HiSET & TASC Test Success Tim Collins, Ph.D. National Louis University, Chicago, USA

Topics

�  WHAT are HiSET and TASC Test?

�  WHERE is are they given?

�  WHAT is on the tests?

WHAT Are HiSET & TASC?

�  New, alternative high school equivalency tests

�  Flexible in languages and accommodations

�  Many testing locations

�  Affordable

�  Equivalent to other tests

WHAT Is on the Tests?

�  Language Arts, Reading

�  Language Arts, Writing

�  Essay

�  Math

�  Science

�  Social Studies

WHAT?

�  Based on the same standards as other assessments.

�  Gradual alignment with Common Core

WHERE?

�  HiSET: California, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wyoming, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau

�  Coming to Illinois!

�  TASC: Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, West Virginia, Wyoming

�  Coming to California and Illinois!

WHERE?

�  Testing locations throughout the states where the tests are accepted.

�  Check the HiSET and TASC Test websites for locations.

WHAT’s New? Reading

�  Informational text (40%)

What’s new? Reading

�  Meaning from context.

What do we do? Reading

�  Teach close reading of non-fiction text. Include more non-fiction reading in ABE and Pre-GED.

�  Choose interesting subjects for non-fiction readings.

�  Teach getting meaning from context.

What do we do? Reading

�  Getting meaning from context.

What do we do? Reading

�  Meaning from context

What do we do? Reading

�  Teach critical thinking skills as generalizable across subject areas: Comprehension, Inference, Interpretation, Analysis, Synthesis, Generalization.

�  Teach critical thinking from the beginning (ABE, Pre-GED)

What do we do? Reading

�  Use line numbers to answer a few items quickly if you are out of time (HiSET)

What’s New? Writing

�  Writing: New, easy-to-follow format (HiSET)

What’s New: Writing

�  Shorter items (TASC Test)

What’s New? Essay

�  Rubric--HiSET

What’s New--Essay

�  New Rubric—TASC

What’s New--Essay

�  Argumentative/Persuasive Essay—TASC Test

�  Read two short writings

�  Write an argumentative essay that makes and defends a claim

What do we do? User-Friendly Rubric

�  HiSET user-friendly rubric

User-Friendly Rubric TASC

What do we do? Writing

�  Teach the 3 or 5 paragraph essay format.

�  Teach a simple procedure to follow, such as the 3 Rs: Get Ready, Write, and Revise.

What’s New? Math

�  Calculator

�  “Mathier”

�  Lifeskill Math vs. more abstract and academic

What do we do? Math

�  Focus teaching on math problem solving, not just computation.

�  Teach candidates to use order of operation all the time, even when using a calculator.

�  Teach candidates to use mental math and estimation to save time

What do we do? Math

�  Encourage candidates to skip harder “mathy” items.

�  Give less attention to harder, less tested topics (e.g., quadratic equations).

What’s New? Science

�  Graphic literacy

What’s New? Science

�  Scientific Method (HiSET)

What do we do? Science

�  Teach graphic literacy as a generalizable skill (social studies).

�  Teach the scientific method, including both experimental and observational models.

What’s New? Social Studies

�  Visual literacy: posters, cartoons, timelines, maps, tables, charts.

Social Studies

�  Visual literacy: Map Items

Social Studies

Social Studies

�  Timeline Items

Social Studies

Meaning from Context

�  Getting meaning from context.

Social Studies

�  Two Statement Items (HiSET)

What do we do? Social Studies

�  Teach graphic literacy as a generalizable skill in science and social studies.

�  Teach meaning from context as a generalizable skill in reading and social studies.

�  Teach special item types explicitly: two statements, two points of view, timelines

What do we do? General

�  Get students into the test-maker’s websites right away.

�  Teach testwiseness skills.

�  Don’t change an answer.

�  Use process of elimination.

�  Guess

Testwiseness

�  See my blog for a complete treatment of testwiseness

hisetandtascprep.com

Thank You for Attending!

�  Be sure to visit my blog.

hisetandtascprep.com