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Terra Nova Test Scores 2008

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Terra Nova Test Scores
Spring 2008

We recently received the annual testing results for our third, fifth and seventh grade students.  In March, these students completed a battery of tests called the TERRA NOVA Multiple Assessment Test.  The test contains two major parts: a cognitive ability test, an updated version of IQ tests from the past, and an academic achievement test.  Unlike the standardized tests we might remember, TERRA NOVA calls for students to do more than just fill in “answer bubbles.”  A portion of each test asks students to use data and apply concepts as well as to compose non-multiple choice answers.

We can really be proud of our students’ achievements on this test!  The results indicate in a statistical way something that we, as a school community, have known for a long time.  We have an excellent school program that prepares our students extremely well.  We would like to summarize some of the data for you:

• At the third grade level, the average “grade equivalent” score for the total battery (Reading, Language and Math) was 1.4 years above the norm (3.6)

• At the fifth grade level, the average “grade equivalent” for the total battery was 4.2 years above the norm (5.6)

• At the seventh grade level, the average “grade equivalent” for the total battery was 3.4 years above the norm (7.6)

• Percentile scores of 50 are considered average.  The chart below shows the percent of St. Germaine students who scored ABOVE the 50^th percentile:

 (Remember, statistically, we would expect that only 50% of the students should score above the 50^th percentile).

   In addition, the testing company provides us with a chart very similar to our report cards.  The chart shows 29 of the major areas of the subtest (reading comprehension, math computation, problem solving, life sciences, for example).  The chart then provides data to show how our students (individually and by grade level) did when compared to the national averages.  By far, these charts show the most dramatic impact.

    In each of the three grade levels tested, our school average is above the national average in all 29 of the subsections!  In some of the sections, the difference is as much as 18 or 19 points.

    The test results also provide an indication of the student's actual performance (obtained score) compared to an "anticipated score."  The anticipated score is related to the student's score on the cognitive abilities portion of the test (his or her innate ability).  Again, the averages of the results show St. Germaine students with obtained scores above those that were anticipated in all of the subtest sections.  this indicator gives evidence that the level of student achievement is, in most cases, better than what was predicted.  In other words, we find strong support for the idea that St. Germaine students are being challenged by the content of the curriculum and are responding well to those challenges.

    All in all, the TERRA NOVA results speak very positively of our students and their achievement.  We congratulate them, their teachers and, you, their parents on this outstanding accomplishment.

A detailed analysis of the data is available in the school office.