Frequently Asked Questions about the MCAS Grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Field Test
March 2025
General Questions
Q: When will the new Grades 5 and 8 Science Technology/Engineering (STE) assessments become operational tests?
A: DESE expects to administer the new grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) assessments operationally in spring 2027 for all students. More information about the transition to new performance tasks is available on DESE's MCAS Grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Transition Timeline page.
Q: What will each performance task look like?
A: Performance tasks consist of the following:
- an illustrated storyline related to a science phenomenon
- an interactive simulation in which students conduct investigations, collect data, and/or make observations
- selected-response items (including multiple-choice, multiple-select, and technology-enhanced items) and a constructed-response item aligned to the standards and practices in the 2016 STE Framework
Each performance task is expected to be worth 11 points. The selected-response items will be worth a total of 8 points, and the constructed response will be worth 3 points. More information about performance task design is available on DESE's MCAS Grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) New Test Design page.
Q: What is the expected test design of the new Grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Tests?
A: It is expected that the new MCAS grades 5 and 8 STE tests, operational in 2027, will contain six performance tasks over two sessions. Five of the tasks will be common tasks, and one will be a matrix task. Common tasks count toward a student's score, while the matrix task will be either a field-test or equating task and will not count toward a student's score. More information about the new test design is available on DESE's MCAS Grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) New Test Design page.
Q: When were the first performance tasks initially created?
A: DESE first started to develop performance tasks in 2020 and piloted them with a small group of students in 2021. Additional pilots occurred 2022-2024. See the timeline for additional information. The pilot helped to inform the development of the current performance tasks being field tested.
Q: How are the MCAS performance tasks created?
A: DESE works with a contractor to develop the MCAS performance tasks which include simulations. The MCAS test development process involves extensive reviews and field testing before each test question counts toward students' scores. It takes a total of two to three years for each performance task to be initially written, reviewed, and edited (by multiple educator committees, experts, and editorial staff), field tested by Massachusetts students, and then reviewed again with statistical information. Each step in the process is designed to ensure that test results are valid and reliable. More information about the MCAS test development process is available on DESE's Test Design and Development page.
Q: How are teachers involved with the development of the assessment?
A: A group of approximately 12 science educators comprise each of our Grade 5 and Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Assessment Development Committees. These educators review testing materials, including simulations, story scenes, test questions, and scoring materials prior to field testing. Each committee also reviews all test questions and student performance data after field testing. In addition, a separate Bias and Sensitivity Committee reviews all the testing materials before and after field testing. Educators play a critical role in providing feedback for these performance tasks.
Q: Is DESE developing MCAS performance tasks for the high school science tests?
A: No, at this time DESE is only developing MCAS performance tasks for grades 5 and 8 STE.
A: DESE has developed local-level classroom Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) performance assessment tasks for grades 3–8. Both the local-level classroom tasks and the MCAS STE assessments are aligned to standards and practices in the 2016 STE Framework . These local-level classroom tasks are designed to support high-quality STE curricula and DESE's deeper learning goals.
Schools are not required to administer the local-level classroom tasks; however, use of the tasks is encouraged. More information, including student and teacher versions of local-level classroom tasks, is available on DESE's Local-Level Classroom STE Performance Assessment Tasks page.
Q: What resources related to Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) test development and design are available?
A: The following information is available on DESE's Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Test Design and Development pages:
Field Test-Related Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the 2025 and 2026 Grades 5 and 8 Science Technology/Engineering (STE) field tests?
A: In spring 2025 and spring 2026, DESE is conducting required field tests of the Grades 5 and 8 performance tasks. The purpose of field testing is to evaluate tasks based on student performance. Results from the field tests will not count toward student scores.
Q: How will the field tests be administered?
A: DESE plans to field test performance tasks over two years, in spring 2025 and spring 2026, for both grades 5 and 8. The performance tasks will be embedded into the operational tests and administered statewide.
Q: Will all students be administered an embedded performance task in 2025 and 2026?
A: Most students will be administered an embedded performance task. There will be no embedded performance task for students taking paper-based, large print, screen reader, assistive technology, Spanish/English, or Braille tests.
Q: Will school districts receive data from the field tests?
A: No data will be released from the field tests. The tasks being field tested will be used to build the operational test in 2027. Schools will continue to receive information for the 2025 and 2026 operational items that count toward student scores. Examples of released practice performance tasks will be available through the MCAS Resource Center .
Q: How do schools register students for the 2025 and 2026 Grades 5 and 8 Science Technology/Engineering (STE) field tests?
A: Since the field tests will be embedded in the 2025 and 2026 grades 5 and 8 MCAS tests, no further steps are needed to register students.
Q: What accommodations will be available for the 2025 field tests?
A: All accommodations and accessibility features will be available for the 2025 grades 5 and 8 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) field tests except for paper-based, large print, screen reader, assistive technology, Spanish/English, and Braille. Schools do not need to update IEPs or 504 plans to specify that students will participate in the STE field tests.
Last Updated: March 4, 2025