1. Tips for Taking the
Spring 2014

2. It’s almost time to take the FCAT 2
It’s almost time to take the FCAT 2.0! Here are some important explanations and reminders to help you do your very best.

3. FCAT 2.0 Tests Students in Grades 3–10 will take FCAT 2.0 Reading
There are two sessions of FCAT Reading given over two days
You will have 70 minutes to complete each session of FCAT 2.0 Reading

4. FCAT 2.0 Tests Students in Grades 3–8 will take FCAT 2.0 Mathematics
There are two sessions of FCAT Mathematics
Grades 3–5 complete two sessions over two days
Grades 6–8 complete two sessions in one day
You will have 70 minutes to complete each session of FCAT 2.0 Mathematics

5. FCAT 2.0 Tests Students in Grades 5 and 8 will take FCAT 2.0 Science
There are two sessions of FCAT 2.0 Science
Grade 5 completes two sessions over two days
Grade 8 completes two sessions in one day
You will have 80 minutes to complete each session of FCAT 2.0 Science

6. Test Invalidation
Let’s talk about the term test invalidation. It’s important for you to understand what it means so it won’t happen to you!

7. Test Invalidation
If your test is invalidated, it means that your test will not be scored, and you will not be able to retake the same test.

8. To make sure your test is scored . . .
Remove all electronic devices. If you have an electronic device at your desk, in your pocket, or ANYWHERE you can reach it during testing or during a break within a session, your test will not be scored.

9. Electronic Devices Some examples of electronic devices are:
Cell phones or smartphones
Tablets
Handheld video games
MP3 players
Calculators (permitted for Grade 7 and Grade 8 Mathematics ONLY)

10. All electronic devices must be turned off before the test
All electronic devices must be turned off before the test. Your teacher may collect them or instruct you to put them away (in a locker or backpack away from your desk).
If you aren’t sure if something is an electronic device, please ask your teacher before the test.

11. To make sure your test is scored . . .
Do your own work. If you are caught looking at another student’s answers, allowing another student to look at your answers, talking about the test with other students during breaks, or using any kind of unauthorized aid during the test, your test will not be scored.

12. To make sure your test is scored . . .
Don’t be disruptive. If you are disruptive during a test, you may be dismissed from the room and your test may not be scored. It is very important for you to remain quiet, respect other students, and pay attention to and follow the instructions.

13. To make sure your test is scored . . .
Don’t leave school during a session. If you leave the school’s campus for lunch or an appointment before you complete a test session, you will not be allowed to finish taking the test when you return.

14. To make sure your test is scored . . .
Don’t discuss the test items.
After the test, you may not discuss the test items with anyone. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, ing, or posting on websites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
If you are found sharing information about test items, even without the intent to cheat, your test will be invalidated.

15. Testing Rules During the test, you must not:
Talk to other students or make any disturbance
Look at another student’s test materials
Allow another student to look at your test materials
Ask for help answering any test questions
Have notes or scratch paper
Have any electronic or recording devices in your possession at any time, including breaks, even if you do not use them
Fail to follow any other instructions given

16. Testing Rules
Before the test, your test administrator will read the testing rules aloud and ask you to read the Testing Rules Acknowledgment. You will be asked to sign your name below the Testing Rules Acknowledgment to show that you understand the rules.

17. Marking Your Answers
Now it’s time to review some important tips for marking your answers correctly.

18. Marking Your Answers
When you are filling in bubbles, mark only ONE answer for each question.
Be sure to fill in the bubble for your answer choice completely with your number 2 pencil.

19. Marking Your Answers
Fill in only ONE bubble for the answer you choose.
A B C D
Correct

20. Marking Your Answers
Do not circle your answer.
A B C D
Incorrect

21. Marking Your Answers Do not fill in more than one bubble. Incorrect
A B C D
Incorrect

22. Marking Your Answers
Do not cross out answers you think are wrong or make marks in any other bubbles.
A B C D
Incorrect

23. Marking Your Answers
You are allowed to circle or underline words in the reading passages, make notes, or work mathematics problems in the blank space in your test book or test and answer book.

24. Marking Your Answers Incorrect
If you are marking your answers in a test and answer book, make sure that any marks you make taking notes or working problems do not go into a bubble that is not your answer.
A B C D
Incorrect

25. Marking Your Answers
If you change an answer, be sure to erase completely.
If you use your eraser, do so gently to avoid ripping or tearing your answer document.

26. Gridded-Response Items
Some items for Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Mathematics will ask students to answer in a response grid.

27. Gridded-Response Items
This symbol appears next to questions
that require you to fill in your answer
on a response grid.
In the front of your test book, you will find Directions
for Completing the Response Grids and Parts of
a Response Grid. You may refer to this information
at any time during the test.

28. Gridded-Response Items
Fill in the answer boxes at the top of the grid. Do not leave a blank space between answer boxes.

29. Gridded-Response Items
Then grid the bubbles
that match the answer
boxes. You must fill in
the bubbles to receive
credit for your answer.
Do not grid a bubble underneath
a blank answer box.

30. Gridded-Response Items
There are five types of response grids on the Grades 4 and 5 Mathematics tests.
Whole-Number Decimal Percent Money Money (with decimal) (no decimal)

31. Gridded-Response Items
There is one type of response grid on the Grade 6 Mathematics test.
Answer Boxes
Fraction Bar
Decimal Point
Number Bubbles

32. Gridded-Response Items
There are two types of response grids on the Grade 7 Mathematics test.
Answer Boxes
Answer Boxes
Fraction Bar
Fraction Bar or Negative Sign
Decimal Point
Decimal Point
Number Bubbles
Number Bubbles

33. Gridded-Response Items
There is one type of response grid on the Grade 8 Mathematics test.
Answer Boxes
Fraction Bar or Negative Sign
Decimal Point
Number Bubbles

34. Rulers
Students in Grades 3 and 4 will use a ruler during Session 2 of the Mathematics test.
If a test item requires use of a ruler, it will say so in the directions for that item.

35. Reference Sheets Grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and Retake students will receive
a reference sheet to use
during the Mathematics
sessions.
Reference sheets contain
formulas and conversions
that you may need in order
to answer questions.

36. Periodic Table
Grade 8 students will receive a Periodic Table of the Elements to use during the Science sessions.

37. Remember . . . If you complete a page in your test book
that says Go On in the bottom corner, turn the page and continue working.

38. Remember . . .
When you come to the stop sign at the end of a session, stop working. Do NOT go on to the next session.
DO NOT GO ON.

39. Remember…
When you have finished a session, check through your answers for that session to make sure you have filled in only one bubble for each question and that you have answered every question.

40. Remember… During the test, you must not:
Work in another session (working ahead in Session 2 during Session 1 of the test; going back and working in Session 1 during Session 2 of the test)
Change any answers from a previous session
Look at another student’s answers
Allow another student to look at your answers
Have notes, scratch paper, or electronic devices

41. Remember… You may not ask for help in answering any test questions.
Your teacher or test administrator is not allowed to discuss the test or help you read, understand, or answer test questions.
Try to answer every question.

42. Remember…
Once you finish a test and turn it in, you may not ask for it back. Be sure to check your answers and try to answer every question before turning in your test.

43. Remember…
During breaks and after testing, it’s important that you don’t talk about the specific test questions with friends, classmates, teachers, or other students.

44. Remember…
This may not be your first time taking the FCAT 2.0, but test books, answer forms, and instructions can change at each grade level, so be sure to PAY ATTENTION!

45. Most importantly:
Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast before the test.
Relax and do your best!