Additional Questions about the Validation Exam
1. Will the exam be made so impossibly hard that no real percentage of students will be able to pass it?
The exam accurately reflects the standards associated with CCSS Grade 8 math and Algebra 1. The items included in the exam have been used with approximately 10,000 students, and have shown strong correlation with student understanding of the important big ideas in the CCSS-M. The task selection was made by contributing writers of the Common Core Standards.
2. At some high schools, teachers would prefer administering their own exam rather than the CCSS Algebra 1 Validation Exam.
Some high school math teachers were in favor of administering the MDTP exam which is not aligned to the CCSS-M in content or practice. As opposed to previous skill focused exams, this year’s validation exam will expect students to show their understanding of both content and practice standards, including justifying their reasoning. This is aligned to the new Common Core Course and State Assessments.
3. Has this test been used before with other students?
As stated above, each item has been extensively field tested and validated. In addition, the rubrics (and cut scores) associated with each item have been equally tested. Each item will be double scored to assure accuracy and a sampling will then be scored again to confirm validity.
4. What will you do for students that take a district approved algebra course over the summer? Will you require another validation exam?
Refer to the Math Validation Test webpage and the Math Placement Policy for information about the current placement policy.
This exam will be rigorous because the course students would be skipping is rigorous. It is our responsibility to make sure that students are well situated to succeed in upper level math courses. Students who succeed in showing expertise on this exam will be well positioned to move on in mathematics. Students who struggle on this exam will gain much by taking the new CCSS-M Algebra 1 course, where they will learn the content and practices assessed on this exam.
5. If my student did not pass the exam, can they still take AP Calculus?
Yes. If a student takes Algebra 1 in 9th grade and Geometry in 10th grade, they may choose to take Algebra 2 and Precalculus together in a compressed course in 11th grade. They may then take AP Calculus in 12th grade. For more information, please see the page on our Course Sequence.
6. What if I still have questions?
Please email validationexam@sfusd.edu.
The exam accurately reflects the standards associated with CCSS Grade 8 math and Algebra 1. The items included in the exam have been used with approximately 10,000 students, and have shown strong correlation with student understanding of the important big ideas in the CCSS-M. The task selection was made by contributing writers of the Common Core Standards.
2. At some high schools, teachers would prefer administering their own exam rather than the CCSS Algebra 1 Validation Exam.
Some high school math teachers were in favor of administering the MDTP exam which is not aligned to the CCSS-M in content or practice. As opposed to previous skill focused exams, this year’s validation exam will expect students to show their understanding of both content and practice standards, including justifying their reasoning. This is aligned to the new Common Core Course and State Assessments.
3. Has this test been used before with other students?
As stated above, each item has been extensively field tested and validated. In addition, the rubrics (and cut scores) associated with each item have been equally tested. Each item will be double scored to assure accuracy and a sampling will then be scored again to confirm validity.
4. What will you do for students that take a district approved algebra course over the summer? Will you require another validation exam?
Refer to the Math Validation Test webpage and the Math Placement Policy for information about the current placement policy.
This exam will be rigorous because the course students would be skipping is rigorous. It is our responsibility to make sure that students are well situated to succeed in upper level math courses. Students who succeed in showing expertise on this exam will be well positioned to move on in mathematics. Students who struggle on this exam will gain much by taking the new CCSS-M Algebra 1 course, where they will learn the content and practices assessed on this exam.
5. If my student did not pass the exam, can they still take AP Calculus?
Yes. If a student takes Algebra 1 in 9th grade and Geometry in 10th grade, they may choose to take Algebra 2 and Precalculus together in a compressed course in 11th grade. They may then take AP Calculus in 12th grade. For more information, please see the page on our Course Sequence.
6. What if I still have questions?
Please email validationexam@sfusd.edu.
