Students in grades 3 through 10 take the FCAT reading test for their grade levels annually. The reading section measures grade-appropriate abilities in four areas: understanding words and phrases in context; understanding main idea, plot and purpose; understanding comparisons and cause/effect; and understanding the use of references and research.
The FCAT writing test measures grade-appropriate writing abilities in grades 4, 8 and 10. Students write a draft essay that scorers evaluate in four content areas: focus, organization, support and conventions. The Florida Board of Education plans to return a previously eliminated multiple-choice section on the four content areas during the 2012-2013 school year.
Students in grades 3 through 10 take the FCAT math section annually. Students respond to questions in five areas: number sense, measurement, geometry, algebra and data analysis. The emphasis on each of these five areas, however, will vary based on grade level.
The FCAT science test measures student competency in four areas: physical and chemical sciences, earth and space sciences, life and environmental sciences and scientific thinking. Students in grades 5, 8 and 11 take the FCAT science test.
Florida uses FCAT scores as a means to provide parents, teachers, students and the public information about student mastery of skills determined by the Sunshine State Standards, including eligibility to graduate from high school. The public and the legislature also use FCAT scores to hold schools accountable (in terms of funding and teacher pay) for success or failure.