North Carolina Testing Program
North Carolina Testing Program 
MISSION ::The mission of the Test Development Section is to oversee the design, development, and implementation of a high-quality technically-sound student assessment system that assists stakeholders in making informed educational decisions.
HOT TOPICS
Frequently Asked Questions about Next Generation Assessments
The following English Language Arts and Mathematics FAQ documents contain "frequently asked questions" about the upcoming assessments for the 2012-13 school year. Updates will be posted as they are available.
- Mathematics FAQ (doc, 66kb)
- English Language Arts FAQ (doc, 44kb)
- Science FAQ (doc, 35kb)
The ABCs of Public Education
The 2011-12 ABCs/AMOs Reports
Sample Forms of Next Generation Assessments
Sample forms of the new READY End of Course (EOC) assessments for English II,
Algebra I/Integrated I, and Biology will be available on the web early fall 2012. Sample forms of the new READY End of Grade (EOG) assessments in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science will be available on the web late winter 2013. The sample forms will be made available on the current released forms web page.
Guidelines, Practice and Examples for Math Gridded Response Items
- Grade 5 Guidelines and Practice (doc, 84kb)
- Grade 5 Examples (pdf, 52kb)
- Grades 6-8 Guidelines and Practice (doc, 92kb)
- Grades 6-8 Examples (pdf, 51kb)
ACT North Carolina State Testing Website
North Carolina will begin administering three new assessments (the ACT, PLAN, and WorkKeys) in 2011-12 in preparation for the state's new accountability model and to provide additional diagnostic tools for students and their teachers. For more information about these assessments, please visit the ACT website.
Elimination of the Grade 10 Writing Assessment for the 2011-12 School Year
The NCDPI has received notification of approval from the United States Department of Education (USED) to eliminate the grade 10 writing test for the 2011-12 school year. The continued use of the North Carolina End-of-Course Test of English I in 2011-12 is sufficient to meet the ESEA assessment requirements for high school reading/language arts. See the memo from the USED for additional information. (pdf, 57kb)
Test Specifications for the Next Generation of Assessments
Specifications for the Next Generation of Assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and the North Carolina Essential Standards for Science are now available. Information on the prioritization of the standards, cognitive rigor, item complexity, item types, and assessment delivery modes is included.
Preliminary Results of Student Performance on the North Carolina Writing Assessment at
Grade 10 2010-11 (June 1, 2011) (pdf, 420kb)
NEW! Distributed Scoring Opportunity for North Carolina Educators in 2011 (pdf, 228kb)
North Carolina educators are invited to participate in the scoring of the 2011 Writing Assessment at Grade 10. Please see the attached memo from Rebecca Garland, Angela Quick, and Lou Fabrizio.
2008-09 Released Test Forms
On August 24, 2009, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Accountability Services Division/North Carolina Testing Program released one test form for each grade level and subject tested in the 2008-09 school year.
North Carolina Writing Instruction System Pilot at Grades 4 and 7
Information about the new North Carolina Writing Instruction System Pilot at Grades 4 and 7
NCDPI Sponsors Online Test Item Writing/Reviewing Training Modules
Test Item Writer/Reviewer Online Training
An online training system for potential item writers or reviewers
North Carolina Testing Program Assessment Options
Information on the standard test administration and alternate assessment options available and their eligibility criteria
- Grades 3-8 (pdf, 48kb)
- Grades 9-12 (pdf, 47kb)
Test Security
The Test Security page contains the following documents: North Carolina Testing Code of Ethics, Testing Security: Protocol and Procedures for School Personnel, and The Proctor's Guide.
Lexile® Information for Educators, Parents and Librarians
The Lexile Framework® is a tool that makes it possible to place readers and reading material ("text") on the same scale. The difference between a reader's Lexile® measure and a reading material's Lexile® measure is used to forecast the comprehension the reader will have with the reading material.
Performance Standards (reported in Lexiles®) (pdf, 32kb)
This document includes a chart which provides End-of-Grade and End-of-Course performance standards in the Lexile® metric.
STATE TESTS
North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests Grades 3–8 and 10
Information about the following end-of-grade tests: EOG Math | EOG Reading | EOG Science | NCEXTEND2 EOG | NCEXTEND1
North Carolina End-of-Course Tests
Information about the following end-of-course tests: Algebra I | Biology | English I
North Carolina Writing Instruction System Pilot Grades 4 and 7
Information about the North Carolina Writing Instruction System Pilot
Testing Students Identified as Limited English Proficient
Policies, procedures, and resources for testing students identified as limited English proficient in the North Carolina Testing Program
Testing Students with Disabilities
Policies, procedures, and resources for testing students with disabilities in the North Carolina Testing Program
Elimination of Competency and Computer Skills Graduation Requirement
To comply with Senate Bill 202/S.L. 2009-451, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) eliminated, effective July 1, 2009, the Competency Tests in Reading and Mathematics and the Computer Skills Tests and their alternate assessments. Because there are students who have failed to meet the competency and/or computer skills proficiency standards, a Transition Plan for Competency and Computer Skills and supplemental information were developed by the NCDPI to address the graduation requirements for these students.
Elimination of Tests from the North Carolina Testing Program
Information regarding the elimination of assessments from the North Carolina Testing Program
POPULAR TOPICS
Achievement Level Information
Information on Achievement Levels I-IV for North Carolina Tests
Assessment Briefs and Other Publications
Assessment Briefs and other publications for all state required tests
- Testing Calendar
- Required Tests for the North Carolina Testing Program
- Number of Items and Administration Time for Required State Tests
Testing Security
North Carolina Testing Code of Ethics, Testing Security Protocol and Procedures for North Carolina School Personnel publication, and the Proctor's Guide
Test Development Process
Information on the test development process for state multiple-choice tests and information for potential item writers and reviewers
State Testing Results
Multiple reports providing testing results
Process for Viewing Test Materials (pdf, 21kb)
This document indicates the process to be followed for stakeholders to view secure test materials
NOTE :: Various file formats are used on this page that may require download. If larger than 1mb, it will take longer to download. For instructions or more information, please visit our download page.
Test Development Staff Directory