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FCAT Test Item Specifications

The FCAT SSS measures student achievement in Reading and Mathematics (Grades 3-10), Science (Grades 5, 8, and 11), and Writing (Grades 4, 8, and 10) by assessing student progress on benchmarks identified in the Sunshine State Standards. The FCAT Test Item Specifications describe the test items in the FCAT assessments. The specifications are guidelines for item writers and reviewers. They are also a source of information about FCAT for educators and the general public. Three separate documents for each content area provide test specifications for FCAT Reading, FCAT Mathematics, and FCAT Science.

Earlier versions of the Reading and Mathematics Item Specifications detailed item and design features of test items written to match the Sunshine State Standards in reading and mathematics that were adopted in 1996. The new Reading and Mathematics Item Specifications detail item and design features of test items written to match the Sunshine State Standards in reading and mathematics that were adopted in 2007. In 2011, all items appearing on FCAT Reading and Mathematics tests will be written to the new Specifications (released in 2009). The 2010 FCAT Reading and Mathematics tests will have field-test items written to the new Specifications, but the items that are used to calculate student scores will still be based on the earlier versions of the Specifications.

Limitations on Use

The availability of FCAT Test Item Specifications does not extend to and specifically excludes any use for commercial purposes. All reproductions of these publications, or parts of these publications, must include the Florida Department of Education's copyright statement found on page two (or the inside front cover) of each of the documents.

FCAT Test Item Specifications

Reading Specifications 2009 - New!

Note: FCAT Reading tests will field test items written to the new Specifications (released in 2009) in 2010, and use these items for the FCAT Operational administration in 2011.

Mathematics Specifications 2009 - New!

Note: FCAT Mathematics tests will field test items written to the new Specifications (released in 2009) in 2010, and use these items for the FCAT Operational administration in 2011. The draft Test Item Specifications for high school mathematics and end-of-course assessments are scheduled to be posted to this site in spring 2010. In the interim, high school reference sheets and examples of mathematics grids for high school and end-of-course assessments can be found in Appendix H and Appendix I, respectively, of the draft FCAT Test Item Specifications for elementary and middle grades.

Science Specifications (December 2002 Draft)

Grade 5 Grade 8 Grade 10/11*
* In 2005, the FCAT Science test was moved from Grade 10 to Grade 11.

Reading Specifications 2001

Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-10

Mathematics Specifications 2005

Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-10