Assessments
Connecticut School Day SAT
The State of Connecticut requires all juniors to take the SAT Evidence Based Reading/Writing, and Mathematics test during the Spring. This test is administered during the school day. The score from this SAT may be used for college admissions purposes as well as serve as the measure of graduation proficiencies in reading, writing and mathematics.
Students and parents will be informed of the specific test date and daily schedule in advance. No separate registration is required for this assessment.
NGSS
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Assessments are Connecticut’s statewide mastery examinations for science in grades 5, 8, and 11. They provide an efficient and reliable estimate of a student’s overall performance in science relative to grade-appropriate standards that enables valid interpretations of student achievement and progress. The NGSS Assessments include both the standard tests (often referred to as the NGSS assessments) taken by the majority of students, as well as the Connecticut Alternate Science (CTAS) Assessment, administered to a small population of eligible students with a significant cognitive disability.
Each NGSS assessment item begins with a real-world phenomenon that engages students in an authentic science experience or engineering design challenge. Information in the form of pictures, diagrams, data, charts, graphs, maps, etc., related to the phenomena are presented. Students must use this information along with their own science knowledge and skills to respond to questions that include a variety of item interaction types including:
- Multiple-choice
- Edit-task choice
- Multi-select
- Table match
- Graphing
- Equation editor
- Experiment simulation
- Design simulation
Each item is aligned to a single NGSS Performance Expectation. Some items include only one or two interactions and are called stand-alone items. Others are more complex, having several interactions, and are called item clusters. Each item interaction assesses at least two dimensions (i.e., science and engineering practice, disciplinary core idea, crosscutting concept) from the aligned NGSS Performance Expectation.
The standard NGSS Assessments are administered to students through an online test delivery system. Students have access to a variety of embedded tools including zoom, highlighter, notepad, line reader, grade-specific calculator, and periodic table in grades 8 and 11. A variety of supports and accommodations are available to qualifying students, including text-to-speech, Spanish translation, and Braille test forms. Detailed information about these supports and accommodations is described in the Assessment Guidelines.
NGSS Practice Tests are available at each of the tested grades for students to become familiar with the test delivery system and the various item interaction types that they will see on the live tests. In addition, optional NGSS Interim Assessments may be administered to students.
For more information, please see the Connecticut Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Assessments Interpretive Guide
PSAT
The PSAT provides students with practice for the SAT and provides benchmark data of student learning.
The test is administered to all freshmen and sophomores during the school day each October. Testing fees for the PSAT are paid for each student in grades 9 and 10.
All Juniors are encouraged to take the PSAT during school in October, but must register in the Main Office each September. Students and parents will be informed of fees and registration deadlines in September of each year.
For additional information, please read the GHS Planning Guide on the Course Selection and Academic Planning page of the Guidance website.
Score Reporting and Next Steps
Freshmen
The College Board will release your PSAT 8/9 score reports in mid-December. After scores are released, your Sem Skills teacher will distribute your PSAT 8/9 test booklet and help you create a College Board account in order to view your score and link to Khan Academy for personalized test preparation.
After you review your scores with your Sem Skills teacher, and you need help or have questions about your scores, please speak with your School Counselor or the Guidance Assistant in your House.
Sophomores
A link to the October PSAT scores will be emailed to each student from the College Board in mid-December. After scores are released, Sem Skills teachers will distribute each students' PSAT test booklet and help students create a College Board account in order to link your score to Khan Academy for personalized test preparation. After students review scores with their Sem Skills teachers, any students who need help or have questions about their scores should make an appointment to see their School Counselor or the Guidance Assistant in their House.
- Understanding your PSAT NMSQT/10 Scores
- Create a College Board Account (Please do not create multiple accounts. If you created an account in the past, please use that account)
- Directions to link Kahn Academy with the College Board
Juniors
A link to October PSAT scores will be emailed to each student from the College Board in mid-December. Students should either stop by their counselor's office or make an appointment to meet with them to obtain their PSAT test booklet and discuss plans for college admissions testing. Helpful links to College Board resources and next steps are outlined below.
- Understanding your PSAT NMSQT/10 Scores
- Link to Khan Academy for personalized practice before the required Connecticut School Day SAT (typically in March).
- Register for a National (Saturday) SAT and/or ACT. When creating an account with the College Board or ACT, it is vital that you store your username and password so you don't create multiple accounts. The GHS high school code is 070-240.
- Attend one of the College Kick Off Meetings (for juniors & their parents) in early January. You will receive important planning information at this meeting.
- Make an appointment for your individual planning meeting (for you and your parents) with your counselor starting in mid-January.
College Admissions Testing: SAT & ACT
The SAT and ACT are national assessments used during the college admissions process. Colleges and universities do not prefer one test over the other. Students must register individually for SAT or ACT, directly on the College Board or ACT websites. The school counselors will help students make decisions related to college admissions testing. For additional information, please read the GHS Planning Guide on the Course Selection and Academic Planning page on the Guidance website.
AP Testing
Advanced Placement Exams are administered at GHS each May. Students who take an AP course at GHS are expected to take the culminating AP exam(s) for that course. Students must register for exams through GHS in the month of January. Students and parents will be informed of fees and registration deadlines.
Visit the District’s Assessment page for more information on standardized, formative and benchmarking assessments.