Sample Items for Paper-Based Testing English Language Arts (ELA) Grades 3 & 4 These sample items provide examples of the types of test questions that will appear on the SC READY ELA tests for grades 3 and 4. The sample items are not intended to be representative of the content of the SC READY ELA tests. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 1 of 18
Directions for Students: For most of the test questions, you will choose your answer from a set of four answer choices. Some test questions, however, may have more than four answer choices and, if so, will ask you to choose two or more answers. Be sure to read the question carefully so that you will know how many answers to choose. In addition, some questions may have two parts: Part A and Part B. You will be asked to select one answer in each part. For the two-part questions: Read Part A of the question and choose the best answer. You may look back at the passage to help you answer Part A. Select your answer to Part A. Then, read Part B of the question and choose the evidence to support your answer to Part A. You may look back at the passage to help you answer Part B of the question. Select your answer to Part B. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 2 of 18
Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA) Directions The last question in ELA Session 1 will be a text-dependent analysis (or TDA) question. The TDA question in these sample items is on page 11. The TDA question will ask you to analyze the passage and use evidence from the passage to write your response. For the TDA response: Be sure to read the passage and TDA question carefully. Use the Writer s Checklist to help you plan, write, and proofread your response. You should look back at the passage to help you write your response. You may use scratch paper to plan your response or write a rough draft, but you should write your final response on pages 12 and 13 of this sample item document. You will find the Writer s Checklist and the TDA Scoring Guidelines on pages 14 and 15 in this sample item document. You may refer to the checklist and scoring guidelines at any time while responding to the TDA question. You may not use a dictionary or thesaurus for any of the questions. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 3 of 18
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Read the passage. Then answer the TDA question. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 10 of 18
Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA) Question Refer to the Writer s Checklist on page 14 of this sample item document. Write your final response on pages 12 and 13. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 11 of 18
ELA Sample Items TDA Final Response SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 12 of 18
ELA Sample Items TDA Final Response SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 13 of 18
PLAN before you write SC READY Writer s Checklist Make sure you read the question carefully. Make sure you have read the entire passage carefully. Think about how the question relates to the passage. Organize your ideas on scratch paper. Use a thought map, outline, or other graphic organizer to plan your response. FOCUS while you write Analyze the information from the passage as you write your response. Make sure you use evidence from the passage to support your response. Use precise language, a variety of sentence types, and transitions in your response. Organize your response with an introduction, body, and conclusion. PROOFREAD after you write I wrote my final response in the response box. I stayed focused on answering the question. I used evidence from the passage to support my response. I corrected errors in capitalization, spelling, sentence formation, punctuation, and word choice. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 14 of 18
Text-Dependent Analysis Scoring Guidelines SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 15 of 18
Read the passage. Then answer the three questions that follow. SC READY Sample Items ELA Grades 3 & 4 Page 16 of 18
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