About 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. Here is information regarding our benchmark tests:

1. Screeners: 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. Tests Assigned by Program: 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. Testing Windows: Teachers set the dates when the testing window is open with a setting in their account called the Benchmarking Window Settings.
4. On-grade Status: If a student falls within the 50th percentile no further testing is needed until the next benchmark testing period.
5. Progress Monitoring: 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. Guided Instruction: 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.

Rather you enter tests manually or students take them online, the benchmark testing window must be open. Account holders control these testing dates by a setting in their account. To learn how to set this testing window consult either: Online Test Assignment or Manual Test Entry