Forward Exam - Information for Parents
What is the Forward Exam?
Students will take the Forward Exam in grades 3-8 during the last eight weeks of the school year. This new assessment will be used to gauge how well students are mastering the Wisconsin College and Career Ready Standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. Science and social studies will also be administered in grade 4.
Students will take the Forward Exam online. The Forward Exam includes:
Where can I find sample or practice test questions?
The practice tests provide parents and students examples of how students are assessed in ELA and mathematics on the Forward Exam. Practice tests are available in ELA and mathematics for Grades 3-8. A Practice Test is available. A Student Tutorial Module is also available for your viewing to understand how the test will look like and how to maneuver the test.
What does this mean for my child?
The Forward Exam is a summative measure which gauges your child’s achievement compared to other students in the state and against other students in states who use similar assessments. Along with local measures such as report cards, school wide assessments, and other information about your child’s progress in school, the results from the Forward Exam provide insight into how well your child is doing on a broad measure of achievement.
What are the test times?
The testing window for Hintgen starts on April 18th. More details about specific dates and time will be sent home in the near future. The estimated time for test administration in general is around 4 hours for ELA assessments in each grade, and around 3½-4 hours for the mathematics assessment.
How are the test results used?
Timely and meaningful assessment information about student performance allows:
What type of scores will be provided?
The Summative Assessment provides information about what students know and can do in relation to the Standards. Students receive a score based on their performance. Each score will fall in one of four levels:
Where can I find out more information about the Badger Exam?
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has a website that will provide more information about the Forward Exam. You can access it here.
Students will take the Forward Exam in grades 3-8 during the last eight weeks of the school year. This new assessment will be used to gauge how well students are mastering the Wisconsin College and Career Ready Standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. Science and social studies will also be administered in grade 4.
Students will take the Forward Exam online. The Forward Exam includes:
- multiple-choice questions: the student selects the correct answers from answer options,
- short answer questions: the student provides a brief description in their response to the question, and
- performance tasks: students must take part in separate group classroom activities for ELA and mathematics. They then must answer a series of short questions on the computer for each content area. In an ELA performance task, students do essay writing and answer three short questions.
Where can I find sample or practice test questions?
The practice tests provide parents and students examples of how students are assessed in ELA and mathematics on the Forward Exam. Practice tests are available in ELA and mathematics for Grades 3-8. A Practice Test is available. A Student Tutorial Module is also available for your viewing to understand how the test will look like and how to maneuver the test.
What does this mean for my child?
The Forward Exam is a summative measure which gauges your child’s achievement compared to other students in the state and against other students in states who use similar assessments. Along with local measures such as report cards, school wide assessments, and other information about your child’s progress in school, the results from the Forward Exam provide insight into how well your child is doing on a broad measure of achievement.
What are the test times?
The testing window for Hintgen starts on April 18th. More details about specific dates and time will be sent home in the near future. The estimated time for test administration in general is around 4 hours for ELA assessments in each grade, and around 3½-4 hours for the mathematics assessment.
How are the test results used?
Timely and meaningful assessment information about student performance allows:
- teachers to target instruction to individual student needs,
- students to better target their own efforts,
- administrators to more fully understand what students know and can do to guide curriculum and professional development decisions, and
- parents to understand what their child knows and is able to do in ELA and mathematics
What type of scores will be provided?
The Summative Assessment provides information about what students know and can do in relation to the Standards. Students receive a score based on their performance. Each score will fall in one of four levels:
- Advanced – Student demonstrates thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with college content-readiness.
- Proficient – Student demonstrates adequate understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with college content-readiness.
- Basic – Student demonstrates partial understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with college content-readiness.
- Below Basic – Student demonstrates minimal understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with college content-readiness.
Where can I find out more information about the Badger Exam?
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has a website that will provide more information about the Forward Exam. You can access it here.