CAST Reporting Domain Descriptors

CAST Reporting Domain Descriptors

Area (Science Domain) Descriptors

The above, near, and below standard categories were identified by using the distance a student's performance on the questions related to that science domain is from the Level 3 "Standard Met" achievement level criterion. The science domain achievement category indicates the score on a science domain as follows:

· If the scale score of a science domain is above the "Standard Met" achievement level on the overall CAST, the achievement category for the science domain is "Above Standard."

· If the scale score of a science domain is at or near the "Standard Met" achievement level on the overall CAST, the achievement category for the science domain is "Near Standard."

· If the scale score of a science domain is below the "Standard Met" achievement level on the overall CAST, the achievement category for the science domain is "Below Standard."

Science Domain	Above Standard	Near Standard	Below Standard
Life Sciences	The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Life Sciences, which focus on structures and processes in living things, ecosystems, heredity, and biological evolution.	The student demonstrates some understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Life Sciences, which focus on structures and processes in living things, ecosystems, heredity, and biological evolution.	The student demonstrates minimal understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Life Sciences, which focus on structures and processes in living things, ecosystems, heredity, and biological evolution.
Physical Sciences	The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Physical Sciences, which focus on matter and its interactions, motion and stability, energy, and waves and their applications.	The student demonstrates some understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Physical Sciences, which focus on matter and its interactions, motion and stability, energy, and waves and their applications.	The student demonstrates minimal understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in Physical Sciences, which focus on matter and its interactions, motion and stability, energy, and waves and their applications.
Earth and Space Sciences	The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Earth and Spaces Sciences, which focus on Earth's place in the universe, Earth's systems, and Earth and human activity.	The student demonstrates some understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in the Earth and Space Sciences, which focus on Earth's place in the universe, Earth's systems, and Earth and human activity.	The student demonstrates minimal understanding of and ability to apply the knowledge and skills associated with the core ideas, concepts, and practices in Earth and Spaces Sciences, which focus on Earth's place in the universe, Earth's systems, and Earth and human activity.