General Information
Test Item Specifications
Students will solve real-world problems that involve equality.
Students may translate a written description or graphic to an equation or identify steps for finding a solution to an equation.
Problems may involve equalities that have no more than two operations.
Properties of equality may include substituting a quantity of equal value for another quantity within a situation.
Equations may have up to two variables.
When a two-variable equation is given in the stem, the value of one of the variables must be provided. (Students are not expected to solve for two variables.)
Coefficients of variables must be whole numbers.
Items will not include naming the property of equality.
Numbers used in situations and their solutions must be whole numbers less than or equal to 150.
Items must be set in a real-world context.
Items requiring students to solve equations should include an explanation of the equation in the prompt.
Sample Test Items (2)
Test Item # | Question | Difficulty | Type |
Sample Item 1 | Mrs. Jackson purchased two identical jackets for her twin sons from an online store. The cost for shipping was $1, and the total amount Mrs. Jackson paid was $87. The equation below can be used to find j, the price for one jacket. 2j + 1 = 87 What was the price, in dollars, of one jacket? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Sample Item 2 | test | N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Related Resources
Teaching Idea
Name | Description |
True, False, and Open Sentences | "Students first explore arithmetic sentences to decide whether they are true or false. The lesson then introduces students to sentences that are neither true nor false but are algebraic equations, also called open sentences, such as x + 3 = 7 or 2 x = 12." from Math Solutions. |
Virtual Manipulative
Name | Description |
Pan Balance - Numbers | This tool helps students better understand that equality is a relationship and not an operational command to "find the answer." The applet features a pan balance that allows the student to input each half of an equation in the pans, which responds to the numerical expression's value by raising, lowering or balancing. |
Student Resources
Virtual Manipulative
Name | Description |
Pan Balance - Numbers: | This tool helps students better understand that equality is a relationship and not an operational command to "find the answer." The applet features a pan balance that allows the student to input each half of an equation in the pans, which responds to the numerical expression's value by raising, lowering or balancing. |