Smarter Balanced practice and training tests are now available at http://me.portal.airast.org/training-tests/.
The practice tests allows students, parents, educators and the public to experience a full grade-level assessment and gain insight into how the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced will assess students’ mastery of Maine’s mathematics and English language arts standards and mirror the year-end assessment. Meanwhile, the training tests are designed to provide students and teachers with opportunities to quickly familiarize themselves with the software and navigational tools that they will use on the upcoming assessment.
In order for students to best show what they know and can do in the areas of mathematics and English language arts/literacy, their energy during testing should not be spent on learning how to respond to new types of test items. The Department strongly recommend that students have an opportunity to experience the different item types prior to the actual test administration and has posted a document here which describes each item type, the manner in which students are expected to respond, and specific items on the Practice and Training Tests that can be used to illustrate each item type.
For more assessment information or technical assistance, please contact the Department’s Acting Assessment Coordinator Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov or 624-6775.