1. PSSAS AND YOU

2. All it takes is all you’ve got!

3. QUESTIONS WE WILL ANSWER
What does PSSA stand for?
What are the PSSAs?
Who has to take the PSSAs?
How are the PSSAs are scored?
What subjects are tested on the PSSAs?
What the PSSAs mean to you?
How to prepare yourself for the PSSAs?

4. WHAT DOES PSSA STAND FOR?
PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM OF
SCHOOL ASSESMENT

5. When the PSSAs were created?
In 1999 Pennsylvania adopted academic standards for Reading, Mathematics, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
The standards identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels.

6. WHAT ARE THE PSSAs?
The annual PSSA is a standards based assessment used to measure a students attainment of the academic standards.

7. The PSSA is a criterion-referenced assessment.
(Definition: Criterion-Referenced)
A test designed to determine if a student has learned the material taught in a specific grade

8. WHEN DO STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE THE PSSAs?
Every Pennsylvania student in
3rd
4th
5th
6th
8th
11th
In the subject areas of
Math, Reading, Writing (Field Test)

9. PSSA Level Scores

10. What each level means?
Below Basic- This level reflects inadequate academic performance and little understanding of the content
Basic- This level reflects marginal academic performance and a partial understanding of the content

11. Proficient- This level reflects satisfactory academic performance and a solid understanding of the content
Advanced- This level reflects superior academic performance and an in-depth understanding of the content

12. WHAT SUBJECTS ARE TESTED ON THE PSSAs ?
READING
MATH
WRITING

13. WHAT DO THE PSSAs MEAN TO YOU?
Indicate what you learned based upon Pennsylvania standards
Indicate if you are proficient in the subject area
Gives you an opportunity to show what you know

14. HOW TO PREPARE Yourself FOR THE PSSAs?
TEST WEEK TIPS
Be sure you get plenty of sleep
Eat a hearty breakfast every day
Be positive about the tests
Get to school on time

15. TAKING THE
MATH
TEST

16. MULTIPLE CHOICE STRATEGIES
Read the question carefully
What is the question asking
Read the answer choices
Are any immediately wrong
Do the math and then pick the answer that best fits the choices
READ THE QUESTION AGAIN AND CHECK YOUR ANSWER

17. MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMPLES
Mike, Gwen, Pat, and Sue shared two
oranges. Mike ate 3/8 of the oranges, Gwen
ate 1/4, Pat ate 1/8, and Sue ate 4/16.
Who ate the most?
A: Mike
B: Gwen
C: Pat
D: Sue
ANSWER: A

18. MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMPLES
How many edges does this square
pyramid have?
A: 4
B: 5
C: 8
D: 9
ANSWER: C

19. PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
Read the question carefully
What is the question asking for?
Show your work
Make sure you write the work
Write the correct units
DO NOT ERASE YOUR WORK!
Check your answer for mistakes

20. PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLES
A book has 150 pages. Every page is numbered. How many digits are used? Explain how you figured it out
Page Numbers
1-9
10-99
Digits P/Page 1 2 3
Number of Pages 9 90 51
Total Digits
180
153
ANSWER: =342 DIGITS

21. PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLES
Five students were competing against each other to see who could read the most books in a year Juan read twice as many books as Freddy. Johnny’s total was 4 more books than Juan’s. Randy read four more books than Johnny. Finally Tim topped them all with 32 books, which was 4 more than Randy read. How many books did all five students read in total? Explain how you got your answer

22. PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLES
Name
Books Read
Tim 32
Randy
(28) – 4 books
Johnny
(24) – 4 books
Juan
(20) – 4 books
Freddy
(10) ½ books
ANSWER: = 114 Books

23. TAKING THE READING TEST

24. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Malia slipped quietly out of bed and
out of the house. She sat still and silent on
the back lanai as she watched the morning
spread across the sky. She closed her eyes
and felt the sunshine warming her body. She
heard the wind whispering through her hair.

25. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
As used in the passage, what does the
word lanai mean?
A: a bed
B: a porch
C: a bicycle
D: a pillow
ANSWER: B

26. OPEN ENDED QUESTION STRATEGIES
Read the question prompt first
Underline what it is asking you to do
Respond to the question
Read the response to check for accuracy.
Does the response make sense?
Have you responded to what the prompt asked for?

27. Things needed for Poster
Pictures can be hand drawn or cuto out from clip art clip art
Color-markers, crayons, or colored pencils
A title- you may use one of these or come up with you own but PSSA must be in title

28. Examples of Titles The PSSA & YOU Are you ready for the PSSA?
Why not try one of these tips for the PSSA?
Are you ready for some PSSA?
Got PSSA?
If you are not sure about a title ask one of the teachers

29. PSSA & YOU Eat a good breakfast the morning of the PSSABe
prepared
Eat a good breakfast the morning of the PSSA
Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before the PSSA
Think
Positive
Listen to
all
directions
Be sure to read the
whole question
before answering
Check over your work