Official FSA Practice Tests + How to Use Them to Ace the Test
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Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) are standardized tests designed to assess how well Florida students have mastered state standards, the skills educators are required to teach throughout the school year.
Although these tests are challenging, students can prepare effectively using FSA practice tests.
Below we provide you with a link to access official printable FSA Practice Test PDFs for Grades 3-10, with answer keys. Each test includes reading, math and writing assesments (except for 3rd grade FSA test, which only has math and reading assesments, and Grade 9-10, which only include reading and writing assessments).Completing practice tests is one of the most effective test preparation strategies, and doing this will help put your child on the path to success.
We also will provide you with our top five test prep tips for using official FSA practice tests to effectively prepare.
These downloadable, printable FSA tests are made by the creator of the FSA assessments, so they are the gold standard for practice. That means that this test contains the same kind of material that your child will face on test day.
Just click the button below to get the appropriate grade-level FSA practice test, plus our 5 proven test prep strategies for using FSA practice tests in your study plan.
In this article, we’ll also give an overview of the different FSA tests, including information about content, structure, scoring, and how to help your child prepare for success.
What is the Purpose of FSA Testing?
Florida educators are required to teach a curriculum aligned with Florida standards, a list of skills and knowledge that students should master in each subject at each grade level.
FSA tests are designed to assess not only what the student has learned, but also how well schools and teachers are delivering required material to students.
FSA scores are often used to place students in appropriately supportive or challenging courses based on their ability levels. They also give parents an idea of how successful students are likely to be in the next grade, as well as how much support the student may need to achieve at a high level.
FSA Test Basics
Florida public school students in grades 3-10 are required to take at least one FSA test each school year. These exams are:
There are also FSA EOCs (End of Course exams) for students enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra II, or Geometry. Middle grade students in these courses will not be tested on both FSA Math and a Math EOC. These students will take the corresponding EOC and will not sit the grade level mathematics exam.
Let’s take a brief look at each of the FSA exams listed above.
FSA ELA Reading
Students in grades 3-10 are required to take this exam. For grades 4-10, the test is administered in April or May. The 3rd grade FSA ELA Reading test occurs in late March or early April.
While students in grades 4-10 take the test on the computer, third graders are provided with a paper-pencil exam. In the future, this test is expected to be computer based as well.
FSA ELA Reading tests measure a student’s ability to answer grade level appropriate reading comprehension questions based on both literary and informational passages. In many cases, students will read a set of two passages and answer related questions.
Passages may contain multimedia elements such as slideshows, charts, graphs, images, etc. The reading test also has a listening component requiring students to respond to questions about an audio text. Students must have headphones or earbuds.
The test consists of 56-66 questions and is administered as follows:
Like Florida’s ELA standards, test questions are divided into four categories:
For students in grades 4-10, the ELA Reading score is combined with the ELA Writing score to form a comprehensive view of a students’ English Language Arts abilities.
Third grade students must score at least a 2 on the ELA Reading assessment in order to be promoted to the fourth grade, and 10th grade students must pass the ELA exam to graduate from high school.
FSA ELA Writing
This test is required for students in grades 4-10, and students typically take the test in late February or early March. Students in grades 4-10 take a paper-pencil version of the test, while the exam for grades 8-10 is computer based.
On the writing test, students are provided with a writing prompt and a set of related passages. Students must read the passages and, using the information given, construct a response to the prompt. The provided texts should be used as evidence or support for the student’s response.
Students are given 120 minutes to read the passages and write a response. A planning sheet is provided. Encourage your student to take notes on the passages and use the planning sheet to outline and organize ideas.
This score will be combined with your child’s ELA Reading score to form his overall FSA ELA test score.
FSA Mathematics
The Mathematics test is required for students in grades 3-8. Testing generally occurs in April or May and is computer based for all students.
Students in grades 3-5 take the test in two 80-minute sessions, while students in grades 6-8 sit for three 60-minute sessions. Schools must administer the no calculator session (Session 1) on Day 1 and the calculator sessions (Sessions 2 and 3) on Day 2.
The tests consist of 56-66 questions that are divided into categories based on Florida standards. Grades 3-5 are tested on the following skills:
Grades 6 and 7 are tested in the following categories:
Lastly, questions for 8th grade students are divided into these categories:
All students are provided with a Work Folder for each session. The Work Folder consists of four sheets of paper, with the last sheet being a piece of graph paper.
Although calculators are not permitted for grades 3-6, a scientific calculator is provided through the computer based testing platform for grades 7 and 8. Reference sheets are also provided starting with fourth grade.
FSA EOC’s
There are FSA EOC’s for students enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. Tests are computer based and divided into two ninety-minute sessions over two days. If a student needs more time, he may continue working for up to half of the total school day.
Multiple forms are provided for each assessment, but the maximum number of questions is 68. Work folders are also provided, and the computer based testing platform allows access to scientific calculators for Session 2.
What Do I Need to Know About FSA Computer Based Testing?
Some parents express concern about their child being required to take such important and challenging exams on the computer. However, all schools are required to provide an official practice test session prior to test day. Your child’s teacher is also likely to spend time familiarizing students with the computer based platform.
It’s important to note that the computer based tests have several unique question types, which the FSA calls “technology enhanced items.” Depending on which test(s) your child takes, he may encounter the following:
As complicated as this may sound, remember that FSA practice tests are required at every school, so your child will get an opportunity to learn how the different tools and question types work on the computer based testing program ahead of time.
What Does My Child’s Score Report Mean?
FSA SCORE REPORT
The score report for FSA ELA, Mathematics, and EOC assessments is an easy to understand one-page color report.
The first thing you’ll see on the score report is your child’s performance level.
On all FSA assessments, including EOC’s, there are five possible performance levels, and students receive a score ranging from 1 to 5. Each achievement level specifies how well students have mastered grade level appropriate skills as defined by Florida standards.
Below is an explanation of what each achievement level represents.
Cut scores for each grade level and subject vary, but a student’s achievement level is based on his or her scaled score.
On your child’s score report, you will also receive information about the points earned and the points possible in each of the assessment’s question type categories.
You will also be given the percentage of students in your child’s school, district, and grade who achieved each performance level. This allows you to see how your child’s abilities compare to those of his or her peers.
How Can I Help My Child Prepare for the FSA?
Since FSA exams are based on standards taught to your child throughout the school year, it is important to remind your child to pay attention in class, take notes, and keep up with classwork and homework, particularly in English and Math classes.
For better results on FSA ELA, you can have your child read a certain amount of pages or minutes weekly or even nightly. Consistent reading is the best way to enhance vocabulary and improve reading comprehension. Your child doesn’t need to read a textbook or classic text; help him pick a book on a subject he enjoys.
However, the most effective way to prepare for this type of exam is by completing practice questions and full-length practice tests to increase confidence and familiarity. FSA practice tests can also help you assess what areas your child needs to improve on prior to the test.
Ask your child to explain his answers to each question. This gives you the opportunity to reinforce logical thinking and, if needed, brainstorm a better way to approach the question in the future.
And the most clichéd test-taking tip still rings true: ensure that your child receives a good night’s sleep and a nutritious, filling breakfast before taking his exam.
Help your child work though FSA practice tests and be supportive and encouraging, and you’ll be doing your part to help your child ace the FSA.
