The California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6 Survey), published by CTB/McGraw-Hill, is a norm-referenced test series that is a component of California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. The CAT/6 Survey series is only administered to students in grades three and seven, and measures general academic knowledge in reading, language arts, spelling, and mathematics.
The CAT/6 Survey series allows a comparison of California students to others across the nation. It provides a snapshot of the performance of California’s students compared to the performance of students in a national sample. Its content reflects national standards, and its results contribute to indicators for state accountability.
Grades, Subjects, and Test Format
Who takes the CAT/6 Survey?
All students in grades three and seven who take the California Standards Tests (CSTs) or the California Modified Assessment (CMA) also take the CAT/6 Survey.
What grades and subjects are tested on the CAT/6 Survey?
The CAT/6 Survey is administered in grade three and seven only. General academic knowledge that is commonly taught in public schools throughout the United States is assessed in reading, language arts, spelling, and mathematics.
What question formats are found on the CAT/6 Survey?
Questions for the CAT/6 Survey are in a multiple-choice format. Students are presented with a question and asked to select the correct answer from four or five possible choices. Students mark their answer choices in the test booklet for grade three and on an answer document for grade seven. All multiple-choice questions are machine scored.
Students with Disabilities and English Learners
What is done to help students with disabilities who take the CAT/6 Survey?
Most students with disabilities take the CAT/6 Survey along with all other students in grades three and seven under standard conditions. Some students with disabilities may need special assistance when taking the CAT/6 Survey. This assistance may include testing variations, accommodations, and/or modifications. These are listed in Matrix 1. Matrix of Test Variations, Accommodations, and Modifications for Administration of California Statewide Assessments (October 2007), which is available on the Student Testing Web page.
Test variations are allowed for any student who regularly uses them in the classroom. Accommodations and modifications must be specified in each student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. No testing below a student’s grade is allowed.
What is done to help students who are English learners take the CAT/6 Survey?
The CAT/6 Survey is administered only in English. English learners may have test directions translated for them and may ask clarifying questions in their primary language for all subjects tested on the CAT/6 Survey, including language arts. English learners may be tested separately if such a setting is part of their regular classroom instruction or assessment. The variations allowed for English learners are listed in Matrix 2. Matrix of Test Variations for Administration of California Statewide Assessments for English Learners (October 2007), which is available on the Student Testing Web page.
Scores Reported
What scores are reported for CAT/6 Survey?
The CAT/6 Survey scores for each subject tested are reported as percentile ranks. The 50th percentile rank is the national average, and a score between the 40th and 60th percentiles is considered an average score. For example, a student scoring at the 55th percentile means the student scored as well as, or better than, 55 percent of the students in a national sample. Reports for students with disabilities who use modifications when taking the CAT/6 Survey will note that the student was tested with modifications.
When do parents or guardians receive CAT/6 Survey results?
Parents or guardians of students in grades three and seven will receive CAT/6 Survey results as part of the STAR Student Report. Most parents or guardians will receive their STAR Student Report by the end of September each year.
For more information
Additional information about the CAT/6 Survey may be found on the STAR Web page or the CTB/McGraw-Hill Web site (Outside Source).
