By showing their work on open-ended mathematics and science items, students may get partial credit even if the answers are incorrect. Open-ended mathematics and science items measure students' skills in solving problems, reasoning and analyzing, interpreting and synthesizing data. An open-ended reading question may require students to write a brief response after reading a passage. This process may include interpreting or responding to the passage or defending a point of view prompted by an idea in the text. It helps if students have had practice in answering open-ended questions.
Teachers can require students to answer such questions in class, for homework and on tests.
To conduct this part of the assessment, the school representative in charge of administering the assessment must read thoroughly all information about completing this section of the assessment. Please click here for an overview of this part of the assessment. One person cannot administer the assessment. It takes a team comprised of the cluster coordinator, the principal and the test administrator or the cluster coordinator, the principal and an evaluation team. The focus should be on collecting reliable information and getting students to do their best.