Benchmark tests

Our system is set-up to test a student's knowledge in a given area and then help to determine areas of weakness where a student needs further assistance.

About Benchmark Tests

1. Our benchmark tests are given to students, three times a year, to see where they are academically compared to other students in their own grade. They are just screeners and do not tell you what grade level your students are performing at. They indicate if a student is functioning on-grade or not. A score correlating to the 50th percentile is considering an on-grade performance.
2. Benchmark tests, unlike the progress monitoring ones, are assigned by the easyCBM program. When the benchmark testing window is open, only on-grade benchmark tests are available for students to take, and only for grades K-8.
3. Teachers set the dates when the testing window is open with a setting in their account called the Benchmarking Window Settings (see directions below).
4. If a student falls within the 50th percentile no further testing is needed until the next benchmark testing period.
5. If you already know, or have a student that falls below the 50th percentile, then the progress monitoring measures should be administered instead of the benchmark tests. Grade level performance cannot be determined by administering just a single test. It may take several different tests to determine at what grade the students hits the 50th percentile, or achieves an on-grade performance.
6. Once a deficit is determined, then we suggest teachers give guided instruction in those weak areas in order to help build and reinforce a student's knowledge base.

Taking a Benchmark Test-Online

Before the program can assign a benchmark test, first check the date range setting. Setting and opening a benchmark window is always at the discretion of the account owner and can be changed at any time. To access this feature, first login to your account and click on the “Account” tab. Now under the "Manage Settings" section, click on the blue Manage Settings link.

You will be directed to the Benchmarking Window Settings.

This feature allows account holders to set the dates when a benchmark test is available to take, To adjust this setting, select the opening and closing dates for the testing window. The benchmark window needs to be current for testing and the remaining benchmark dates need to be staggered with only one testing window open at a time. The dates need to be moving forward in time.

After selecting the dates, make sure to click on the “Save Settings” button in order for the changes to take effect. An example of correct benchmark window for the 2024-2025 academic year is:

Fall Sept. 6 – Sept. 26, 20204

Winter Jan. 2- Jan. 22, 2025

Spring May 1 – May 21, 2025

When the benchmark window is open you have a choice to either download and administer a copy of the test to students (keys are provided for scoring student responses which are entered manually) or have students go online and take a test (which is scored and entered automatically).

Students go to the website address highlighted in blue in the “Measures” section. This address will be: https://app.easycbm.com/+classroom name.

They will then be able to choose their tests from a drop-down menu (like assessments in the Progress Monitoring section). Only on-grade tests with open benchmark windows, will be available to them.

Of note: the dates listed in the Student Assessment History, along with the dates listed on the student graphs, reflect the beginning date of the benchmark period even though the date administered may be different from when the benchmark test was taken.

When doing data entry for benchmark tests, the default date, or time stamp when tests were taken (Finish Date), will be the first day of the benchmark period. We currently cannot change this because it would throw off all historical graphing.

Taking a Benchmark Test Manually

You can take a manual benchmark test with the testing window closed but it will need to be open in order to enter student responses/scores into the system.

Benchmark tests downloaded and given in hard copy/paper and pencil format, are administered to students. then scored an answer key. These tests are located by going to your Measures tab and then clicking on the Benchmark tab. You will click on the season icon (in this case Winter) that says "Enter Winter Scores" underneath it.

After clicking on the icon, you will be directed to a page where you can enter student responses and scores. Choose the student's grade and then look to the left-hand side of where you enter data, and choose to either enter the total score or item level data. After you have completed entering the scores/responses, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and make sure to click on the "Save Scores" button to record the information.