4th Grade Proficiency Test in Ohio: Preparation and Practice Info

Preparing for the 4th Grade Proficiency Test in Ohio

General Test Information

As a parent, the first thing you should know about the 4th Grade Proficiency Tests in Ohio is that they no longer exist. March 2005 was the last administration of the proficiency tests, which have been replaced by Ohio Achievement Assessments. The new tests still cover information that students learn in the 4th grade, but they are based on Ohio's Academic Content Standards. Like the proficiency tests, students will need to demonstrate their understanding and mastery of the material they've learned in school.

Subject Areas

The new Ohio Achievement Assessments are administered from 3rd grade to 8th grade. Students are tested in the major areas of reading, writing, math, science and social studies. However, they are not tested in each area at all of the grade levels. Reading and math are tested in 3rd grade to 8th grade. Science and social studies are tested in 5th and 8th grade. Writing is tested in 4th and 7th grade. Below, you'll find some specific content students will need to know for their 4th grade tests.

Reading: For reading, students will have to show the ability to use word parts and context clues to determine the meaning of vocabulary words. They must also show understanding of cause and effect and be able to tell the difference between facts and opinions. In addition, they will need to be able to summarize a main idea effectively and compare and contrast information provided by various forms of texts.

Writing: In writing, students will be required to show skill in grammar and spelling. They must know how to spell common words and use correct punctuation. They will also have to show the ability to plan and write in a variety of styles. Furthermore, they'll be tested on their ability to revise and edit their work for improvement and to respond properly to materials they've read.

Math: The math section will require students to show their basic understanding of number rules by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers in various problems. They will need to successfully work with fractions and decimals and use units of measurement. Students will also need to be able to read and interpret the information found on line and bar graphs.

Performance Levels

Once your children start practicing and preparing for the tests, you'll also want to be able to tell how well they performed. As a result, it's important that you know the performance levels used on the tests. There are five levels used for each subject. From the lowest level to the highest level, they are limited, basic, proficient, accelerated and advanced. Students performing at the limited and basic levels have not met the state standards. Performing at the other three levels indicates that the standards have been met and the test has been passed.

Practice Information

To help your children practice for the tests, you have several options. First, you can talk to teachers and get practice work from them. Second, using the content information above, you can search the Internet for resources covering those specific areas and skills. Finally, you can go to the testing website and have your children take practice tests online, or you can get copies of sample questions or even released tests from previous years to use at home.