Mathematics Test Design and Development

Cognitive Skill Level Descriptions for Mathematics MCAS Items

Each Mathematics MCAS item is aligned to one of the following cognitive skill levels, based on Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels:

• Recall and Recognition / Category 1
• Analysis/Application of Skills and Concepts / Category 2
• Analysis, Judgment, and Synthesis / Category 3

Assessment staff have described these cognitive skill levels for the types of items developed for the MCAS Mathematics tests.

These descriptions are not an exhaustive list. How an item is written, including the stem and the options (key and distractors), may contribute to the cognitive skill level assigned to the item. In addition, the grade level at which the question is being asked is also a consideration. A cognitive skill level is assigned to each item based on how the majority of Massachusetts students will interact with the item. The cognitive skill level assigned to each item is reviewed by an Assessment Development Committee (group of educators who review MCAS items for a particular content area and grade level).

Current Cognitive Skill Level Descriptions

• Mathematics Cognitive Skill Level Descriptions

Last Updated: February 15, 2023