Frequently Asked Questions

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• What is EOC Array?
• How can I use EOC Array in my district?
• What types of reports are available?
• What courses are covered?
• What standards are covered?
• What are National Consensus Standards?
• How were the items developed?
• How are the items aligned?
• Do the items cover a range of cognitive levels?
• Do the items cover a range of difficulty?
• How many items are there?
• What item types are included in the item bank?
• Have the items been piloted?
• Are assessments/tests available?
• How are the tests administered?
• Can the tests and results be secure?
• How are tests scored?
• What is iRespond?
• Can I add items to the item bank?
• When will EOC Array Phase 1 be available for use?
• How is EOC Array packaged?
• How do I order EOC Array?
• What are the technical requirements for EOC Array?

Q. What is EOC Array?

A. EOC Array is an online system that delivers a comprehensive item bank aligned to high school course standards. The online software provides access to the item bank and the functionality to create, administer, score, and report on assessments.

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Q. How can I use EOC Array in my district?

A. EOC Array is extremely flexible. Districts, schools and/or teachers can use the items to create district, school, or class benchmark/interim course assessments and/or summative assessments for the end of a course. In addition, any items not used for benchmarking or summative assessments can be integrated into everyday instruction to help teachers continuously and formatively monitor student achievement and focus instruction on student needs.

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Q. What types of reports are available?

A. Numerous reports, both in PDF and online data-mining format, are available at the student, class, school, and district levels. Major categories of the reports are centered on:

• Gains – indicates progress against standards from assessment to assessment
• Standard Analysis – presents detailed analysis of assessed standards
• Multi-measures – shows students’ results on multiple assessments
• Item Analysis – identifies and provides statistics related to students’ responses for each question on a test
• Proficiency – indicates student proficiency levels against customer- determined proficiency groupings
• Grouping – helps teachers organize students based on standard proficiency for group instruction
• Lists – roster, status, rank, test tickets, teachers, etc.

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Q. What courses are covered?

A. Current courses include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Biology and Chemistry. Additional courses are being planned.

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Q. What standards are covered?

A.

• The National Consensus Standards
• Arkansas – Curriculum Frameworks
• Maryland – Core Learning Goals
• North Carolina – Course of Study
• South Carolina – Course Standards
• Tennessee – Performance Indicators
• Virginia – Standards of Learning

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Q. What are National Consensus Standards?

A. The National Consensus Standards are course-based standards that integrate national standards, the standards of those states administering end-of-course assessments, and any additional standards necessary for a complete course.

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Q. How were the items developed?

A. The items are developed by experienced Pearson development teams who adhere to industry standards of quality item writing. Many of the EOC development team members have experience developing successful high-stakes state assessments. The items:

• Measure the intended standard
• Cover appropriate course content
• Cover appropriate cognitive and difficulty levels
• Have one clear answer
• Have plausible distracters
• Contain content-appropriate and unambiguous language
• Are factually accurate
• Are free of bias or sensitive content

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Q. How are the items aligned?

A. The items are aligned at the lowest tier/most discrete level (e.g., indicator, expectation, objective) of the standards set by content specialists according to Norm Webb’s criteria. The result is a high-quality bank of items that have been review or created to address the content needs, content limits, and depth of knowledge of the standards. In addition, the set of items for each standard are reviewed to verify content and cognitive coverage of the standard.

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Q. Do the items cover a range of cognitive levels?

A. The items are created to cover the range of cognitive levels required for breadth and depth coverage of the standard as well as prerequisite cognitive levels.

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Q. Do the items cover a range of difficulty?

A. The items are developed to thoroughly address the difficulty levels necessary for each standard in a course.

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Q. How many items are there?

A. Currently there are at least 700 items per course with some courses containing significantly more items.

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Q. What item types are included in the item bank?

A. The original release contains multiple-choice items, however if a state includes constructed response items in their state EOC assessment, constructed response items will be included in the item bank for that state.

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Q. Have the items been piloted?

A. The items have been piloted in a number of districts. Most of the items performed very well. The items that did not perform to the high standards of the item bank were either eliminated from product or completely revised to meet the expected high quality.

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Q. Are assessments/tests available?

A. EOC Array is an item bank aligned to National Consensus and state standards. Initially there are no tests in the system. Assessments can be easily created in the system by teachers and school and district personnel. If a school or district would like help generating tests to a specific pacing guide and/or blueprint, Pearson will create well-designed tests from the EOC item bank for an additional fee.

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Q. How are the tests administered?

A. Tests may be administered online, paper/pencil with scanning, or through a wireless personal response system, iRespond.

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Q. Can the tests and results be secure?

A. Tests and reports are delivered over a secure Internet browser with individual usernames and passwords for each user. If high-stakes testing security is desired, browser lockdown functionality is available, including the ability to control the dates and times of student access to the assessments.

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Q. How are tests scored?

A. If taken online, the tests can be scored immediately through the software platform. Paper/pencil tests can either be scored by scanning each answer sheet or by students responding through iRespond, a wireless personal-response device. Either paper/pencil scoring method allows for the upload of answer choices into the online software for immediate reporting.

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Q. What is iRespond?

A. iRespond is a wireless personal-response system that allows students to individually respond to questions presented in print, in a visual presentation, or orally. Student responses are recorded, wireless transmitted, and instantly available to the teacher. Immediate reporting is available in the iRespond system or can be integrated into the EOC Array reporting system. This tool allows schools flexibility in administration and scoring of assessments.

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Q. Can I add items to the item bank?

A. EOC Array provides an interface that allows users to enter and align their own assessment items.

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Q. When will EOC Array Phase 1 be available for use?

A. Fall of 2007

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Q. How is EOC Array packaged?

A. Array is sold on a yearly subscription basis by student and course. You can select the specific course(s) appropriate for your district needs.

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Q. How do I order EOC Array?

A. The product can be ordered through your local Pearson Measurement Consultant or by calling 1.800.211.8378

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Q. What are the technical requirements for EOC Array?

A.
PC Systems:

Mac Systems:

Optical Scanners:

Optical Scan Forms:

Network and Internet Specifications:
The following specifications are indicative of minimum and recommended performance attributes for networks.

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