Multiple Choice questions are scored objectively, with one point awarded for a
correct answer and no points awarded for an incorrect response.
Open Response questions are evaluated by trained graders according to a "rubric"
— a set of predetermined standards — with 0 to 4 points awarded.
Response to the Writing Prompt (Long Composition) is evaluated by two trained
graders according to a rubric with 0 to 20 points awarded (0 to 10 awarded by
each grader and then summed).
Question
Format
Approx. Number
Of Questions
Points Per
Question
Approx. Proportion
Of Total Test Points
Multiple Choice
36
1
50%
Open Response
4
0 to 4
22%
Writing Prompt (Composition)
1
0 to 20
28%
Total raw scores are converted to scaled scores ranging from 200 to 280. All
MCAS tests use this same scoring scale regardless of knowledge domain to allow
direct comparisons of performance relative to others and across tests.
Outcome
Performance Category
Approx. Raw Score Range
Scaled Score Range
PASS
Advanced
85% to 100%
260 to 280
Proficient
70% to 84%
240 to 259
Needs Improvement
55% to 69%
220 to 239
FAIL
Warning
0% to 54%
200 to 219
MCAS-Pass is
a registered trademark of Test Mastery Systems, Inc. and is not affiliated in
any way with the MCAS testing program
or the Massachusetts Department of Education
