ARDTP :: Features

ARDTP generates immediate and reliable diagnostic feedback across five mathematic strands:

• Number and Number Sense
• Computation and Estimation
• Measurement and Geometry
• Probability and Statistics
• Patterns, Functions and Algebra

Tests can also be used to determine students' abilities in:

• Expressions and Operations
• Relations and Functions
• Equations and Inequalities

Computer Adaptive Testing

With Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), students are given questions based on ability. As students progress through tests, CAT creates individual tests for each student, based on the student ability level and a set of parameters.

By delivering below grade level items to students struggling with on-level questions and giving above grade level items to students demonstrating mastery, CAT indicates student weaknesses at or below grade level, as well as strengths above grade level. This information may be deemed critical in developing an appropriate instructional plan, one that first concentrates on core concepts below grade level prior to advancing with the grade level lesson plans and curriculum.

Both students and educators benefit from the CAT tests within ARDTP, which are less time consuming and less stressful for the students, while providing more meaningful results for the teachers. In less than 20 minutes, teachers gain an accurate assessment of students' algebra and math readiness, and quickly see weak and strong skills so they can apply appropriate intervention strategies.

All adaptive tests cover the 5 strands, delivering between 5-8 questions per strand.

Strand Tests

After taking the CAT, it may be helpful to follow up with a strand test to further examine a student's understanding of specific mathematics concepts. Strand tests provide helpful diagnostic information on specific strands or content areas.

The strand tests can be used for more detailed information on particular performance within a specific area. Also, strand tests can be used for pre- and post-testing of content areas as they are taught during the year.

Most often, strand tests are used following instruction. For example -

• Step 1: Deliver the adaptive pre-test
• Step 2: Interpret adaptive results, find weaknesses, and define a remediation plan
• Step 3: Instruct, remediate, study
• Step 4: Deliver strand test relative to the area just remediated

The strand tests measure whether students have gained mastery over the test content, or if further instruction on the subject matter is required. The ARDTP strand tests:

• Contain 15 questions pulled from a particular strand (area)
• Three forms are available for each area