Idaho Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT)
The ISAT is an important component of the statewide student assessment system as stated in the board rule 08.02.03-Rules Governing Thoroughness. The ISAT is administered to students in grades 3-8 and 10 to provide ongoing monitoring of individual, school, district, and state progress. One component of the ISAT required for high school graduation is the 10th grade test in reading, language usage, and mathematics. Proficiency on the 10th grade ISAT verifies that an Idaho student has met Idaho standards in reading, language usage, and mathematics.
Academic proficiency is more than test scores. Competency in reading, language usage, mathematics, and science is the goal for every child. In accordance with No Child Left Behind, the ISAT measures proficiency in four key areas—reading, language usage, mathematics, and science.
Components of the ISAT
The ISAT is composed of reading, language usage, and mathematics tests for grade 3-8 and 10 and science tests for grades 5, 7, and 10. Multiple-choice items are used to assess what a student knows and is expected to do on the Idaho content standards. These items are used to assess a variety of skill levels, from short-term recall of facts to problem solving.
Language Arts (Reading and Language Usage) Assessments
The language arts assessments of the ISAT are composed of items that address standards, goals, and objectives for grade 3-8 and 10 in two separate assessments, reading and language usage. The reading goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among two reporting categories: Reading Process and Comprehension/Interpretation. The language usage goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among two reporting categories: Writing Process and Writing Components.
Mathematics Assessment
The mathematics assessment of the ISAT is composed of items that address standards, goals, and objectives for grades 3-8 and 10. The goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among five reporting categories: Number and Operations; Concepts and Principles of Measurement; Concepts and Language of Algebra and Functions; Principles of Geometry; and Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics.
Science Assessment
The science assessment of the ISAT is composed of items that address standards, goals, and objectives for grades 5, 7, and 10. The goals and objectives for each grade are distributed among five reporting categories: Nature of Science, Physical Science, Biology, Earth and Space Systems, and Personal and Social Perspectives; Technology.