MCAS Testing Info

MCAS Testing Requirements and Timeline

All students must pass Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science to be eligible to receive a diploma from a Massachusetts public high school. OHS students take the science MCAS test in June of their 9th grade year and the ELA and Mathematics MCAS tests in spring of the 10th grade. Eighth grade students at OHS take the Science, ELA and Math in preparation as well.

“Next-Generation MCAS”

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is in the process of upgrading MCAS to better measure the critical thinking skills students need for success in the 21st century. The new test, informally called "Next-Generation MCAS," will include innovative items developed by PARCC to build upon the best aspects of the MCAS assessments that have served the Commonwealth well for the past two decades.

Next-Generation MCAS will be designed to be taken on a computer. The plan was to phase in computer-based testing so that computer-based tests are fully administered statewide in 2019, with many students participating as well in 2017 and 2018.

All students grades 8, 9 and 10 at the high school will be taking the Next-Generation computer-based MCAS in the appropriate subject areas. Students in grades 10-12 that are notified to take the retests in November, February or March will still be given the paper-based MCAS version.

Practice tests for the Next-Generation MCAS are available on the DOE website.

Note: The Spring of 2019 is the first year that grade 10 students will take the Next-Generation Computer-Based MCAS testing for graduation. These students took the computer-based test their 8th grade year as well.

More information: Please contact Student Assessment Services (781-338-3625; mcas@doe.mass.edu) with any questions.

Students who do not pass a grade 9 or 10 MCAS test, who miss a regularly scheduled MCAS test for grade 9 or 10, or who transfer to OHS without having passed the required high school MCAS tests, must take a retest. ELA and Mathematics retests are given in late fall and early spring. There are no retests in science; students must take a regularly scheduled science MCAS test in February or June.

Preparing for the MCAS tests and retests

Students wishing to prepare for MCAS tests should use the links below to access released MCAS tests. These tests, which contain answer keys, will give students a good sense of the types of questions and the type of material to be found on each subject area MCAS test.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education MCAS website offers more information about the state's testing requirements and has resources to help students prepare. Among these resources are released items and practice tests on the MCAS Resource Center Website.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/student/2016/ - This site includes sample student work and scoring guides for open-response and short answer questions. You can select the grade level and subject to review responses and how they were graded.

Some additional sites that might be helpful:

http://quizlet.com/2059930/ela-mcas-flash-cards/ - Flash cards with ELA MCAS questions and topics.

http://www.khanacademy.org/ - Includes Math MCAS help videos

http://www.mymcas.com/html_pages/quizzes.htm  - Math MCAS practice

http://www.nclark.net/MCASbiology - Review Biology topics on the test

http://www.whrsd.org/page.cfm?p=1627 - Links to PowerPoint presentations on different topics related to the Biology MCAS.

http://quizlet.com/subject/biology-mcas/ - Flash cards with Biology MCAS questions and topics.

Scholarship and Certificate Information

If students earn Advanced (260-280) or Proficient (240-258) scores on the MCAS, they may qualify for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship or the Koplik Certificate of Mastery with Distinction.

John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship provides a tuition waiver for eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. Massachusetts public high school students are eligible for the scholarship when they: score at the Advanced and Proficient levels on grade 10 MCAS tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. (A student must earn a score of Advanced on the ELA or Mathematics test and a score of Proficient or higher on the second test.); AND have a combined score that places them in the top 25% of the graduating class in their district. In order to receive the scholarship, the student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who is enrolled in a Massachusetts public high school in their senior year. The student will receive an award letter in the fall of their senior year. In order to use the scholarship the student must be accepted at a Massachusetts public college or university; complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); send the Adams Scholarship award letter to the financial aid or bursar's office at the college or university that he or she plans to attend; and enroll in a state college or university in the first semester following high school graduation. To continue receiving the Adams Scholarship, the student must  continue to enroll full-time at a public higher education institution; maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on all college work; annually complete the FAFSA; and complete college/university studies within eight consecutive semesters. More information can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/adams.html.

Koplik Certificate of Mastery with Distinction

The Koplik Certificate of Mastery with Distinction provides a tuition waiver for eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. Massachusetts public high school students are eligible for the scholarship when they meet the following criteria: scoring Advanced on Grade 10 ELA, Math or Science and Proficient or higher in the other two subjects and demonstrating additional academic achievements on AP and/or SAT II (subject test) exams. More information on the academic achievements expected on AP and/or SAT II exams and the Koplik Certificate can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/FamComm/Student/mastery.html.

Please Note: Although you may receive both awards, only one can be used to waive tuition. The other will be considered recognition of outstanding achievement.