FSA ELA Training Test on DOE Website--Synopsis

I reviewed the Training Test on the Florida Department of Education Website and extracted the following information:

• The Training Test is approximately 1/3 the length of the actual test. The training test has 18 items, whereas the DOE website states the actual assessment will have between 60-64 items.
• The first section of the training test consists of a 21-paragraph text (138 lines); several of the paragraphs are short--indented because they are dialogue. The reading level seems fairly accessible--a very short story or anecdote about a narrator going snorkeling with a friend while contemplating graduation from high school and the future. Some of the vocabulary may be challenging (depending on your student's reading level): accumulated, eons, immerse, apprehensive, inexplicable, menacing, translucent, appendages, expedition.
• The second section of the test focusses on Language and Editing (items 10-15)
• The final section of the test focusses on Listening Skills (items 16-18).

          
Here are the questions that will help to give you an idea of the nature of the test. Students do a lot of highlighting and clicking on correct responses. For each traditional-format item (question) there are four answer choices:

1. What effect does the narrator’s use of the phrase “eons in advance” have on her description of her father in paragraph 4? (followed by four answer choices)
2. Part A: Which is a central idea of the passage? (followed by four answer choices) Part B: Select the detail from the passage that supports the central idea. (This is followed by an excerpted paragraph from the passage. Students must highlight the detail. Keep in mind that the entire text is still visible on the left side of the screen while students answer questions on the right side of the screen.)
3. Select two phrases from the passage that support the idea that the narrator fears the future that lies before her. (This is followed by another excerpted paragraph from the passage. Students must highlight.) 
4. What connotation does apprehensive have in paragraph 14 of the passage? (referring to the previous excerpted paragraph; followed by four answer choices)
5. Part A: Why does the author mention the horror movie Jaws and a nature show about sea creatures? (followed by four answer choices) Part B: Select the detail from the passage that supports the answer to Part A. (again referring to the previous paragraph; students must highlight)
6. Select two ways that the interactions with other characters support the development of the narrator’s character. (followed by four answer choices)
7. What does the reader learn about the narrator in the last paragraph? (followed by a box in which the students must write; the default space in the box is six lines, but if students write more, the box will enlarge)
8. Place the characteristics that describe the narrator, Cassie, or both in the diagram in the correct locations. (In this item students are presented with a Venn Diagram: two intersecting circles with Narrator on the left, Cassie on the right and Both in the overlap section of the circles. There are eight words and/or phrases that students are to click on and move into what they determine is the appropriate part of the diagram.) 
9. Select four sentences to create an objective summary of the passage. Order the sentences so the summary reflects the arrangement of ideas in the passage. Place only one sentence next to each number. (followed by eight possible sentences that the students choose from, then click on to highlight and move to the lines above) This ends the analysis of the reading passage.
10. A Language and Editing section begins now. There are five highlights in the passage to show which word or phrase may be incorrect. For each highlight, type in the correction. (three paragraphs with highlighted sections--words and phrases; each paragraph is considered a separate item; for example, 10-12)
11. see above
12. see above
13. There are five highlights in the passage to show which word or phrase may be incorrect. For each highlight, click the word or phrase that is correct. (three paragraphs on another topic; each highlight has a drop-down menu of four possible answer choices; different from students actually making the corrections as in the above example)
14. see above
15. see above
16. A Listening Section begins now. Directions: Listen to classmates Samantha and Orlando prepare for a project. (The classmates have a conversation about the research Samantha has done about the rules for how to market to kids. Students must click on a microphone icon first; the audio clip is two minutes long.) What point is Samantha making when she mentions “demographics”?
17. Based on the discussion, what two projects could the students be working on? (followed by five answer choices)
18. Based on the discussion, how does Samantha feel about cartoon characters on cereals? (followed by four answer choices)  

Take the Training Test on the Department of Education website to familiarize yourself with the test format and question types:

http://www.fsassessments.org/training-tests

Since this training test is approximately one-third the length of the actual test, I would extrapolate that the assessment will have at least three texts (probably more) followed by text-based questions on those reading selections (perhaps ten or eleven items per reading selection, with at least thirty-three total if three passages; more items total if four passages); a maximum of sixteen items focussing on Language and Editing (I'm guessing fewer); and nine items related to the Listening component. But all of this is conjecture on my part.

For this extrapolation, I am also taking into account the percentage breakdown of item types listed on the Department of Education website. See also: http://www.synthesizingeducation.net/2014/07/new-language-arts-assessment-test.html

Additional Practice Test Link (Thank you, Ms. Lavan of Stranahan High School, for informing me of this link.):

https://login4.cloud1.tds.airast.org/student/V42/Pages/LoginShell.aspx?c=SBAC_PT&v=42