Leap 2025 Assessment Guide for Grade 8 Math

Overview

• The guide provides information on the 2023-2024 LEAP 2025 test for Grade 8 Mathematics.
• Focuses on Louisiana Student Standards for Mathematics.
• Evaluates students' conceptual understanding, procedural skills, and application of mathematics.
• Includes three task types assessing major content, reasoning, and modeling.
• Offers sample test items and resources for educators.

Purpose

• Assists Louisiana educators with understanding the LEAP 2025 Math assessment for grade 8.
• Ensures alignment with Louisiana Student Standards and appropriateness for students.
• Measures full range of student performance, including high and low performers.
• Provides information on student readiness for college and careers.

Key Concepts of Mathematics in Education

• Conceptual Understanding:
  • Understanding of math concepts, operations, and relations.
  • Connects prior knowledge to new ideas.
• Procedural Skill and Fluency:
  • Accurate, efficient, flexible application of procedures.
  • Builds speed and accuracy in calculations.
• Application:
  • Real-world problem solving.
  • Encourages selection of efficient methods and critical thinking.

Assessment Design

• Focuses on rigor in high-quality math tasks:
  • Demonstrating understanding in applied contexts.
  • Accurate, efficient procedural application.
  • Real-world problem-solving and modeling.
• Each task type (Type I, II, III) is aligned with Louisiana Student Standards for Mathematics (LSSM).

Task Types

• Type I: Assesses conceptual understanding, fluency, and application for grade 8 major content.
• Type II: Assesses reasoning for major content in applied contexts, aligned with Expressing Mathematical Reasoning.
• Type III: Assesses modeling in applied contexts, aligned with Modeling & Application.

Test Design and Administration

• Total of 42 tasks for 66 points.
• Sessions divided by no calculator and calculator use:
  • Session 1: No Calculator (60 min)
  • Session 2 & 3: Calculator (90 min each)
• Field-test tasks included, not counted in final score.

Achievement Levels

• Advanced: Exceeds readiness expectations, well prepared for next level.
• Mastery: Meets readiness expectations, prepared for the next level.
• Basic: Nearly meets expectations, may need additional support.
• Approaching Basic: Partially meets expectations, needs much support.
• Unsatisfactory: Does not meet expectations, requires extensive support.

Reporting Categories and Content

• Major Content divided into subcategories:
  • Radicals, Integer Exponents, Scientific Notation.
  • Proportional Relationships, Linear Equations, Functions.
  • Solving Linear Equations/Systems.
  • Congruence, Similarity, Pythagorean Theorem.

Resources and Appendices

• Appendix A: Assessable Content
• Appendix B: Answer Key/Rubrics for Sample Items

This guide is a crucial resource for educators to prepare students effectively for the LEAP 2025 Grade 8 Mathematics assessment, focusing on comprehensive mathematical skills and knowledge essential for educational progression.