MTAS Test SpecificationsAccountability Programs : Minnesota Department of Education

MTAS Test Specifications

MTAS Test Specifications

The Minnesota Department of Education provides test specifications for the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS).  Test specifications are specific rules and characteristics that guide the development of a test’s content and format.  The MTAS is Minnesota's alternate assessment in reading, mathematics, and science based on alternate achievement standards.

Draft Test Specifications for Mathematics MTAS, based on the 2007 revision of the K-12 Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics, are open for public comment. *Submit comments on the draft of Mathematics MTAS test specifications.

Benchmark Extensions for the Reading and Math MTAS were developed by committees of Minnesota educators who convened in November 2006 to discuss ways to make the Minnesota Academic Standards accessible for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The committees’ work to reduce the depth, breadth, and complexity of the academic standards is reflected in the Essence Statements and sample assessment tasks in the Benchmark Extensions. The Benchmark Extensions represent the first step in the process of writing MTAS test specifications. Click the links below to view the extensions developed for Mathematics and Reading.

Mathematics: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 11
Reading: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 10

* Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Website visitors. See our disclaimer regarding these sites in our copyright information linked at the bottom of this page. Links will open in a new browser window.

Mathematics Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) Test Specifications for Grades 3-8: DRAFT  1Mb (12/9/08)
     Draft test specifications based on the 2007 revision of the K-12 Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics. Comments are welcome. Please see the link in the text above to submit comments.
Reading and Mathematics Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) Test Specifications  523Kb (6/2/08)
     The test specifications for the Reading and Mathematics MTAS were updated in January 2008 to reflect changes in content emphasis.
Science Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) Test Specifications  288Kb (2/6/08)
     The test specifications for the Science MTAS were updated in January 2008 to reflect changes in content emphasis.