ISAT Reading Performance Definitions
Grade 8
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, analyzing idioms, analogies,
figurative expressions, and etymologies. They verify word meanings
using a variety of strategies.
Students accurately identify explicit and implicit main ideas
and key, specific 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’s plot and recall important supporting
details. They analyze evidence of the author’s beliefs about
a subject and draw conclusions about character motivations and
their impact on plot and/or theme. They reach insightful conclusions
about the development of subtle or complex themes. They are able
to determine author’s purpose as represented by choice of
genre.
Students make and verify predictions based on prior knowledge
and understanding of genres. They evaluate evidence used for support.
They compare and contrast organizational patterns and examine the
content and structure of text to analyze the effect of literary
elements and devices, including point of view, setting, mood and
tone, and the use of dialogue. They can explain dramatic irony.
They synthesize information found in a variety of formats to reach
conclusions, including making connections between text and corresponding
graphics.
Meets Standards
Students at this level demonstrate an overall comprehension
of grade-level text. They use contextual and structural clues
to determine meaning of vocabulary. They can interpret idioms,
analogies,
figurative expressions, and etymologies. They use a variety
of strategies to verify word meanings.
Students determine main ideas and supporting details. They use
prior knowledge and textual support to draw inference and conclusions.
They can identify the correct sequence of events and can recall
supporting details. They identify actions and motives of characters
that affect plot and/or theme and use evidence to determine themes.
They examine content to determine author’s purpose, and they
can identify the evidence used to support assertions.
Students make predictions about outcomes. They can contrast common
themes. They examine content to identify the author’s use
of literary elements and devices, including point of view and dialogue,
and their impact on a passage’s effectiveness and tone or
mood. They can identify dramatic irony.
Students synthesize information found in different formats to
reach conclusions. They are proficient at following multi-step
instructions.
Below Standards
Students at this level demonstrate an incomplete
understanding of grade-level text. They use immediate context
to determine
the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary and tend to make literal
interpretations of figurative language. They struggle with
etymologies.
Students may be able to differentiate main ideas from supporting
details. They focus primarily on literal statements, struggling
to draw inferences and conclusions. They may be able to properly
sequence plot events. They can identify facts about characters
but are not proficient at analyzing actions or motivations or how
a character is used to introduce a theme. They can sometimes identify
a main purpose but struggle to recognize an article’s support.
Students may make obvious predictions but struggle with predictions
when clues are subtle. They sometimes recognize the use of literary
devices and figurative language but lack the skills to determine
their impact on a story’s effectiveness, particularly in
the areas of point of view and the use of dialogue. They cannot
identify dramatic irony.
They may find information in practical text but are generally
unable to 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
word due
to a weak understanding of grade-level vocabulary.
Students cannot identify main idea and often confuse main idea
and supporting details. They can seldom make inferences or draw
conclusions. A lack of comprehension prevents them from following
the sequence of events. They have few insights into character motivation
or a story’s theme. They may identify an author’s broad
purpose but there is little recognition of opinions or organizational
features.
Students rarely make accurate predictions. An inability to comprehend
literal statements prevents comprehension of inferred ideas. A
lack of familiarity with literary devices and figurative language
prevents any analysis of their use.
Students at this level misuse or ignore aspects of practical text
such as headings and bold print.
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