Illinois Science Assessment Grade 8 Blueprint - Science Assessment Blueprint

Oct 10, 2026

Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) Grade 8 Blueprint outlining the structure and alignment of test content across Earth & Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Domains each represent 30-35% of items, with specified performance expectations and operational clusters. The assessment includes three sections with 32 items per section, composed of 30 multiple choice items and 2 constructed response items. Each section allows 40 minutes and contains four operational plus one field-test cluster, with science practices and crosscutting concepts embedded throughout.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Test Structure

Item Types and Timing

Sections and Clusters

Content Domains

Earth & Space Science

Life Science

Physical Science

Embedded Frameworks

Science & Engineering Practices

Crosscutting Concepts

Illinois Science Assessment Grade 8 Blueprint | Domain | Percent of Items | Disciplinary Core Ideas Performance Expectations | Number of Operational Clusters | Science & Engineering Practices | Crosscutting Concepts | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Earth &
Space
Science | 30-35 | MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3,
MS-ESS1-4, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2,
MS-ESS2-3, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5,
MS-ESS2-6, MS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-2,
MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4, MS-ESS3-5 | 4 | Asking Questions & Defining Problems Developing & Using Models Planning & Carrying Out Investigations
Analyzing & Investigating Data
Using Mathematical & Computational Thinking Constructing Explanations & Designing Solutions Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Obtaining, Evaluating, & Communicating Information | Patterns
Cause & Effect
Scale, Proportion, & Quantity Systems & System Models Energy & Matter Structures & Functions Stability & Change | | Life
Science | 30-35 | MS-LS1-1, MS-LS1-2, MS-LS1-3,
MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS1-6,
MS-LS1-7, MS-LS1-8, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-5, MS-LS3-1, MS-LS3-2, MS-LS4-1, MS-LS4-2, MS-LS4-3,
MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-5, MS-LS4-6 | 4 | | | | Physical
Science | 30-35 | MS-PS1-1, MS-PS1-2, MS-PS1-3,
MS-PS1-4, MS-PS1-5, MS-PS1-6, MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-PS2-3,
MS-PS2-4, MS-PS2-5, MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-2, MS-PS3-3, MS-PS3-4, MS-PS3-5, MS-PS4-1, MS-PS4-2, MS-PS4-3 | 4 | | | • The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) contains three test sections with 32 items each, 30 multiple choice and 2 constructed response. - Each section is designed to be completed in 40 minutes, allowing testing to take place within a normal class period. • Each section contains four operational and one field-test clusters. - Each cluster is made up of 6 to 7 items / all items in a cluster are aligned to the same domain / each test section includes clusters from all three domains / clusters are based on a common phenomenon or Performance Expectations within a domain. • Science & Engineering Practices (SEPs) and/or Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) are embedded within each item / Engineering, Technology, & Applications of Science are also embedded where possible.

FAQs

How many items and what item types are included in each ISA Grade 8 section?

Each section contains 32 items: 30 multiple choice and 2 constructed response.

How is testing time allocated across the three ISA sections?

Each of the three sections is designed to be completed in 40 minutes.

How are operational and field-test clusters organized within each section?

Each section includes four operational clusters and one field-test cluster, and every cluster aligns to a single domain with items based on shared phenomena or performance expectations.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Anna Hans