8th Grade Test Prep: How is the test scored?

You can get up to 44 points on the entire 8th grade ELA test. The state then converts your total points into the real scores you see at the end of the year (like 2.8 or 4.0).

• 26 of those points come from multiple choice questions. That means that about 60% of your score is based just on the multiple choice section, which is Book 1.

• All of the writing you do in Book 2 and Book 3 adds up to the other 18 points. Here is how you get those points:
• You get 7 points for all the writing combined you do in the Listening Section (Book 2). This includes the graphic organizer, the short-answers, and the essay.
• You get 7 points for all the writing combined you do in the Reading/Writing Section (Book 3). Again, this includes the graphic organizer, the short-answers, and the essay.
• You get 4 points based on your overall grammar in the two essays.

       

The state converts points a little bit differently each year, but here is how it broke down for the passing grades last year:

• To get a 4, students needed to score at least 43 points.
• To get a 3, students needed to score at least 31 points.