The TMSA Triangle Testing Team is fully committed to the successful execution of the North Carolina Testing Program. Our team assumes responsibility for the entire spectrum of tasks, encompassing test registration, administration, and the meticulous reporting of test scores. Our unwavering dedication lies in upholding the authenticity of these assessments while implementing measures that safeguard their integrity and champion ethical testing principles.

Every student within TMSA Triangle must partake in the state-mandated tests. Their participation can take various forms as the administration of a general assessment under standard conditions, the administration of a general assessment with testing accommodations, or through the use of the state-designated alternate assessment with or without testing accommodations.

The TMSA Triangle Testing Coordinator (Mr. Mustafa [email protected]) collaborates closely with the DPI (Department of Public Instruction) to ensure the seamless orchestration of the state-mandated tests. These tests are of paramount importance within the educational framework, assuming a pivotal role in evaluating students' advancement and overall educational efficacy.

Please review North Carolina's Family Guide to Assessment or watch this introductory video. These guides discusses why assessments are important, provides an overview of the different assessments that students take, and reviews questions families can ask teachers about assessments. Finally, the guides look at how North Carolina ensures assessments are fair and accessible for all students.

Grade 3 Read to Achieve (RtA) Law and Beginning of Grade 3 Test (BOG 3):

The Grade 3 Read to Achieve (RtA) Law mandates that that every student read at or above grade level by the end of third grade and continue to progress in reading proficiency so that they can read, comprehend, integrate, and apply complex texts needed for secondary education and career success.

The North Carolina BOG3 Reading Test is linked to the RtA. This test establishes a baseline measure of beginning third-grade students’ English language arts/reading skills. Click for more information.

TMSA Triangle 2022-2023 RtA Grade 3 End of Year Results

TMSA Triangle 2021-2022 RtA Grade 3 End of Year Results

EOG: NC End of Grade Tests for Grades 3-8

The EOG tests measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. 

• EOG Mathematics Tests for Grades 3-8: Test Specifications, Achievement Level Descriptors
• EOG Reading Tests for Grades 3-8: Test Specifications, Achievement  Level Descriptors
• EOG Tests of Science for Grades 5 and 8: Test Specifications, Achievement Level Descriptors

EOC: NC End of Course Tests for Grades 9-12

The EOC Tests are used to sample a student's knowledge of subject-related concepts, as specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and provide a global estimate of the student's mastery of the material in a particular content area. The EOC tests were initiated in response to legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly – the North Carolina Elementary and Secondary Reform Act of 1984.
The following are courses requiring the administration of an EOC Test:

• Biology
• English II
• NC Math I
• NC Math III

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PreACT for Grade 10

In North Carolina, all tenth-graders take the PreACT. This assessment measures what students have learned in their courses and helps us identify the information that students still need to learn to succeed in college or a career. This assessment measures what students have learned in PreACT assessments provides our 10th graders with information that can help them select the right high school courses, think about ways to target areas for improvement, and even begin discussions about college and career.

The PreACT assessment includes four multiple-choice tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science. It is designed to help our parents and teachers identify areas where students may need additional academic support or remediation. The PreACT can also help to initiate strategic conversations between parents and TMSA Triangle regarding dual enrollment decisions, identifying curriculum gaps, implementing interventions on behalf of students, and choosing Advanced Placement classes.

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ACT for Grades 11

The ACT is a required state assessment for all eligible eleventh graders and TMSA Triangle High School juniors take it in the spring.

• It is a curriculum and standards-based assessment that evaluates our juniors’ college and career readiness in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.
• The ACT is used for college admissions, placement, and scholarships. It is accepted by most colleges and universities in the United States.
• The test provides a path to increase student access to postsecondary and workforce opportunities. Additional reporting and insights on STEM, Career Readiness, and Understanding Complex Texts are provided.

ACT WorkKeys for CTE Concentrators

The WorkKeys assessments are required for all eligible CTE concentrators in North Carolina. The three WorkKeys assessments  - Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents  - are the basis of the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (WorkKeys NCRC) program.

• The Applied Math test measures critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving techniques for situations that occur in today’s workplace.
• The Graphic Literacy test measures the skills needed to locate, synthesize, and use information from workplace graphics. Workplace graphics come in a variety of formats, but all communicate a level of information. From charts to graphs, diagrams to floor plans, identifying what information is being presented and understanding how to use it are critical to success.
• The Workplace Documents test measures the skills people use when they read and use written text such as memos, letters, directions, signs, notices, bulletins, policies, and regulations on the job. The assessment is defined through a combination of the test complexity level of a reading passage and the skill elicited by the item.
• Students who achieve qualifying scores on the Applied Mathematics, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents assessments can earn a WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (WorkKeys NCRC) as well as a North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels of readiness. Certificates provide employers with proof that students have the skills needed to do the jobs available.

WIDA and ACCESS 2.0: English Language Proficiency Tests

TMSA must identify students in need of language services in a timely manner. The WIDA Screener is the assessment used in North Carolina for the initial identification and placement of students identified as English Learners (EL). The administration of the WIDA Screener assessment is based on the results of the Home Language Survey (HLS) process. The HLS process and the identification and subsequent placement of EL students in English as a Second Language (ESL) services are guided at the state level by the NCDPI Curriculum and Instruction Division.

The student is required by state and federal law to be assessed annually with a state-identified English language proficiency test. The test currently used by North Carolina for annual assessment is the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ELLs) or the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. Eligible students may participate in the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs in place of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0.
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NCEXTEND1 Alternate Assessments

The NCEXTEND1 alternate assessment is a performance-based alternate assessment designed to assess students with significant cognitive disabilities who are being taught using the Extended Content Standards. NCEXTEND1 alternate assessment items are grade-level, performance-based, multiple-choice items that measure the standards specified in the North Carolina Extended Content Standards. These Extended Content Standards are available for download here.

To determine participation in any of the NCEXTEND1 alternate assessments, the following eligibility requirements must be met:

• The student must have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• The student is enrolled in grades 3–8, 10, or 11, according to PowerSchool. Note: Only those students enrolled in 11th grade for the first time are required to take the NCEXTEND1 alternate assessment at grade 11.
• The student is instructed using the North Carolina Extended Content Standards in all assessed content areas (i.e., English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, and Science).
• The student has a significant cognitive disability.
• The student's disability significantly impacts adaptive behaviors, defined as essential skills for living and functioning independently.
• The student requires extensive and repeated individualized instruction and support to make meaningful gains.
• The student uses substantially adapted materials and individualized methods of accessing information in alternative ways.

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