ISAT Reading Performance Definitions
Grade 7
Exceeds Standards
Students who exceed standards demonstrate a
strong comprehension of text beyond their grade level. They use
contextual and structural
clues to determine vocabulary meaning. They accurately interpret
idioms, analogies, figurative expressions, and etymologies
to clarify word meanings.
Students accurately identify explicit and implicit main ideas
as well as key supporting details. They use evidence implicit in
the passage and prior knowledge to draw inferences and conclusions
and to extract concepts. They can identify and explain the correct
sequence of events in a story and can draw conclusions about character
traits and motivations as revealed through a combination of devices.
They can trace the development of complex or subtle themes. They
analyze text to determine author’s purpose and understand
elements of plot and setting.
Students make accurate predictions about outcomes. They understand
facts and opinions and analyze text to determine its organizational
pattern. They examine the content and structure of text to analyze
and evaluate the effect of literary elements and devices, and they
can analyze general themes that appear across texts. They can explain
situational irony.
Students locate and synthesize information in diagrams, charts,
and graphs to draw conclusions. They are proficient at following
complex multi-step instructions.
Meets Standards
Students who meet standards demonstrate an overall
comprehension of grade-level text. They use structural and contextual
clues
to determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary as well as
a variety of strategies to clarify word meanings.
Students identify explicit and implicit main ideas as well as
supporting details. They draw inferences and conclusions using
textual support and prior knowledge. They can identify the correct
sequence of events in a story and recall important supporting details.
They can make inferences about character traits and motivations
and identify implicit themes. They recognize an author’s
unstated purpose and elements of plot and setting.
Students make predictions based on clues in the passage. They
distinguish between facts and opinions and can recognize organizational
patterns. They examine the content and structure of text to recognize
the author’s use of literary elements and devices and their
impact on a passage’s effectiveness. They can identify general
themes across texts. They understand situational irony.
Students synthesize information in diagrams, charts, and graphs
to reach conclusions. They can follow multi-step directions.
Below Standards
Students at this level demonstrate an incomplete
understanding of grade-level text. They use immediate context to
determine
the meaning of vocabulary. They tend to make literal interpretations
of figurative language and have difficulty deciphering etymologies.
Students
may have trouble distinguishing main ideas from developmental details.
They struggle to make inferences and conclusions. They
may identify facts about characters but are not proficient at understanding
motivations. They may be able to identify plot events but have
difficulty understanding themes. They can sometimes determine author’s
purpose when it is explicitly stated.
They may be able to make obvious predictions and identify obvious
opinions but struggle to identify organizational patterns. They
sometimes recognize the use of literary devices and figurative
language but lack the skills to analyze their impact on a passage’s
effectiveness. They struggle to identify themes common across passages
or to identify irony.
Students can find but cannot synthesize information in diagrams,
charts, and graphs. They struggle with directions.
Academic Warning
Students at this level have a limited comprehension
of grade-level text. They cannot determine the meaning of unfamiliar
vocabulary
due to a weak understanding of grade-level vocabulary.
Students cannot identify main ideas, or they confuse main ideas
with supporting details. An inability to comprehend literal statements
prevents comprehension of inferences and conclusions. They have
few insights into characterization, plot events, or themes. They
may be able to identify author’s purpose but have little
or no recognition of the use of opinions or organizational features.
They rarely make accurate predictions. A lack of familiarity with
literary devices and figurative language prevents any analysis
of their use. They are generally unable to recognize common themes.
They are rarely able to identify irony.
Students ignore or misuse features of text, such as bold print
and headings. They are seldom able to follow directions.
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