Reading
Lexile Measure
Mathematics
Language
Spelling
Listening
Science
Social Science
Reading
The Reading subtests reflect and support a balanced, developmental curriculum and sound instructional practices. At appropriate levels, the subtests measure phonemic awareness, decoding, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

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The Sounds and Letters subtest has an increased emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics and closely reflects reading research findings. Word Study Skills and Sentence Reading are evaluated across a broader age range. Expanded testing of literacy development provides important information to make sure students are progressing all along the road to literacy.

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The Reading Comprehension subtest measures students' comprehension within the framework of three types of materials or purposes for reading: literary, informational, and functional text. Within each type of text, questions measure achievement in four modes of comprehension: initial understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, and awareness and usage of reading strategies.
New and Classic Features
Exciting NEW Features

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- Aligns with New IRA/NCTE Standards and State Standards
- Provides Expanded Testing of Early Literacy with New Types of Questions to Better Assess Foundation Skills
- Tests Word Study Skills and Sentence Reading at Expanded Grade Ranges
- Continues Assessment of Phonics through Grade 4
- Emphasizes Literature Objectives and Includes More Opportunities to Show Reading Strategies
- Features More Poetry Selections and a More Multicultural Representation of Reading Selections
CLASSIC Features

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- Utilizes Reading Selections Commissioned from Published Children's and Young People's Authors
- Aligns with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
- Places an Emphasis on a Balanced Reading Curriculum that Includes, at Appropriate Grade Levels, Phonemic Awareness, Decoding, Phonics, Vocabulary, and Comprehension
- Includes Literary, Informational, and Functional Reading Selections
- Provides Lexile™ Measure to Identify Reading Levels and Customized Reading Lists
- Assesses Initial Understanding, Interpretation, Critical Analysis, and Reading Strategies
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Lexile® Measure
The Lexile Framework® is a tool that allows teachers to match students to specific texts. It defines and sequences books and other reading materials in terms of difficulty and provides a way to link students’ reading achievement to that scale. Because Stanford 10 has been matched to The Lexile Framework, students who take the full-length Reading Comprehension subtest can receive a Lexile measure in addition to scores reported by type of text and reading process. This score identifies each student’s level of reading and provides a means to match students to appropriate reading materials.
Information about the use of Lexiles can be found at Lexile Measure.
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Mathematics

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Stanford 10 Mathematics subtests measure content and processes adapted from the new National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM) and state standards including number sense and operations; patterns, relationships, and algebra; geometry and measurement; and data, statistics, and probability. Questions assess processes in communication and representation; estimation; mathematical connections; and reasoning and problem solving.
Mathematics Problem Solving measures the skills and knowledge necessary to solve problems in mathematics. Mathematics Procedures measures the ability to apply the rules and methods of arithmetic to problems that require arithmetic solutions.
Exciting NEW Features

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- Measures Content and Processes Based on New NCTMPrinciples and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM) and State Standards
- Provides Consistency in Names of Content Clusters Across Levels to Enhance Test Interpretation
CLASSIC Features
- Aligns with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
- Measures Mathematics Problem Solving and Mathematics Procedures
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Language
The Stanford 10 Language subtest measures students’ achievement in applying the principles that form effective writing. From word- and sentence-level skills to whole composition features, the subtest engages students in real-life activities.
Stanford 10 offers a choice of Language subtests to suit different language arts instructional approaches.

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The Traditional Language subtest (Form A) measures proficiency in mechanics and expression in three different sections. The first section measures language mechanics—capitalization, punctuation, and usage—with questions that resemble an actual editing task. Language expression is tested in the second section as students demonstrate their understanding of sentence structure. Language expression items in the third section include objectives typically assessed in the direct assessment of writing.

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An alternate Comprehensive Language subtest (Form D) replicates the writing process as closely as possible in a testing situation. This subtest measures prewriting, composing, and editing in a holistic fashion that resembles authentic writing tasks.
Exciting NEW Features
- Aligns with the New IRA/NCTE Standards and State Standards
- Includes Questions to Test Strategies in Prewriting and Composing
CLASSIC Features
- Measures Prewriting, Composing, and Editing Stages of the Writing Process (Form D)
- Mirrors a Real Editing Situation with a Variety of Embedded Errors (Form A)
- Offers a Choice of Language Subtests
Traditional (Form A) —
Errors embedded in grade-appropriate sentences and paragraphs measure Language Expression and Language Mechanics objectives.
Comprehensive (Form D) —
The Comprehensive Language subtest is an integrated test that measures prewriting, composing, and editing in a holistic fashion that resembles authentic writing tasks.
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Spelling
The separate Spelling subtest assesses objectives based upon the phonetic and structural principles taught at each grade level. Beginning at Primary 2, the spelling items reflect real-life editing tasks because they are presented in context rather than as isolated words.

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Each spelling item consists of one sentence with three underlined words and, starting at Primary 3, a "No Mistake" option. Misspellings used reflect students' most common spelling errors.

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Exciting NEW Features
- Offers a New Format with Realistic Spelling Errors Embedded in a Single Sentence
CLASSIC Features
- Tests Words in Context to Present a Realistic Task
- Reinforces the Authenticity of the Task with a “No Mistake” Option
- Reflects Common Errors Found in Students’ Writing
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Listening
Stanford 10 assesses both listening vocabulary and listening comprehension. In the listening vocabulary section, students demonstrate recognition of the common meanings of spoken words encountered in various types of activities.

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The listening comprehension section assesses listening comprehension with dictated selections and questions that reflect the listening materials students hear in school and outside of the classroom.

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Listening comprehension also parallels the Reading Comprehension subtest. Using literary, informational, and functional materials, this section of the Listening subtest measures the same modes of comprehension: initial understanding, interpretation, and critical analysis and strategies.
Exciting NEW Features
- Provides a Wider Variety of Listening Selections
- Offers More Emphasis on Listening Strategies
- Includes a More Multicultural Representation of Listening Selections
CLASSIC Features
- Measures Listening Comprehension with Literary, Informational, and Functional Material
- Features Modes of Comprehension that Parallel the Reading Comprehension Subtest: Initial Understanding, Interpretation, and Critical Analysis and Strategies
- Includes Measures of Listening Vocabulary
- Reflects Real-Life Listening Tasks
- Encourages Note-Taking
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Science
The disciplines of life science, Earth science, physical science, and the nature of science are represented in Stanford 10 with questions that elicit problem solving and inquiry using basic understanding of science.

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Students must use reasoning skills throughout the test to reach answers. These skills include estimating, making simple calculations, seeking patterns, making observations, recognizing cause and effect, reading standard instruments, and drawing conclusions. Students are challenged to apply foundation concepts and skills as they think through questions.

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At the SESAT 1 through Primary 2 levels, the Environment subtest combines science and social science to reflect young children’s experience with the natural and social world.
Exciting NEW Features
- Reflects Current Science Practice and Research
- Includes Questions Measuring the Nature of Science
- Aligns with State Standards
CLASSIC Features
- Aligns with the National Science Education Standards (National Research Council), the Benchmarks for Science Literacy (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
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Social Science
The Social Science subtest measures the concepts important for the development of citizenship.

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History, as assessed on Stanford 10, focuses on the history of the United States, the history of Western civilization, and the history of non-Western peoples and societies sharing our interdependent world. The National Standards for History were followed as guidelines.

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Geography is tested according to the five themes of location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region, as well as the Geography for Life: National Geography Standards.
The political science component assesses the basic understanding of the U.S. system of government as outlined in the National Standards for Civics and Government.
The Voluntary National Content Standards in economics provide the foundation for Stanford 10 economics items.
Exciting NEW Features
- Reflects Current Social Studies Standards, Practice, and Research
- Offers Greater Emphasis on Thinking Skills
- Gives Equal Attention to History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics
- Aligns with State Standards
CLASSIC Features
- Includes Cultural Elements Across the Social Science Subtest
- Aligns with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Content Standards
- Reflects a balance between national and international issues
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