Item and Scoring Samplers 

The Item and Scoring Samplers for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Algebra I, Biology, and Literature have been released. The format for the samplers will vary from previous years. Students, educators, and parents can access the sample questions online using this link: https://portal.te.drcedirect.com/PA. Note, this is the same link used to access the Online Tools Trainings (OTTs) and Test Sign In. You will now see a third option: Item Samplers. To access the questions, select Item Samplers, then select a content area and grade level. 

The alignment, answer key, Depth of Knowledge, p-values, and annotations for answer options will appear by selecting the Select to Enlarge button for each multiple-choice question. For the open-ended questions, the alignment, Depth of Knowledge, possible points, and mean score will appear by selecting the Select to Enlarge button. 

Summary data for all multiple choice questions as well as sample responses to open ended and constructed response questions are posted as PDF documents on the PSSA webpage and Keystone Exams webpage alongside previously released Item and Scoring Samplers. 

The Item and Scoring Samplers do not represent a practice test for the PSSAs or Keystone Exams, but rather a sample of questions from previous assessments. 

Online Tools Trainings

Updates to the Online Tools Trainings (OTTs) 

These updates will contain Spanish versions, updates to the Equation Builder for grades 5&6, 7&8, and Algebra I as well as updates for students navigating passages within English Language Arts and Literature assessments.