Standards Based Assessment (SBA)

Students in grades 3-8, 10 & 11 are required to take the New Mexico Standards Based Assessment. Beginning with the Class of 2013, the SBA also will serve as the high school exit exam.

The Standards Based Assessment is given to public and charter school students throughout New Mexico in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Beginning with the Class of 2013, the SBA also will serve as the high school exit exam.

Why do students have to take the test?

When will my child take the test?

What if a high school student doesn't pass the test?

What if a high school senior doesn't pass the retake exam?

What subjects are tested on the SBA?

How can students prepare for short-answer questions?

Why do students have to take the test?

The SBA serves several purposes:

• The state-mandated, standardized test is used to assess whether students meet grade-specific state standards.
• The SBA will serve as the high school exit exam for the first time this year. Students in the class of 2013 and beyond will have to pass the reading, math and science sections of the high school SBA by the end of their senior year in order to obtain a high school diploma.

• The state's new A-F school grading system relies heavily on SBA results.

When will my child take the test?

Test dates are scheduled by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

The 2013 exams were administered in mid-March.

What if a high school student doesn't pass the test?

Sophomores who don't pass the test can retake it in the spring of their junior year.

Juniors who don't pass the test can retake it in the fall of their senior year.

What if a high school senior doesn't pass the retake exam?

Class of 2013

For the Class of 2013, students who fail the retake exam may use an Alternative Demonstration of Competency which involves the following:

Reading:

• Pass English 11 or
• Score at least 18 in English Comp on the ACT or
• Score 15 in English Comp on the PLAN or
• Score at least 450 in reading on the SAT or
• Score at least 50 in reading on the PSAT or
• Score at least 85 on the Accuplacer or
• Earn a 3 or higher on an AP English exam.

Math:

• Pass Algebra II or Algebraic Models

• Score at least 22 in math on the ACT or
• Score at least 19 in math on the PLAN
• Score at least 450 in math on the SAT or
• Score at least 50 in math on the PSAT or
• Score at least 117 in Elementary Algebra or 115 in College Math on the Accuplacer or
• Earn a 3 or higher on a AP math exam.

Science:

• Pass biology or
• Pass chemistry or
• Score at least 24 in biology on the ACT or
• Score at least 21 in biology on the PLAN or
• Score at least 3 on AP science exam

Social Studies:

• Pass U.S. History or
• Score at least a 21 in social studies on the ACT or
• Score at least 17 in social studies on the PLAN

Writing:

Pass English 11 or

• Score at least 18 in English Comp on the ACT or
• Score at least 450 in reading on the SAT or
• Score at least 49 in reading on the PSAT or
• Score at least 109 on the Accuplacer.

Students on special education career or ability pathways must meet the level of competence determined by their IEP. No waivers will be available.

Students also may opt to obtain a high school certificate of completion instead of a diploma.

Class of 2014 and 2015

(After 2015, the exit exam may change due to the Common Core State Standards)

Reading:

Pass SBA with a score of at least 1137.* If students don't pass, they must:

• Pass the language arts end-of-course exam or

• Score at least 18 in English Comp on the ACT or

• Score 15 in English Comp on the PLAN or
• Score at least 450 in reading on the SAT or
• Score at least 50 in reading on the PSAT or
• Score at least 85 on the Accuplacer or
• Earn a 3 or higher on an AP English exam.

Math:

Pass SBA with a score of at least 1137.* If students don't pass, they must:

• Pass the math end-of-course exam or

• Score at least 22 in math on the ACT or
• Score at least 19 in math on the PLAN
• Score at least 450 in math on the SAT or
• Score at least 50 in math on the PSAT or
• Score at least 117 in Elementary Algebra or 115 in College Math on the Accuplacer or
• Earn a 3 or higher on a AP math exam.

*The reading and math sections of the SBA can be passed with a combined score of 2273 as long as both scores are at least in the nearing proficient range.

Science:

Pass SBA with a score of at least 1138. If students don't pass, they must:

• Pass an end-of-course biology or chemistry exam

• Score at least 24 in biology on the ACT or
• Score at least 21 in biology on the PLAN or
• Score at least 3 on AP science exam

Social Studies:

There's no SBA for social studies.

• Pass U.S. history (if taken before the 2012-13 school year) or
• Pass U.S. history end-of-course exam or
  

• Score at least a 21 in social studies on the ACT or
• Score at least 17 in social studies on the PLAN

Writing:

There's no SBA for writing.

• Pass the language arts end-of-course exam or

• Score at least 18 in English Comp on the ACT or
• Score at least 450 in reading on the SAT or
• Score at least 49 in reading on the PSAT or
• Score at least 109 on the Accuplacer.

Students on special education career or ability pathways must meet the level of competence determined by their IEP. No waivers will be available.

What subjects are tested on the SBA?

Elementary and middle school students are tested in reading, math, science and writing.

High school students are tested in reading, math and science.

Questions are both multiple choice and short answer.

How can students prepare for short-answer questions?

An examination of APS test scores has found that many students do well on the multiple choice portion of the test. However, many who score at less than proficient levels have done poorly on the short answer portion of the SBA. Some of these students simply choose not to answer these questions, they don’t answer the questions completely, or they don’t support their answers.

One way parents and school staff can prepare students for the SBA is to encourage them to answer all questions on the tests, and to make sure they answer the short questions as completely as possible. It often is helpful, especially on math and science questions, to use graphs, tables and other graphic organizers in responding to short answer questions.

Short answer scores are based on content only.