Schools

CMT, CAPT are Out; Try New SBAC Test Before Bethel Students

Students will be switching to the new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium test. Test your math and English skills on sample tests.

As schools statewide begin to shift to the new Common Core Standards being implemented, the old standardized tests — Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) — are being replaced as well.

Students will now be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests, which are not only geared toward the Common Core Standards but are also adaptive to the student taking the exam.
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Test yourself on sample SBAC English Language Arts and Math exams.
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Bethel Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Smith explained further in his weekly newsletter:

"If you have been following the recent state-level changes in education then you know that the CMT and CAPT is being replaced by the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium).

"This is one of the two tests available for states to administer to assess students on their mastery of Common Core Standards. Like the Common Core Standards, the SBAC assessment is much more rigorous and places new cognitive demands on our students.

"Smarter Balanced assessments are computer adaptive (similar to the Northwestern Evaluation Association assessments we currently use). As students get answers correct, the level of challenge increases, as students answer incorrectly, the level of challenge decreases.

"Computer adaptive assessment technology enables us to get a much clearer picture of what every student knows and can do. As a result, the SBAC (like the NWEA) is much more precise than traditional fixed-form assessments like the CMT or CAPT.

"Additionally, because the test is delivered via computer, we get results in days not months. The short turnaround time will enable teachers to use assessment information immediately to modify instruction and better meet the needs of individual students.

"Finally, the SBAC will go beyond multiple-choice and utilize short constructed response items, extended constructed response items, and performance tasks that enable students to demonstrate analytical and real-world problem solving skills."


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