How to Take Old MEAP Tests for Practice

Students who will be entering 6th-8th grade this September click here to go directly to the tests for last year.

In Michigan, we take the MEAP test (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) every October which assesses the state standards for the previous year's grade level content expectations. For example, 4th graders take a test on everything they were supposed to master in 3rd grade. Do you know you can get access to these state-wide high stakes tests? On the Michigan Department of Education's website they have the actual MEAP Tests that were administered for the last 8 years for all the grades! Here is how to access them:

1.Go to the google.com search engine and type in "Michigan MEAP Released Items." Next, click on the first result that comes up.
Or if that doesn't work try this:
a) Go to the Michigan Department of Education's website at http://www.mi.gov/mde/
b) Click on "School Assessment and Accountability" on the left margin
c) Click on the "Michigan Educational Assessment Program" on the left margin
d) Click on "Released Items" on the left margin

2.No matter which method you used above, next click on the "Elementary link" (they also have links for the Middle and High School tests).

3. Now you will see a list of tests by grades and year. Choose the test you want and click on the link to download the pdf file. When you click on the link, Acrobat or Adobe should download and open the file for you -- most computers already have one of these programs installed.

4. Then you can print the file and give to your child to practice. They are long tests so you can have them do just couple sections a day.

So which tests should you use? If my child just completed the 4th grade this year I would do the Math and Language Arts from 2006 (except for the Reading because the stories are not accessible due to copyright laws). This was the exact test they took this past October that assessed everything they learned from 3rd grade. I would make sure they have mastered it all and if they are still are having trouble I would go back to 2005-1998 versions for 4th grade for some more practice. Then I would have my child take the 2006 5th grade Math, Language Arts, and Science (5th grade is the first year they take the science test and it is a tough one). This will be very similar to the next test they will be taking this October in 5th grade which assesses everything they learned in 4th grade. Again, if they are having trouble go back through 2005-1998 for some other versions from 5th grade for more practice.

Great Workbooks to Practice for the High Stakes Tests

In the age of high stakes test, the pressure to achieve has been put on our students and teachers. Parents you can help your child succeed by having your child regularly take practice tests at home. Learning how to take and beat tests is an essential skill for our students to master at an early age. I always tell the students "Right now you have to beat the MEAP test to get through elementary school, next it will be the ACT/SAT to compete for scholarships and college admissions, then the GRE for graduate school, or the LCAT for law school, or the MCAT for med school. Get use to these high stakes test because there are a bunch more to come."

I have found a list of some good standardized practice test books that would be great practice for students on a light homework night, a lazy weekend, or boring summer day. And as some of my students this year have taught me you don't have to stick to the grade that you are in, we have students challenging themselves already with 5th-8th grade reading and math tests.

Click here for a list of standardized practice test books.

Student Paper: Why Should You Use the Writing Process

This piece was written by student MP0708 in school and was published in order to share tips on how to write a prompt for the MEAP.

Whenever I do a prompt, I use the steps of the writing process. It may take long but its all worth it at the end because I have a great paper. You will have to follow these steps.

To begin, I would like to tell you why you would want to use the writing process. It helps you understand what you are writing about. It also help you answer the question in your writing prompt. Another reason you won't get off of topic. These are the reasons you would want to use the writing process.

First you would want read the prompt. You would want to know what your writing about. Then you should do fatp f stand for form, a means audience t stand for topic,and p stand for purpose. If you have one read the checklist make one if you don't have one or ask your teacher to make one for you. Alway set goals like focus correction errors.

Next you always need to brainstorm because you can get all your idea's out. You can always do five w's and one h which stands for who,what,when,where,why,and how. After do a web it can be very helpful it gives a little information so you can write on your draft. Also do an outline to show how to set it up.

Third is your draft you can make mistakes but not on your final copy. It is alway important to revise and edit it is mostly good to let a friend or partner to do it for you because you may not notice your mistakes. Also you have your final copy. Don't forget starter,transition,and conclusion words.

Truly now you see how the writing process works. Now your paper will turn out perfect. If you want a perfect paper follow these steps. It will help you through all your writing prompts.

Written by MP0708

Edited by BM0708

What are GLCE's?

GLCE's (pronounced "glicks") stands for Grade Level Content Expectations.
As part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the federal Dept of Ed called upon states to develop grade level assessments based on “rigorous academic standards.”

Here in Michigan we call these standards GLCE's and the state assessment that tests the mastery of these GLCE's is called the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program). The MEAP is given every October and assesses the GLCE's from the year before. So this year in October, the students will be tested on 4th grade GLCE's.

It is important parents know and understand the grade level content expectations of their child so that they can:

-Learn what students need to know by the end of the school year
-Discuss student progress during Parent Teacher Conferences
-Support learning at home that is aligned with what is being taught in the classroom and tested on the MEAP
-Understand their child's MEAP score

More Information:

*Michigan Dept of Ed complete list of all GLCE's by grade click here

*Michigan Dept of Ed made more condensed and user friendly guide just for parents, click here

*Michigan Dept of Ed official MEAP page click here

*Ann Arbor put together a nice organized collection of all the 5th grade GLCE's click here

See Also:
Download Last Year's MEAP Test for Practice!

Top 100 5th Grade Math MEAP Vocabulary

Thanks to RW07 for going through our review packet and finding the top 100 words on the MEAP. Making flash cards and studying these words would be great preparation for the big test.

number line
expanded number

value
digit
how many
solve
multiplication sentence
factor
factor pairs
array
multiples
diagram
prime number
equation
mental math
total
altogether
multiplied
variable
divided
number sentence
expression
dividend
divisor
decimal
hundredths
tenths
thousandths
number line
symbols
decimal
greater than
represents
represented
portion
equivalent fraction
label
determine
compare
improper fraction
mixed number
estimate
pounds
accurate
add
subtract
multiply
combined
measure
length
square centimeter
square inch
millimeters
tri-3
quad-4
penta-5
hexa-6
hepta-7
octa-8
nona-9
deca-10
temperature
nearest
degree
ounces
difference
meters
feet
perimeter
area
shaded
portion
right angle
acute angle
obtuse angle
reflex angle
figure
perpendicular
parallel
intersecting
quadrangle
vertex
edges
faces
sides
symmetry
flip
slide
turn
reflection
parallelogram
rhombus
trapezoid
square
polygon
vertices