FSA Assessments Practice Test & Online Tips – TestPrep-Online
What is FSA?
The FSA or the Florida Standards Assessments is a battery of writing, reading, and math tests that are specifically designed to evaluate and measure student performance. The FSA was developed to assess Florida’s students, especially in determining whether educational progress has been made when it comes to following curriculum standards set by the state. The test also helps examine the students’ knowledge, skills, and other school-based goals.
Other than the mentioned factors above, the FSA is also used to evaluate a student’s level of preparedness for graduation. This is why students are required to get a passing score or grade in the English and Language Arts (ELA) section of the FSA exam in order to earn a standard certification or diploma. All students enrolled in Florida public schools from grades 3-10 are required to take the FSA test.
FSA Exam Structure and Format
The FSA format can be quite confusing since it is made up of several types of examinations. Depending on their respective grade levels, students are asked to take the FSA exams starting grades 3-10.
To break down the details of each grade level examination, we’ve created a quick overview of the FSA’s format and structure. Please see the chart below for your reference:
| FSA Exam Structure and Format | |||
| Sections | Allotted Time | No. of Questions | Test Administration |
| Mathematics | Grades 3-5: Two 80-minute sessions Grade 6-8: Two 60-minute sessions | 56 to 66 questions | Grades 3-6: Paper-based Grades 7-8: Computer-based |
| ELA Reading | Grades 3-5: Two 80-minute sessions Grades 6-8: Two 85-minutes sessionsGrades 9-10: Two 90-minute sessions | 56 to 66 questions | Grades 3-6: Paper-basedGrades 7-10: Computer-based |
| ELA Writing | 120 minutes | 1 constructed response | Grades 4-6: Paper-based Grades 7-10: Computer-based |
| End-of-Course (EOC) | Two 90-minute sessions | Approximately 68 questions per examination | Computer-based |
Note: The FSA exams taken by grade 3-6 students are all paper-based, while the FSA exams taken by grade 7 and beyond are computer-based examinations.
FSA Scoring System
After completing each FSA exam per grade level, all test-takers will receive a numerical score that will represent their overall performance on the test. FSA scores are broken down into five categories or commonly known as achievement levels:
| FSA Achievement Levels | |
| Level 1 | Inadequate Test Performance |
| Level 2 | Below Satisfactory Test Performance |
| Level 3 | Satisfactory Test Performance |
| Level 4 | Proficient Test Performance |
| Level 5 | Mastery Test Performance |
To successfully pass the FSA examination, students must be able to reach level 3 or a satisfactory level. On the other hand, getting a level 3 score is critical for grade 10 students since it’s one of the requirements for them to be eligible for graduation.
Note: In terms of score calculation, a student’s performance on the English Language Arts (ELA) reading and writing sections are given significant importance.
FSA Score Range Information
For each subtest, there is a corresponding FSA score range in which a student may fall under. This scoring range represents each achievement level on the FSA exam.
To provide you with detailed information about the FSA score range from each grade and achievement level, please refer to the table presented below:
FSA Mathematics Score Range
| FSA Mathematics Score Range | |||||
| Grade Level | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
| Grade 3 | 240-284 | 285-296 | 297-310 | 311-326 | 327-360 |
| Grade 4 | 251-298 | 299-309 | 310-324 | 325-339 | 340-376 |
| Grade 5 | 256-305 | 306-319 | 320-333 | 334-349 | 350-388 |
| Grade 6 | 260-309 | 310-324 | 325-338 | 339-355 | 356-390 |
| Grade 7 | 269-315 | 316-329 | 330-345 | 346-359 | 360-391 |
| Grade 8 | 273-321 | 322-336 | 337-352 | 353-364 | 365-393 |
FSA ELA (Reading & Writing) Score Range
| FSA ELA (Reading & Writing) Score Range | |||||
| Grade Level | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
| Grade 3 | 240-284 | 285-299 | 300-314 | 315-329 | 330-360 |
| Grade 4 | 251-296 | 297-310 | 311-324 | 325-339 | 340-372 |
| Grade 5 | 257-303 | 304-320 | 321-335 | 336-351 | 352-385 |
| Grade 6 | 259-308 | 309-325 | 326-338 | 339-355 | 356-391 |
| Grade 7 | 267-317 | 318-332 | 333-345 | 346-359 | 360-397 |
| Grade 8 | 274-321 | 322-336 | 337-351 | 352-365 | 366-403 |
| Grade 9 | 276-327 | 328-342 | 343-354 | 355-369 | 370-407 |
| Grade 10 | 284-333 | 334-349 | 350-361 | 362-377 | 378-412 |
FSA Test Dates 2020
If you are planning to prepare for the upcoming FSA examination in 2020, take note of the FSA 2020 test dates below and mark your calendar accordingly:
| FSA Test Dates 2020 | |
| Test Dates | Exam Details |
| April 1-15, 2020 | Grade 3 ELA Reading Grades 4-10 ELA Writing |
| May 1-29, 2020 | Grades 7-10 ELA Reading Grades 7 & 8 Mathematics |
| May 4-15, 2020 | Grades 4-6 ELA Reading Grades 3-6 Mathematics |
| Retakes February 24 – March 13, 2020 | Grade 10 ELA Writing Retake Grade 10 ELA Reading Retake Algebra 1 EOC Retake |
FSA Frequently Asked Questions
What does fsa stand for?
The FSA stands for Florida Standards Assessments.
How long is the FSA test?
The FSA ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments are administered for over 2 days. The FSA ELA Writing assessments are taken in one 120-minute test session.
What is the purpose of the FSA test?
As discussed earlier in this article, the primary purpose of the FSA test is to evaluate student performance by administering different examinations that will measure their preparedness to step up to the next grade level.
What is a level 3 on the FSA?
The level 3 on the FSA achievement levels signifies that a student was able to demonstrate satisfactory performance on the FSA assessments.
What is the passing score for FSA 3rd grade?
The level 3 score range for third-graders fall between 300-314. This bracket is considered a passing score since it is a level 3 score range.
What grades do FSA testing?
As previously mentioned, all Florida public students are subjected to take the FSA testing. For grades 3-6, a paper-based version of the FSA will be given. For grades 7 and beyond, a computer-based FSA format will be administered to FSA eligible test-takers.
Is the FSA a standardized test?
Yes, the Florida Standards Assessments is a series of “standardized tests” in Mathematics and English Language Arts. The FSA is considered to be a reliable tool in measuring whether Florida students have mastered and met state academic standards.
How to check FSA scores?
Accessing the FSA portal at https://fsassessments.org is one way to check your FSA scores. The portal is the official source for any information you want to learn about the Florida Standards Assessments. The portal also provides FSA resources, FSA practice tests, FSA reporting system, etc.
How long does it take for FSA scores to come back?
FSA results are normally released in about one to three months after you took the exam.
Is FSA part of Common Core?
The Florida Standards Assessment is the state-mandated assessment that the state of Florida paid for to develop in place of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) examination, which is a Common Core test. Moreover, Florida dropped the Common Core State Standards and created a new one that a lot of people claim to be similar with the Core standards.
FSA Exam Prep Guide and Test-taking Strategies
It’s not a secret that effective preparation is one of the biggest contributory factors that every test-taker must never miss when taking an examination. The FSA test is not an exemption to this. If you want to do good on the FSA exam, developing strategies to elevate your preparation is something that you should secure prior to your test day.
While some exam strategies are commonly modeled the same way, choosing the right approach will make a huge difference. Moreover, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach that you can use to score effectively on the FSA. You should aim to utilize multiple test-taking strategies in order to adapt to every FSA questions that you’ll encounter when taking the assessments.
To help your learn a few strategies that you can use on the exam, we’ve gathered the most effective ones below for your reference:
Strategy #1: Read The Questions Twice
One of the major causes of a poor exam score is the inability of students to understand the question successfully. Some students may read the questions but they’re not fully understanding the thought, causing them to misinterpret what the questions are asking. To avoid this common mistake, it is strongly advisable to read the questions twice before choosing an answer. This is to ensure that you are on the right track before giving your answer a go. Furthermore, don’t allow yourself to get stuck on one question to avoid wasting time.
Strategy #2: Be Confident with your Knowledge
There are instances wherein an examinee tends to lose focus because he/she lacks confidence. Not being able to answer all the questions is not something that you should focus on when taking an exam. The main objective is to maximize your FSA score in order to reach a satisfactory level of performance. When you become anxious about your answers, you will likely lose your concentration which can potentially lead to failure. Thus, be confident with your answers and avoid overanalyzing the questions as much as possible.
Strategy #3: Don’t Rely on Patterns
Another baseless and problematic approach that test-takers use when taking an exam is trying to search for answer patterns. This common practice is often done in multiple-choice tests. The idea of using patterns in standardized tests is erroneous in every aspect. The belief that “B” and “C” are the most common right answers is extremely irrational to consider. To emphasize, patterns DON’T exist in standardized tests, such as the FSA. Therefore, never use this type approach because it will not help you at all.
Strategy #4: Practice, Practice, and Practice!
In order to maximize your preparation, you should try your best to practice consistently. Utilizing FSA practice test materials and study guides is a surefire way of ensuring that you will be fully prepared during your test day. Furthermore, practicing is not only limited to reading and answering practice test questions on a daily basis. You also need to make sure that your preparation is organized in a way that you will be able to cover each FSA subtests.
Strategy #5: Get Enough Rest
No matter how extreme your preparation is, if you’re too stressed during your test day, you will not be able to perform efficiently. One big chunk of an effective preparation is getting enough rest. The human brain is capable of processing information. However, if you won’t let it rest, it may not be able to process new information effectively. A prepared test-taker is not just someone who read books, answered practice tests, familiarized study guides, and developed strategies. A well-prepared test-taker is also someone who was able to get enough rest while preparing.
FSA Exam Sample Questions
Practice Test Question #1
Nina has a jar where she puts her loose change at the end of each day. There are 13 quarters, 25 dimes, 18 nickels, and 30 pennies in the jar. If she chooses a coin at random, what is the probability that the coin will not be a penny or a dime?
- 0.36
- 0.64
- 0.56
- 0.34
Practice Test Question #2
The phone bill is calculated each month using the equation c = 50g + 75. The cost of the phone bill per month is represented by c, and g represents the gigabytes of data used that month. What is the value and interpretation of the slope of this equation?
- 75 dollars per day
- 75 gigabytes per day
- 50 dollars per day
- 50 dollars per gigabyte
Practice Test Question #3
Which of the following is the correct order of operations?
- Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
- Exponents, Parentheses, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
- Parentheses, Exponents, Addition, Multiplication, Division, Subtraction
- Parentheses, Exponents, Division, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication
Practice Test Question #4
Which four-sided shape is always a rectangle?
- Rhombus
- Square
- Parallelogram
- Quadrilateral
Practice Test Question #5
Please provide your answer.
At the beginning of the day, Xavier has 20 apples. At lunch, he meets his sister Emma and gives her half of his apples. After lunch, he stops by his neighbor Jim’s house and gives him 6 of his apples. He then uses 3/4 of his remaining apples to make an apple pie for dessert at dinner. At the end of the day, how many apples does Xavier have left?
Online Source: https://fsassessments.org