Foundation Skills Assessment - FSA

The Foundation Skills Assessment  is an annual, province-wide assessment of British Columbia students’ academic skills, and provides a snapshot of how well BC students are learning foundation skills in Reading Comprehension, Writing,Literacy and Numeracy. These are standardized tests heldassessments for students in Grades 4 and 7. 

TheseThe testsFSA areis not optional unless students meet a very narrow set of requirements for exemption.

HCOS will be administering the tests.assessments and families receive a package in order to carry them out at home. Here is some information to help you and your child prepare for the tests.

There are threetwo categories of testing;assessment; the testingassessments in total takestake about four hours. Here are the categories which are tested:categories:

• Reading
• WritingLiteracy
• Numeracy

The readingLiteracy comprehensioncomponent and numeracy components consistconsisted of multiple choice and written-response questions. The writing component consists of two writing tasks – one extended (longer) piece, one focused (shorter) piece, and a set of math problems, where the child needs to show their work. The multiple choice questions are done online. You will be mailed a booklet with the writing component.

The written tests will be marked by teachers from HCOS and the results sent to the support teacher.

The results will lookbe somethingbased likeon this:the following proficiencies:

• 4Extending Exceeds expectations – TheSophisticated level of performance at which a student exceeds the normal expectations for their grade. The student is working or has academic knowledge beyond the present grade levelunderstanding of the test.concepts and competencies in relation to expected learning.
• 3Proficient Meets expectations – TheComplete levelunderstanding of performance at which a student meets the widelyconcepts heldand expectationscompetencies forin therelation gradeto onexpected this test. This is where most students should fall.learning.
• 2Developing Approaching expectations - ThePartial levelunderstanding of performance at which the studentconcepts showsand inconsistenciescompetencies in demonstrating the skills neededrelation to meetexpected the expectations (some may be at, some below, some not present).learning.
• 1Emerging Not–Initial Yet Within expectations –The levelunderstanding of performancethe atconcepts whichand acompetencies studentin did not demonstrate sufficient skillrelation to meetexpected expectations. A teacher would want to know more about the reasons for a student’s low performance and would work with the parent to see where the problem might lie.learning. 

FSA Questions and Answers

What does FSA stand for?	FSA stands for Foundation Skills Assessment and this test is given to all students in BC enrolled in grades 4 and 7.
What subjects are tested?	The student is tested in Reading Comprehension, Writing,Literacy and Math Numeracy.
What is an invigilator?	An invigilator is a person responsible for supervising a test. The invigilator for the FSAs is either a teacher (in our case, with HCOS) or any person the administration deems as unbiased. This can be the parent of the child.
What time is involved for each test?	The time varies from test to test    Reading Comprehension  Part one: Collaboration 10-15 minutes Part two: 30 minutes  Writing    45 minutes   Numeracy                                            45 minutes  Online Reading: 60 minutes Online Numeracy: 60 minutes Total time about four hours.