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Understanding Proficiency - Learning from Student Work on Performance Tasks

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Grade 3

View the Performance Task

Astronauts Informational Performance Task

This performance task is part of the Smarter Balanced practice test. This specific task requires students to read two informational articles describing the life and work of astronauts in space. Students answer three research questions (constructed- and selected-response items) that require them to evaluate sources and identify evidence to support ideas. Finally, students are asked to use more than one of the sources to write an informational article supporting a main idea about astronauts.

Smarter Balanced Resources

  • Scoring Guide
  • Grade 3-5 Informational Rubric
  • Take the Practice Test

* Learn About Smarter Balanced Accessibility Features.

Download Student Work and Scoring Examples

Research Questions

Constructed Responses

Full Write Essays

Organization
& Purpose
Evidence
& Elaboration
Conventions
Scored
Student
Samples
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Unscored
Student
Samples
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Scoring
Key
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Download Case Studies

Each of the two case studies provides an analysis of an individual student’s responses to all of the questions in a performance task, unpacks the scoring, and considers next steps for supporting the student to demonstrate college and career readiness. Case study 1 is an analysis of an EL student’s responses to the performance task.

  • Case Study 1
  • Case Study 2

Download all
Grade 3 Resources

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