Reading and mathematics are two essential elements of any child's education. The FCAT tests both of these skill sets in students between the third and tenth grades. The Florida Department of Education provides a useful tool called the FCAT Explorer (see Resources); this website is designed to familiarize both parents and students with the material they will be tested on as well as provide games, sample questions, and lists of applicable topics.
All levels of the reading portion of the FCAT test a students knowledge of grade-appropriate vocabulary words as well as reading comprehension. The reading portion of the FCAT is administered in grades 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The Mathematics Portion of the test is given at three grade levels: 5, 8 and 10. While the test in grades 5 and 8 focuses more on basic math skills and functions, the test in grade 10 includes a focus on geometry and spatial senses.
Like the Reading and Mathematics portions of the FCAT, the FCAT Explorer also details specific topics and sample tests and games for the Science portion of the FCAT.
The 5th grade Science FCAT tests in four areas: Physical/Chemical, Earth/Space, Life/Environmental, and Scientific Thinking. The 8th grade Science FCAT tests in three areas: Physical & Chemical, Earth & Space, and Life & Environment, while the 11th grade Science FCAT tests in Physical & Chemical, Earth & Space, and Life & Environment.
The FCAT Explorer does not detail or give any kind of samples relating to the Writing portion of the FCAT. The Florida Board of Education offers several sample writing prompts from previous testing years. No matter which grade taken, the Writing portion features only one writing session, no multiple choice questions, and one writing prompt to be written in the time allotted.
The Florida Board of Education is beginning to phase in new elements of the FCAT test that have different testing standards. They explain, "[b]eginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the statewide assessment program will begin transitioning to assessing student understanding of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards through the implementation of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® 2.0 (FCAT 2.0) and Florida End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments. Selected grades and subjects will continue to participate in FCAT assessments until the final transition is complete."
The test will still cover the standard reading, mathematics, science and writing portions; however, parents and students would be wise to take the sample tests that the Florida Board of Education provides in order to adequately prepare for the new testing standards.