshine State State Standards.
•Content: questions must be appropriate for the grade level.
•Expert: questions and answers must be accurate.
•Bias: questions must be free of information that would put a particular group at a disadvantage.
•Sensitivity: questions must be free of issues that may be considered inappropriate by parents and other citizens.
When was the FCAT first given to students?
FCAT Writing was first administered to students in 1992.
FCAT reading and math were first administered to 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th grade students in 1997 under Governor Lawton Chiles. By 2001, FCAT reading and math was expanded to students in third through tenth grade.
FCAT science was first administered in 2003.
Was the FCAT the first annual standardized test given to students?
No. Before the FCAT, school districts used one of eight different national tests to measure student learning. These tests were Norm Referenced Tests.
How is the FCAT different from Norm Referenced Tests?
The FCAT measures a student’s knowledge of our academic standards – the Sunshine State Standards. Both the test and the standards are unique to Florida. Scores reflect what a student knows. For example, a third grade student who scores a 3 in reading on the FCAT has demonstrated the knowledge and comprehension for that subject in that grade.
A Norm Referenced Test measures student knowledge based on a general curriculum. Scores compare student achievement across a peer group. For example, a third grade student who scores in the 60th percentile is performing better than 60 percent of his peers across the nation.
Are Norm Referenced questions included on the FCAT?
Yes. Part of the test has norm-referenced questions, but these are not included in the score on the FCAT.
How are FCAT scores used to ensure every student is successful in school?
FCAT scores are used to ensure students are learning. It identifies struggling and high achieving students so teachers can tailor an education plan and coursework to ensure each student succeeds. To ensure students can read independently before entering the fourth grade, students who don’t demonstrate reading skills and comprehension on the 3rd grade FCAT may be retained. To earn a high school diploma, students must earn a passing score in reading and math on the 10th grade FCAT.
How are FCAT scores used to ensure accountability for student learning?
FCAT scores are used to determine school grades.
FCAT scores may also be used by school districts to determine merit pay for teachers and administrators. At least 60 percent of an employee’s overall evaluation must be based on student academic proficiency or learning gains. The remaining 40% is based on evaluations.
FCAT scores determine whether a school is achieving adequate yearly progress under the Federal No Child Left Behind law.