Understanding SOL Results - District (2016)

Understanding SOL Results

Dear APS Families,

Your child recently participated in the Standards of Learning (SOL) Non-Writing assessments (Reading, Mathematics, History/Social Sciences, and/or Science). The Standards of Learning describe the core knowledge and skills that students in Virginia are expected to acquire.

Your child’s SOL test results will be posted in ParentVUE.

All SOL test results have a Scaled Score which ranges from 0 to 600. A Scaled Score of 400 is required to pass.

The State has released the document “Understanding Your Student’s Non-Writing Standards of Learning (SOL) score report,” that describes in detail the information that is included in each section of your child’s score report.

An English PDF version for writing from the State is here.

An English PDF version for non-writing from the State is here.

We include the information from the document below.

1) STUDENT INFORMATIONIdentification information for your student is located in this section of the score report.

2) TEST ADMINISTRATION The test administration in which your student attempted the test(s).

3) TEST NAMEThe SOL Non-Writing test(s) taken by your student.

4) TEST SCALED SCORE The overall performance results for each SOL test taken by your student. Based on a student’s performance, the student receives a test scaled score ranging from 0 to 600. A student must attain a test scaled score of 400 or higher to pass a test. If a student attains a test scaled score of 500 or higher, the student is considered to have performed at an advanced level. A test scaled score between 0 and 399 indicates the student did not pass the test. The performance results bar(s) are ordered from highest test score to lowest test score. A footnote is included to explain a test scaled score of ‘0’ or a ‘No Score’.

5) PERFORMANCE LEVEL The performance level is determined by the overall test scaled score earned by your student for each test. The performance levels are classified as pass/proficient, pass/advanced, or failing to meet the standard. For information about the knowledge and skills typically demonstrated by students who complete the Virginia SOL Assessments, please go to https://tinyurl.com/vdoe-sol-pld.

6) REPORTING CATEGORIES Each SOL test is divided into reporting categories that represent related content or skills. Reporting category scaled scores are on a scale of 0-50 and can be used to identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses. A reporting category scaled score of 40 or above indicates a strength. A reporting category scaled score below 30 indicates the student may benefit from additional instruction in this area. For more information about the reporting categories, pleasevisit https://tinyurl.com/vdoe-sol-test.

7) ADDITIONAL TEST ATTEMPTS If your student attempted this test more than once during the test administration, his/her best performance results are shown and the scores from other test attempts are listed here.

STANDARD ERROR OF MEASUREMENT Achievement on all tests, including standardized assessments and classroom tests developed by teachers, is subject to what is known as the standard error of measurement. The standard error of measurement describes the potential of slight variations in achievement when students take multiple tests of equal difficulty covering the same content. For information about StandardError of Measurement, please visit the Virginia Department of Education’s web site at https://tinyurl.com/vdoe-sol-sem.

While success on the Standards of Learning assessments is important, it is not the only important achievement for our students. We expect our students to acquire the knowledge and skills they will need for success after high school, whether in work, college, or some combination of work and education. For more details about the Virginia Assessment Program, please visit www.doe.virginia.gov/testing. If you have further questions about your child’s results, please contact your school or contact the Office of Assessment.