A 1 item may not require as much thinking as a Level 4 item—but that does not mean it’s easy . A Level 4 item may have more than one part or ask you to write something . Here is some information to help you understand just what a DOK level really is . Level 1 (Recall of Information) ✽ Identify, list, or define something . ✽ Questions may with who, what, when, and where . ✽ Recall facts, terms, or identify information . Level 2 (Basic Reasoning) ✽ Think about things—it is more than just remembering something . ✽ Describe or explain something . ✽ Answer the questions “how” or “why .” Level 3 (Complex Reasoning) ✽ Go beyond explaining or describing “how and why .” ✽ Explain or justify your answers . ✽ Give reasons and evidence for your response . ✽ Make connections and explain a concept or a “big idea .” Level 4 (Extended Reasoning) ✽ Complex thinking required! ✽ Plan, investigate, or apply a deeper understanding . ✽ These items will take more time to write . ✽ Connect and relate ideas . ✽ Show evidence by a task, creating a product, or writing a response . Depth of Knowledge Depth of Knowledge Level 1—Recall of Information Level 1 asks you to identify, list, or define . You may be asked to recall who, what, when, and where . You may also be asked to recall facts and terms or identify information in documents, quotations, maps, charts, tables, graphs, or illustrations . Items that ask you to “describe” and/or “explain” could be Level 1 or Level 2 . A Level 1 item requires that you just recall, recite, or repeat information . Skills Demonstrated Question Cues trial
Make observations Recall information Recognize formulas, properties, patterns, processes Know vocabulary, definitions Know basic concepts Perform one-step processes Translate from one representation to another • Identify relationships Tell who, what, when, or where Find List Define Identify; label; name Choose; select Compute; estimate Express as Read from data displays Level 2—Basic Reasoning 2 includes some thinking that goes beyond recalling or repeating a response . A Level 2 “describe” and/or “explain” item would require that you go beyond a description or explanation of information to describe and/or explain a result or “how” or “why .” Skills Demonstrated Question Cues Apply learned information to abstract and real-life situations Use methods, concepts, and theories in abstract and real-life situations Perform processes Solve problems using required skills or knowledge (requires more than habitual response) Make a decision how to proceed Identify and organize components of a whole Extend patterns Identify/describe cause and effect Recognize unstated assumptions; make inferences Interpret facts Compare or contrast simple concepts/ideas Apply Calculate; Complete Describe Explain how; demonstrate Construct data displays Construct; draw Analyze Extend Connect Classify Arrange Compare; contrast Depth of Knowledge Level 3—Complex Reasoning 3 requires reasoning, using evidence, and thinking on a higher level than Level 1 and Level 2 . You will go beyond explaining or describing “how and why” to justifying the “how and why” through reasons and evidence . Level 3 items often involve making connections across time and place to explain a concept or a “big idea .” Skills Demonstrated Question Cues
Appendix A: Language Progressive Skills, by Grade APPENDIX A: LANGUAGE PROGRESSIVE SKILLS, BY GRADE Appendix B: Condition Codes APPENDIX B: CONDITION Condition Codes (Non-Score) NonScore (Code) Performance Scoring: Non-Score (Code) Description Full Description B Blank • • Blank Student’s response did not contain words . • In some instances, student may have drawn pictures . C Copied • • Student’s response is not his/her own work . Student does not clearly attribute words to the text(s) . • Student copies from the text(s) that serve(s) as writing stimulus . I Too Limited to Score • Student’s response is not long enough to evaluate his/her ability to write to genre or his/her command of language conventions . F Non-English/Foreign Language • • Written in some language other than English The writing items/tasks on the test require the student to write in English . T Off Task • Student may have written something that is totally off topic (e .g ., major portion of response is unrelated to the assigned task) . • Student response did not follow the directions of the assigned task (i .e ., off task) .