PACT: Test Scoring and the Use of Results

The Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT) were administered in mathematics and English language arts to students in grades 3 through 8 in April 1999. These tests are based upon the South Carolina Curriculum Standards and are more rigorous than the Basic Skills Assessment Program (BSAP). 

PERFORMANCE LEVELS 
Four performance levels have been established for PACT - below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced. These levels indicate how an individual student is performing, based upon the curriculum standards assessed by the PACT. 

BELOW BASIC 
A student who performs at the BELOW BASIC level on the PACT has not met minimum expectations for student performance, based upon the curriculum standards approved by the State Board of Education. The student is not prepared for work at the next grade. 

BASIC 
Performance at the BASIC level means a student has passed the test. A student who performs at the BASIC level on the PACT has met minimum expectations for student performance, based upon the curriculum standards approved by the State Board of Education. The student is minimally prepared for work at the next grade. 

PROFICIENT 
A student who performs at the PROFICIENT level on the PACT has met expectations for student performance, based upon the curriculum standards approved by the State Board of Education. The student is well prepared for work at the next grade. The PROFICIENT level represents the long-term goal for student performance in South Carolina. 

ADVANCED 
A student who performs at the ADVANCED level on the PACT has exceeded expectations for student performance, based upon the curriculum standards approved by the State Board of Education. The student is very well prepared for work at the next grade. 

For the basic, proficient, and advanced performance levels, detailed descriptors have been written by teams of experts in mathematics and English language arts. These descriptors list the knowledge and skills a student needs to perform consistently at each performance level. Copies of the descriptors are included in this packet of information. 

USING THE RESULTS 
The results provided for the PACT include state-, district-, and school-level information. Demographic reports indicate how students in various groups (e.g., male and female) have performed. For each test item, the curriculum standard(s) assessed by the item are listed. Teachers can use this information to determine strengths and to identify particular standards which need additional emphasis in the classroom. When classroom-level information is reviewed, teachers can see if an individual child or the whole class is struggling with certain standards. 

This information will help teachers plan classroom instruction, as well as provide extra help for individual students. Since 1999 is the baseline year, results indicate the starting point for students, schools, and districts. Test results over the next few years can be compared to determine if sufficient progress is being made. For example, are higher percentages of students in all groups achieving at the basic performance level (i.e., passing the test)? Are more students moving from the basic level to the proficient level and from the proficient level to the advanced level? 

The information provided for the tests can help schools and districts plan strategies for improvement by focusing attention on areas of weakness and by building on strengths.

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