Terminology Key PB MC – Passage Based Multiple-Choice Stand Alone MC – Stand Alone Multiple- Choice (Language multiple choice) EBSR – Evidence-Based Selected Response TDA – Text Dependent Analysis SA – Passage-Based Short Answer Special Note: The first number after the item category represents how many items the student will encounter within that specific response category (includes equating and field testing items). The number in ( ) represents how many of those items will count towards a student’s PSSA score (omits equating and field test items). Please see page 2 for PDE’s ELA Test Design and Test Content Blueprints. For additional PSSA resources, please visit and click on “State Assessment System”

Gr. 3Gr. 4-5Gr. 6-8 Short Answer 3Pt Guideline Gr. 4-8 TDA Scoring Guideline Gr. 4-8 TDA Scoring Guidelines Gr. 3-5 Narrative Writing Gr. 6-8 Narrative Writing Gr. 3-4 Informational Writing Gr. 6-8 Informational Writing Gr. 3-5 Opinion Writing Gr. 6-8 Argument Writing