General Information
Test Item Specifications
- details that do not support the main idea;
- incorrect interpretations of the main idea;
- incorrect inferences or conclusions based on details found in the text;
- incorrect summary statements; and
- plausible but incorrect distractors based on the text.
The student will determine the main idea (stated or implied), identify a correct summary statement, locate relevant details and facts, draw logical conclusions, make appropriate inferences, and use details to make predictions beyond a text within or across grade-level;appropriate texts.
Main Idea (stated or implied)
Summary Statement
Relevant Details
Conclusions/Inferences
Predictions
Grade-level appropriate texts should include an identifiable main idea (stated or implied) and relevant details from which students may draw logical conclusions or make inferences within or across texts.
Paraphrasing should not be assessed.
Items may assess a student’s ability to identify a correct summary
statement.
Texts should be literary or informational.
Other stimuli may include, but are not limited to, illustrations with captions, graphics, and charts.
Texts should include a main idea (stated or implied) with relevant details, which will enable students to draw logical conclusions and make appropriate inferences.
Distractors may include, but are not limited to
Note: Multiple-choice items should not assess a student’s ability to identify details of least importance when assessing a summary or main idea statement.
Note: A main idea should be stated in a complete sentence.Note: When the main idea is assessed in a literary text, it should be assessed as a summary statement (e.g., “Which statement best summarizes the events in the passage?”). When the main idea is assessed in an informational text, it should be assessed as a main idea statement (e.g., “Which sentence best expresses the main idea of the article?”).
Sample Test Items (3)
Test Item # | Question | Difficulty | Type |
Sample Item 1 | The sample item below is based on “The Earthmovers” on page H–22. If this article were published in a newspaper, which headline best expresses the main idea? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Sample Item 2 | The sample item below is based on “The Earthmovers” on page H–22. Based on their investigations, how do Saunders and Jones think the mounds at Watson Brake and Poverty Point were created? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Sample Item 3 | The sample item below is based on “The Earthmovers” on page H–22. Read this quotation from Joe Saunders.
In the quotation above, Saunders is indicating that |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |