MCA Content Resources
The resources below support educators in understanding how the academic standards are assessed on the MCA in each subject (reading, math, and science).
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA), are criterion-referenced assessment, which means it measures a snapshot of learning of the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards (the criteria). The MCAs are used to evaluate equitable implementation of the standards in schools and districts across the state.
The best preparation for students taking the MCA is grade-level instruction aligned to the academic standards.
Standards-based instruction includes using classroom assessments designed to elicit evidence of student learning toward grade-level standards and inform instruction.
General Resources
- Test Specifications- Test specifications are specific rules and characteristics that guide the development of a test's content and format. They indicate which strands, sub-strands, standards and benchmarks will be assessed on the test and in what proportions. Test specifications are excellent tools for gaining an in-depth understanding of the content and format of the tests. However, they are not meant to be used as the basis for curriculum and instruction. Some concepts in the academic standards can only be assessed in the classroom and not on a standardized statewide assessment.
- Understanding Statewide Assessment Resources: Test Specification - This document was created to help educators understand the purpose and application of the Test Specifications.
- Depth of Knowledge (DOK) - Cognitive complexity refers to the cognitive demand associated with a test question. The level of cognitive demand is dependent upon the number of cognitive processes involved in determining the correct answer to a question. Levels of cognitive complexity for MCA-III are based on Norman L. Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels.
- Understanding Statewide Assessment Resources: Depth of Knowledge - This document was created to help educators understand how to use and apply Webb's Depth of Knowledge.
Math Resources
- MCA-III Test Specifications: Mathematics, Grades 3-8, 11 (2007 standards)
- Online Calculators – The Academic Standards committee identified several benchmarks across grades 3–8 that students should master without using a calculator. Since the MCA-III are aligned with the Minnesota academic standards, the items assessing benchmarks identified as non-calculator will be assessed within a non-calculator segment of the test.
- For Grade 11, there are no non-calculator benchmarks. Calculators will be available for student use on all items of the Grade 11 MCA-III.
- Students may use stand-alone versions of online calculators to practice using the same versions that appear in the online test. These calculators also appear in the Student Readiness Tools (SRTs).
- MCA Formula Sheets – In grades 5–8 and 11 students have access to a formula sheet based on their grade level. These formula sheets also appear in the Student Readiness Tools (SRTs).
- MathBits is a monthly publication of articles put out by the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM).
- Tag: MCA shows all of the MathBits articles written by MDE Math Assessment Specialists on various aspects of the Math MCA.
Reading Resources
Science Resources
- MCA-IV Test Specification: Science, Grades 5, 8, and high school (2019 standards) – The Science MCA-IV Test Specifications document provides information on the assessment of the 2019 Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards in Science on the Science MCA.
- Science MCA-IV Released Items
- Guides to Science MCA-IV Released Items – The purpose of these guides is to give Minnesota education professionals examples of phenomenon-based, multidimensional items aligned to the 2019 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science. These guides include information on benchmark alignment and student response data, to provide context for the online released items.
About
Related Resources
Contact Us
- Minnesota Department of Education
- 400 NE Stinson Blvd.
- Minneapolis, MN 55413
- 651 582 8563