Students to Participate in Statewide Writing Test
by Valorie Foy
January 29, 2010
Students in grades 4, 8 and 11 will be participating in the Statewide Writing Test during February. Fourth and eighth graders will take the test on February 3rd and 4th, eleventh graders on February 10th and 11th.
Students have two days, forty minutes each day, to respond to a writing topic. All students in a grade write on the same topic.
Tests are submitted to the Nebraska Department of Education for evaluation. Results are available in the spring—usually in May.
Students in grades 3, 7, and 10 also participate in a practice writing test on the same days. Teachers use the results to inform their writing instruction.
Factors that have a positive effect on students’ performance are plenty of rest and good nutrition. Also, students who take the test with their classmates on the scheduled days are more comfortable, so attendance on test days is encouraged.
