Grinity--I am so glad that someone helped define ISTEP+. My stupidity was in thinking, that just because it IS MY LIFE right now and not in a positive way now that we have the results, everyone knows this test.
As achievement tests go, it does have a few little challenges called "applied skills." I can be a pretty good motivator when it comes to test time, so I truly believe that most of my best kids take the test VERY seriously--wish I could say the same on the other spectrum. I am even convinced that they have to do a little thinking on parts of it.
Want to see a sample? Check out the Indiana Dept. of Ed. website and the past two years of all the applied skills (the more challenging part of the test) are available online along with the scoring guides.
