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ABOUT THE AIMS TEST

Tuesday, 16 November 1999

Q: What is AIMS? What is the graduation test?
A: Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards, or AIMS, is a series of tests
to measure students' knowledge of the Arizona Academic Standards. AIMS will
be given to all public and charter school pupils in grades three, five and
eight each spring. AIMS also will serve as the required high school
graduation test. The test is optional for students at Bureau of Indian
Affairs and private schools and for those who are home-schooled.
Q: What does a failing score mean?
A: This first time around, not a lot. The students who took the test last
year are now juniors and do not need passing scores to graduate. Their
results will appear on their transcripts, however. This year's sophomores
are the first who will need to pass to get a diploma.
Q: Aren't these first results misleading? After all, sophomores were tested
on subjects they are supposed to master by the time they graduate. Isn't it
safe to assume their skills will improve over their final two years of high
school?
A: Not necessarily in math, the subject with which students had the most
difficulty. The state requires just two years of math, so many students
probably had nearly all the math instruction they were going to get by the
time they took the test.
Q: Will the graduation test be given in any language other than English?
A: No, but students with limited English proficiency may receive some forms
of accommodation.
Q: How many chances will students have to pass?
A: Five. Once in the spring of their sophomore year, twice in their junior
year and twice in their senior year.
What happens to students who fail?
A: They have the right to stay in school and receive the instruction
necessary to pass AIMS. Fifth-year high school students who have completed
all graduation requirements except AIMS will be allowed to take the test
with the state assuming the cost of the exam.
Q: Will a student be required to pass any single test - reading, writing and
math - more than once?
A: No. However, students can retake a test to improve their score.
Q: Is the AIMS exam at grades three, five and eight also ``high stakes''?
A: No. The state does not require students to pass in order to be promoted
from one grade to the next. Individual schools and districts may choose to
use AIMS as one of their promotion criteria. Also, the test will be
available in Spanish in the lower grades.
Q: What about special-education students?
A: AIMS will accommodate students with disabilities and include alternate
assessments for students with severe disabilities.


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