It's standardized test time across Connecticut, a season that puts added stress on students, teachers and parents alike as schools administer the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT).
The CMT is taken by students in grades 3-8 each year, while the CAPT is given to high school sophomores annually.
In Branford, the tests began Friday, March 1. Both will continue through next week, though the CMT testing will continue through the week of March 24.
The CMT and CAPT are the the major standardized tests public schools across Connecticut are required to give their students annually. How students fare on them is one of the measurements the state uses to gauge a district's overall performance.
While the tests are not used to determine if individual students should be held back a grade, they can provide teachers with insight into which students need additional help in particular areas.
The CMT and CAPT tests students in reading, mathematics, writing and science.
The website teacherweb.com offers the following advice for parents and students for success on the tests:
- Get a good night's rest
- Give yourself plenty of time to get ready the morning of a test
- Eat a good, wholesome breakfast
- Take your time and do your best
- Parents, encourage your child to take the testing seriously and do the best job that they can.
- Don't schedule doctor, dentist or other appointments during testing if possible.
- Make sure students are on time for school as students can not start testing late and it will count as an absence.
- If students do miss testing because they are absent, it will be made up at a later date.
