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Testing

MAP Assessments

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District will administer the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) during the fall and spring.  MAP is a computer-based assessment that creates a personalized exam by adapting to each student's learning level.  Assessment data and essential information about what each student knows and is ready to learn is available within 24 hours.  For more information, click here.

AK STAR Assessments

The Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development (DEED) recently announced a new approach to statewide assessments that better reflects learning throughout the school year, and helps educators target instruction to students' needs.  The new Alaska Innovative Assessment System will:

  • Streamline testing and maximize efficiency, providing a more seamless experience between interim and summative assessments.
  • Increases coherence across interim and end-of-year summative tests so educators can drive students toward consistent, challenging learning targets.
  • Help amplify student learning by giving educators, students, and families meaningful insights on student strengths and areas to support students in reaching their highest academic potential.
  • Increase opportunity for students and schools to show growth.  

Under the new Alaska Innovative Assessment System, the FNSBSD test schedules will follow this layout:

  • 2021-22 school year:  MAP Growth (interim assessments) in the fall, winter, and spring, and AK STAR (summative assessment) in the spring.
  • 2022-23 school year and beyond:  MAP Growth (interim) in the fall and winter, and AK STAR (summative) in the spring.

The Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) is the new state summative assessment.  It is replacing the Performance Evaluation for Alaska's Schools (PEAKS) for the English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments starting in the spring of 2022.  AK STAR uses a testing platform developed by Northwest Evaluation Association.  This assessment is administered to students in grades 3-9, and assesses their understanding of the Alaska English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematic Standards adopted in 2012.  

PSAT

The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. You can only take the PSAT once per year, and many students take the test in both 10th and 11th grade. If you earn a high score on the PSAT your junior year, you could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship—$180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests your skills in reading, writing, and math. Unlike the SAT, the highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520.   Stop by the counseling office or email Mrs. Fitzhugh for upcoming testing dates. 

AP 

AP exams take place at the end of AP classes, and they’re used as a means of assessing how much you learned in the class and whether your experience merits college credit.  All AP students are encouraged to take the AP exam. AP exam fees are due 11/11/22.  If you are taking a spring AP course, those fees are due 3/3/23.   Contact Mrs Fitzhugh in counseling for more information. 

ASVAB

ASVAB is an acronym for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and is a multiple-choice test that is administered by the United States military to determine enlistment qualifications to enter into the U.S. armed forces. Anyone who is eligible to enlist in the military can take this assessment. However, students can also take the ASVAB starting in the 10th grade. Contact Mrs Fitzhugh in counseling for more information. 

ACT/SAT

Contact Mrs Fitzhugh in counseling for more information.