NSCAS Alternate Practice Test - Grade 7 - English Language Arts and Mathematics Test Administration Manual

Sep 29, 2026

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NSCAS Alternate Practice Test for Grade 7 provides Nebraska educators and test administrators with structured, alignment-focused preparation materials for the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) Alternate Assessment. The manual explains purpose and uses, item purpose aligned to extended indicators, and depth-of-knowledge (DOK) classifications using DOK stages. It details item formats, scoring approach for multiple-choice items, and administration procedures for paper practice tests, including before/during/after testing guidance, accommodations access, and requirements for administrator script handling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

General Introduction

Purpose and Uses

Depth of Knowledge

Item Format

Description of Practice Test Items

Administration Guidelines

Paper Practice Tests

NSCAS Alternate Practice Test Grade 7 English Language Arts and Mathematics Test Administration Manual Nebraska Department of Education 2026 Copyright © 2026 by the Nebraska Department of Education. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the Nebraska Department of Education. Table of Contents General Introduction ...................................................................................................................... iv Purpose and Uses....................................................................................................................... iv Depth of Knowledge................................................................................................................... iv Item Format................................................................................................................................. iv Description of Practice Test Items ............................................................................................ v [Administration Guidelines .............................................................................................................vi](Administration Guidelines .............................................................................................................vi) Paper [Practice Tests ...................................................................................................................vi](Practice Tests ...................................................................................................................vi) [Online Practice Tests................................................................................................................](Online Practice Tests................................................................................................................).vii Online Tools ..............................................................................................................................viii Grade 7 Alternate English Language Arts .................................................................................... 1 Grade 7 Alternate Mathematics .................................................................................................. 10 General Introduction The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) provides districts and schools with tools to support focused instructional programs aligned to the state assessment system. These tools include Table of Specifications documents, administration manuals, and grade-specific practice tests. This practice test is designed to assist Nebraska educators in preparing students for the statewide Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) Alternate Assessment. Purpose and Uses This practice test includes items aligned to the extended indicators derived from the Nebraska College-and Career-Ready Standards. The items reflect the types of questions students will encounter on the operational NSCAS Alternate Assessment in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. Each item has undergone a rigorous review process to ensure alignment with the extended indicators. The purpose of the practice test is to: • Familiarize students and test administrators with item formats and content. • Confirm that students have appropriate access to accommodations prior to test day. Depth of Knowledge In addition to alignment with extended indicators, practice test items are developed with attention to cognitive complexity, or Depth of Knowledge (DOK) . Each item’s DOK level is noted in the Test Administration Manual (TAM) . NSCAS Alternate items are classified into DOK stages, which are subsets of the four DOK levels. • Level 1, Stage 2: Requires students to copy, replicate, repeat, reenact, mirror, or match text. • Level 1, Stage 3: Requires students to rec

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Grade 7 NSCAS Alternate Practice Test?

It familiarizes students and test administrators with item formats and procedures used in the NSCAS Alternate Assessment and supports instructional preparation aligned to extended indicators.

How are the practice test items aligned to academic standards?

Items align to extended indicators derived from the Nebraska College-and Career-Ready Standards and reflect question types students will encounter on the operational NSCAS Alternate Assessment.

What does the manual say about Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels for items?

Each item is developed with cognitive complexity in mind, and the manual notes the DOK level and further classifies items into DOK stages within the four DOK levels.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by adawds