1. NGSS Interim Assessments Webinar
2018–2019
Copyright © 2018 American Institutes for Research. All rights reserved.
October 2018

2. Proposed System of NGSS Assessments
The goal is to provide useful information for a variety of purposes and audiences.
Formative Assessment Resources*: Used every day by teachers to monitor student learning in the classroom and help make ongoing instructional adjustments to better meet student needs. VOLUNTARY
Interim Assessment Resources*: Assessments administered at the end of units or grades to evaluate the learning of groups of students to inform curriculum and instruction at the local level. VOLUNTARY
More useful to students and teachers
Greater frequency of use
State Summative Assessments: Assessments given at the end of learning (Grades 5, 8, and 11) to track student performance and inform decisions about curriculum, instruction, professional development, and policy for a variety of stakeholders. MANDATED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW
* Formative and interim assessment resources will likely come from a variety of sources and be shared by states around the country.

3. Overview of the NGSS Interim Assessments
There are 27 NGSS interim assessment blocks representing Earth, Life, and Physical Science. Each block contains two clusters.
Grade 5: 7 blocks; 14 total clusters
Grade 8: 10 blocks; 20 total clusters
Grade 11: 10 blocks; 20 total clusters

4. NGSS Interim Blocks (Elementary School)
Elementary School (Grades 3–5)
Interim Assessment
Performance Expectations Assessed
Forces, Motion and Energy
3-PS2-2
4-PS3-4
Matter and Its Interactions
5-PS1-2
5-PS1-4
Waves and Their Applications
4-PS4-1
4-PS4-3
Biological Evolution and Ecosystems
3-LS4-1
5-LS2-1
Inheritance, Structure and Function
3-LS3-1
4-PS4-2
Earth’s Systems and Gravitational Forces
5-ESS2-2
5-PS2-1
Earth’s Systems
3-ESS2-1
4-ESS2-1

5. NGSS Interim Blocks (Middle School)
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
Interim Assessment
Performance Expectations Assessed
Forces, Interactions and Energy
MS-PS2-2
MS-PS3-3
Matter and Its Interactions
MS-PS1-4
MS-PS1-5
Waves and Their Applications
MS-PS4-1
MS-PS4-2
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
MS-LS1-7
MS-LS2-2
Structures and Processes in Living Organisms
MS-LS1-3
MS-LS1-8
Inheritance and Variation of Traits
MS-LS3-1
MS-LS3-2
Biological Evolution through Natural Selection
MS-LS4-4
MS-LS4-6
Earth and the Solar System
MS-ESS1-1
MS-ESS2-2
Earth’s History and Systems
MS-ESS1-4
MS-ESS2-1
Weather and Human Impact on the Environment
MS-ESS2-5
MS-ESS3-3

6. NGSS Interim Blocks (High School)
High School (Grades 9–11)
Interim Assessment
Performance Expectations Assessed
Matter and Its Interactions
HS-PS1-1
HS-PS1-2
Forces and Interactions
HS-PS2-2
HS-PS2-5
Energy and Waves
HS-PS3-1
HS-PS4-1
Structures and Processes in Living Organisms
HS-LS1-2
HS-LS1-3
Matter, Energy, and Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
HS-LS1-5
HS-LS2-2
Inheritance of Traits and Evolution
HS-LS3-2
HS-LS4-1
Space Systems
HS-ESS1-3
HS-ESS1-4
Earth’s History and Systems
HS-ESS1-6
HS-ESS2-3
Changes in Earth’s Climate
HS-ESS2-4
HS-ESS3-5
Human Sustainability
HS-ESS3-3
HS-ESS3-4

7. NGSS Interim Assessments
All items on the blocks are machined-scored and results are reported in the AIRWays Reporting System.
All the accommodations and designated supports offered on the NGSS Summative Assessments are available on the NGSS Interim Assessment, including Text-to-Speech.
Teachers can securely log into the Assessment Viewing Application (AVA) to review the blocks without having to take the test using the secure browser.

8. NGSS Interim Assessments
All students are eligible to take any NGSS Interim Assessment Block, as long as they are registered in TIDE.

9. NGSS Interim Assessments
Students will have unlimited opportunities to take the NGSS Interim Assessment Blocks.
The same NGSS Interim Assessment Block cannot be taken twice within one day.
The NGSS Interim Assessment window is currently open and will close on June 14, 2019.

10. NGSS Summative Assessment
Summative testing will be next Spring:
Grade 11: February 4 – June 7, 2019
Grade 5 and 8: March 25 – June 7, 2019.
Participation and performance will be considered this year.
Standard setting will occur next summer and results will likely be released around the beginning of the school year.

11. Assessment Viewing Application (AVA)
Click the Assessment Viewing Application card to access the system.

12. Assessment Viewing Application (AVA)
Assessment Viewing Application (AVA) is a secure online system that allows authorized users to view the NGSS interim assessments for administrative or instructional purposes.
This system is only for viewing assessments and items and does not provide scores or answer keys.

13. Accessing the NGSS Interim Assessment – Student
Students must take the NGSS Interim Assessments using the Secure Browser. The Secure Browser is the same browser used for the Smarter Balanced Summative and Interim Assessments, the NGSS Summative Assessments, and the CTAA.
The Secure Browser can be downloaded from the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal (

14. Accessing the NGSS Interim Assessment – Student
Student Sign In

15. Accessing the NGSS Interim Assessment – Student
Verify Student Information

16. Accessing the NGSS Interim Assessment – Student
Student Test Selection

17. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Teachers can administer the assessments using the Test Administration (TA) Interface.
From the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal ( select the NGSS Assessment program card.

18. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Click the Test Administration card to enter the Test Administration (TA) Interface.

19. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Enter your address and password, and then click Secure Login. The TA Interface appears.

20. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
When you enter the TA Interface, the Test Selection window appears. Select a test from the purple Next Generation Science Standards Interim Assessments list.

21. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Approving Student Entry into the Assessment

22. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Confirming Student Test Settings

23. Administering the NGSS Interim Assessment – Test Administrator
Monitoring Student Progress

24. AIRWays Reporting System
Click the AIRWays Reporting card to access the system.

25. AIRWays Reporting System
Assessment results are available in real time in the AIRWays Reporting System.
Raw scores and percent correct for each cluster in a block are reported.

26. AIRWays Reporting System
Scoring Rubrics are provided for each item.
Teachers can view the student’s response to each item.

27. Contact Information
Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal
Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Help Desk  
American Institutes for Research
CSDE Student Performance Office

28. Questions? Please type your questions into the Questions pane.
Copyright © 2018 American Institutes for Research. All rights reserved.
November 2018