Performance Series is an online standards-based adaptive measurement. Scantron Corporation has developed Performance Series to be a placement and gains assessment system that works with national, state, and district standards. The Performance Series uses a computer adaptive testing engine that relies upon Item Response Theory (IRT) calibration. The computer adaptive testing engine ensures that all content units are covered, and uses the IRT-based item bank of questions and difficulty indices to provide reliability and accuracy.

The Performance Series is both. The main difference between a criterion-referenced test and a norm-referenced test is not the test itself, but the interpretation of the results. In a criterion-referenced test students are assessed on their performance in relation to a set of criteria. In a norm-referenced test students are assessed on their performance within the norm group. Performance Series is designed to measure individual performance; therefore, it is a criterion-referenced test. However, National Percentile Rankings are also provided to show how students performed on the test compared to a national norm sample.

Performance Series currently includes reading (grades 2-10), math (grades 2-9 national and grades 2-10 in some states), language arts (grades 2-8) and life science (grades 2-8).

Yes, a Curriculum Alignment Guide is used to align state standards to learning objectives assessed in Performance Series. If a Curriculum Alignment Guide is applied, the reports will display the state's standards next to the appropriate learning objectives in Performance Series.

Reading contains the following units: Vocabulary, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Long Passage. Math contains the following units: Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Data Analysis & Probability, Number & Operations. Language Arts covers Capitalization, Parts of Speech, Punctuation, and Sentence Structure. Life Science includes Living Things, Ecology, and Science Processes.

No, the students should be allowed as much time as needed to take the test.

If a test is stopped before a student has finished, the test will resume at exactly the same spot where the student left off.

Scantron Corporation recommends the test be given no more than three times a year, with at least a 12-week window between tests, to provide the lowest standard error of measurement and ensure reliability and validity.

No, since Performance Series is computer adaptive, each test is unique for every student. Even if two students happen to receive the same test question, the answers are scrambled, which increases test security.

Yes, Performance Series can be used as a multiple measure of assessment and can show annual yearly progress by measuring gains on a consistent scale. The user is also able to create groups, such as Free/Reduced Lunch, Before School/After School Programs, etc., to measure gains by specified groups. In addition, within the reports, the user is able to select students according to specified demographics, such as ethnicity, gender, etc.

The test takes an average of one hour to complete per subject area. However, if a student's ability level is significantly different than their assigned grade level, the test may take longer to adjust for this difference. Scantron Corporation recommends reserving two one-hour class periods to allow for set-up time and testing time.

Since the test is computer adaptive, each student will receive a unique test and the number of items may vary. There are not a set number of questions. The average number of questions in a testing session is about 50.

Yes, reports are available at the student, course, class, school, district, sub-district, county, and state levels.

Depending on the user's level of access, the following reports are available: Course Reports, Staff Reports, Grade Level Reports, Student Reports, Group Reports, Testing Status Reports, Class Reports, District/School Reports, Gains/History Reports, Distribution Reports, Suggested Learning Objectives, and Class Profile Reports. Within each of these reports, the user is able to sort results according to specified demographics.

The students can and should have a pencil and scratch paper available to them for their use.

The questions in the math test are designed so that a calculator is not necessary. Scantron recommends that the district follow the same procedures for calculator use on other tests given in the district.

A formula or table of formulas is given in the question only if the learning objective is not intended to test knowledge of the formula. We do not recommend that a hard copy of formulas be given to the students.

Training is available on site, via webinar, and through e-learning modules built directly into the website