Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT)

What is the PACT?

The Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT) is a standards-based accountability measurement of student achievement in four core academic areas - English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies. The PACT items are aligned to the South Carolina academic standards developed for each discipline. An accountability system and a statewide test, such as the PACT, are mandated by the South Carolina Education Accountability Act of 1998 and the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).

What is the purpose of the PACT?

The PACT is one part of a comprehensive approach to improve the curriculum and instruction in South Carolina's schools. Academic progress will be measured by a comparison of the PACT scores for schools, districts, and the State from year to year.

What types of questions are on the PACT?

The PACT English language arts test and the mathematics test includes both multiple-choice and constructed-response items. Each ELA test also includes one extended writing item. The PACT Science and Social Studies tests will include only multiple-choice items for the 2006-07 test administration. More detailed information about the number of items on each test can be found in the blueprints document.

Who grades the PACT?

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) contracts with an experienced company to print, distribute, scan, score, and report PACT test results. Computer programming is used to score the multiple-choice questions, and trained professionals score students’ constructed-response and extended writing.

How are the PACT scores reported to students and parents?

The PACT test results are reported as total scale scores and performance levels for each of the four subjects. For ELA, students also receive a performance level for the reading and writing components.

Four performance levels were established to reflect the knowledge and skills exhibited by students on the PACT:

Advanced: The student exceeded expectations for student performance based on the curriculum standards.

Proficient: The student has met expectations for student performance based on the curriculum standards.

Basic: The student has met minimum expectations for student performance based on the curriculum standards.

Below Basic: The student has not met minimum expectations for student performance based on the curriculum standards.

What happens if a student scores Below Basic on a PACT test?

The EAA (S.C. Code Ann. §59-18-500) (Supp. 1999) requires that schools develop individual Academic Plans for Students (APSs) for those students in grades 3-8 who score Below Basic on the PACT. Use the following link for more information about academic plans. http://www.ed.sc.gov/agency/Accountability/Federal-and-State-Accountability/documents/AcademicPlansforStudents.html

What does a student’s PACT report tell me?

The PACT results are useful in describing student performance in large curricular areas, but additional assessment at the classroom level is necessary for a more complete understanding of student performance on more specific curricular components. Users of the PACT results should remember that test data constitute a single source of information that should be used in conjunction with other relevant information to evaluate student achievement and progress. Since the PACT tests were developed as standards-based accountability measures, there are limitations to the depth of information that can be provided for individual student or classroom purposes. District and school data can be used to identify overall subject area deficiencies or program improvement.

What resources are available to assist teachers with the PACT?

The SDE provides an assortment of aids to support classroom teachers. This Web page provides links to academic standards for each subject and grade, the test blueprints, performance level descriptors, rubrics, and explanations regarding how the ELA is scored. Links to all supplemental materials, such as the reference sheets and the ruler, PACT test scores, cut scores for each grade level and subject, as well as technical documentation regarding PACT reliability and validity evidence are also located on this page.

Teachers have access to the PACT User's Guide - a document that explains all of the score reports given to the students, classes, schools, and districts. There are also links to a guide for parents explaining the curriculum standards and another document to assist parents in understanding their child's PACT score report.

Also on this page are links to sample items and released items for each subject. Another helpful resource is the NCS Mentor program which provides samples of student responses on PACT constructed-response and extended-writing items, showing how each of these responses have been scored. The CD with the Mentor program was mailed to each principal.

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