WVGSA Performance Levels & Reporting 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which WVGSA performance level descriptor best matches a student who grasps some concepts but struggles with complex tasks?
- Distinguished
- Mastery
- Partial Mastery (Correct answer)
- Novice
Correct answer: Partial Mastery
Partial Mastery describes students who understand foundational material but have difficulty with more complex, multi-step tasks.
Question 2: How should a school counselor use WVGSA performance level data when advising a high school student?
- Ignore the data since it is from earlier grades
- Use the data alongside other indicators to identify academic strengths and areas needing support (Correct answer)
- Use the data as the sole factor in scheduling decisions
- Share the data publicly on the school website
Correct answer: Use the data alongside other indicators to identify academic strengths and areas needing support
WVGSA performance data is one of several indicators a counselor should consider when advising students on academic pathways.
Question 3: What is the relationship between WVGSA performance levels and West Virginia College and Career Readiness standards?
- WVGSA performance levels are based on national norms, not state standards
- The performance levels reflect the degree to which students have mastered the West Virginia College and Career Readiness standards (Correct answer)
- Performance levels are determined solely by teacher recommendations
- WVGSA performance levels are set by individual counties
Correct answer: The performance levels reflect the degree to which students have mastered the West Virginia College and Career Readiness standards
Each WVGSA performance level describes a degree of mastery of the West Virginia College and Career Readiness standards assessed.
Question 4: A principal wants to use WVGSA data to identify students who may need intervention. Which performance levels should be the primary focus?
- Distinguished and Mastery
- Mastery and Partial Mastery
- Partial Mastery and Novice (Correct answer)
- Novice only
Correct answer: Partial Mastery and Novice
Students at the Partial Mastery and Novice levels have not met proficiency and are the primary candidates for academic intervention.
Question 5: What does it mean when a WVGSA score report shows a student's performance level as 'Distinguished' in Mathematics?
- The student barely met the minimum math requirements
- The student demonstrated exceptional depth of understanding beyond grade-level expectations (Correct answer)
- The student needs math intervention
- The student performed at the national average
Correct answer: The student demonstrated exceptional depth of understanding beyond grade-level expectations
Distinguished indicates the student has exceeded grade-level expectations with a high degree of mathematical understanding and skill.
Question 6: How do WVGSA results support equitable education in West Virginia?
- By ranking schools so that the lowest-ranked schools receive no funding
- By providing disaggregated data that reveals achievement gaps among student subgroups (Correct answer)
- By setting different proficiency standards for different demographic groups
- By replacing all classroom assessments with a single annual test
Correct answer: By providing disaggregated data that reveals achievement gaps among student subgroups
Disaggregated WVGSA data makes achievement gaps visible, allowing educators and policymakers to direct resources where they are most needed.
Question 7: A West Virginia third grader receives a WVGSA ELA score report. What grade level does this assessment measure?
- The student's reading level compared to kindergarteners
- The student's mastery of West Virginia third-grade ELA standards (Correct answer)
- The student's performance on national college entrance benchmarks
- The student's performance on a universal international literacy scale
Correct answer: The student's mastery of West Virginia third-grade ELA standards
The WVGSA is a grade-specific assessment; a third-grade report reflects mastery of West Virginia's third-grade ELA standards.
WVGSA Performance Levels & Reporting 5
Which WVGSA performance level descriptor best matches a student who grasps some concepts but struggles with complex tasks?