staar essay prompts english 2 2022

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STAAR Writing Test Mastery: A Parent’s Guide to Preparation

When your child is aged 9 to 13, The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness looms large in their lives. And naturally so, as it assesses how ready they are to move to the next level in the education system.

The assessment is also significant in the parents’ or guardians’ lives. Children might struggle to prepare for the assessment on their own, so naturally, helping them prepare is going to fall on your shoulders.

However, that is more easily said than done. Especially if it is some time since you sat in a classroom or it’s your first time putting a child through the education system.

So if your child struggles with writing, or you just want to make sure they get the best grade they can, read on. We provide more information on the STAAR assessments and resources you can use to help your child prepare.

Take Practice Test

Table of Contents

What is tested in the STAAR Writing Assessment?

From grades 3 to 8, children must take the reading test. In grades 4 and 7, they must also do the writing test. Other subjects are added to the list as students move forward in the grades.

The STAAR writing tests are challenging.

Students are tested on their knowledge of the mechanics of the English language.

They can expect to be tested on:

• Punctuation
• Capitalization

They are also asked to write two types of essays:

• An expository essay
• A persuasive essay

In the expository essay, they have to investigate an idea, discuss the evidence for it, and set forth an argument for the idea.

In the persuasive essay, they have to persuade the reader to accept a point of view through their use of rhetorical language and supporting points.

For a twelve-year-old 7th grader, writing these demanding essays may present less of a challenge than it does for the nine-year-old at grade 4. However, the bar is considerably higher at this level in terms of the language they should to use.

The tests vary in difficulty level between the two grades, but things they have in common are:

• Writing the composition
• Revising it

For a child to reach the standards expected, a lot of preparation is required. Inevitably, given the child’s age in each grade, enforcing study falls on the parent or guardian.

How can I help my child prepare for the STAAR Writing Test?

Helping your child prepare for any exam is demanding. You need to become familiar with the exam and find the best resources to help you.

You also find yourself combining the roles of caregiver and educator. However, when you can gain access to the tools required, your job becomes easier.

Reaching out to an examinations preparation company that helps children prepare for school examinations is your best course of action. They are familiar with the tests and have the know-how to approach them.

For children preparing for the STAAR assessments, we recommend using the services of Test Prep Online , a reputable test preparation company with many years of experience in helping children prepare for school tests. Using their services, you get accurate information and exam preparation materials.

Their materials come in a test prep pack containing sample test papers modeled on the real tests, helpful explanations for questions and answers, and a method to check your child’s scores as they work through the tests.

The materials provide practice writing tests modeled on the real thing so they can become familiar with the format and feel calm and prepared.

What else is tested in STAAR tests?

Reading tests increase in difficulty level as your child progresses through the grades.

Students are assessed on material that plays an important role in preparing them for the work at the next grade level. Hence the term “Academic Readiness.”

Reading tests assess their abilities in understanding the plot of a text, deciding on the central meaning of the text, and their understanding of the literary genre. To do well in the test, children need to have a wide vocabulary and analyze a text.

How is the STAAR Writing test scored?

To move on to the next grade, students have to score above Level 11 Performance Level in the test. If the child fails the first time, they get two more chances to pass the STAAR tests.

How can I help my child with the STAAR Writing Test?

Here are some things you can do in your day-to-day life with your child.

Encourage the child to read from a variety of age-appropriate books. Challenge them by introducing them to more difficult books as their reading improves.

Libraries are great places for this information. Bring them with you or on a visit to a bookstore.

Practice reading

Reading regularly will increase the child’s vocabulary.

Children are curious so expect to be bombarded with questions about the meaning of words. Better still, equip them with a dictionary written for their age group.

Increased vocabulary and familiarity with the written word will make them more comfortable writing.

Write down vocabulary

Another useful tactic is to encourage them to keep a notebook for new words and meanings. If they are willing, encourage them to incorporate those words into their conversation or use them in some written work.

Similarly, you know how easily children mimic what they hear adults saying. You will hear the words you use when talking to your child replicated in how they might talk to you.

Ask them to do some written work for you. They could perhaps write about a topic that interests them or keep a diary. Encourage them to ask you about the words they are using or look at their grammar and spelling.

4th graders, in particular, will benefit from having you check over their written work as their test asks them to correct written pieces in a range of multiple-choice questions.

Don’t be afraid to suggest how they might change some of the vocabulary they use.

Encourage them to use their vocabulary notebook as a resource when writing. You could play a game to see who can find the most words to describe something they see or feel.

How do I get my child exam-ready?

Being a parent, you recognize the importance of not allowing exam preparation to eat into too much of the child’s free time or to cancel out activities they enjoy.

The following points should make the process easier:

• It is important to set up a preparation timetable that allows the child to continue to have fun and avoids the build-up of resentment against anything school-related.
• Start the preparation work as early as you can. It will reduce the stress levels if you allow more time to prepare and avoid the panic that comes with a last-minute rush.

Sample papers

Use the sample papers that come with the test prep pack.

• They will let you know what precisely your child is being tested on and give you and your child the confidence of knowing that the child is preparing using material that mirrors the real exam.
• This will give the child the confidence of knowing that nothing surprising will be waiting for them in the real test.
• It will train the child to work within the time allowed for the test, which will benefit them when doing the real test and the many more tests that await them in the future.
• The scoring system that comes with the tests also allows you to monitor the child’s progress from test to test.
• Keeping an eye on the scores will alert you to any difficulties your child may have and allow you to resolve the problems at an early point.
• With each test the child completes, they will gain confidence. Encourage them to compete with themself to increase their scores. Children rise to challenges, and the prospect of doing better than they did in the last test should motivate them to continue preparing.

Support them

Keep an eye out for signs of stress.

For young children embarking on the school testing level can at first be exciting. Suddenly they’re part of the group who do tests.

However, the magic can soon wear off, and they may become anxious as they see the challenge that lies ahead. Unfortunately, children won’t always tell you when they are anxious. This situation will make you combine the roles of caregiver and educator.

Your best option is to pre-empt stress-related problems:

• Ensure the child is getting adequate sleep and good nutrition. Regular breaks out of doors and fresh air also go a long way to keeping them relaxed and healthy and aids learning. A healthy mind in a healthy body is especially relevant for people preparing for tests.
• While you are helping them prepare, make it fun. Children learn best when they are enjoying themselves. Working on finding the correct answers to questions can be turned into a game between you and the child. A game that the child, of course, wins.
• Build in a reward system for the child and try not to limit the reward system to correct answers. A good effort is just as deserving of a reward as is the free time they are giving up for preparation.

You will, no doubt, be greeted with remarks along the line of, “My friend’s mother does it like this.” The most important approach here is to realize children are different, especially when it comes to learning.

What works for one may not for another.

The day before the STAAR Writing Test

The day before the tests begin should ideally be given up to some rest and relaxation. The temptation is to keep on working but a child will find it difficult to learn anything new prior to the test.

A free day is a better guarantee of good test performance than any last-minute cramming.

The child needs to approach the tests well-rested and clear-headed. Fresh air, reassurances that they have done the work, and an early night will help the child capitalize on all the work they have done.

Note: Access the individual STAAR test study guides, by clicking on the links below.

The STAAR Test Day

Test day can be demanding, so to make it a little easier, try the following tips:

• Prepare everything the child needs the night before.
• A solid breakfast will go a long way towards helping the child get through the day.
• Ensure you arrive at the school early.
• If allowed, ensure the child has snacks and a drink to consume during the exam and is wearing comfortable clothing.

After the test

When you pick the child up after the test, make sure you bring a reward, this time for having done the test.

You will want to give them the recognition they deserve for having overcome one of the big challenges of their young lives.

If you have a child preparing for the STAAR , you will find all the resources you need to help you here .

Recommended Reading

• What Grade Do You Actually Need to Pass The STAAR Tests?

Written by Elizabeth O Mahony

With 25+ years’ experience as a teacher and state examinations corrector, Elizabeth now writes for the education and careers industry. Her experience preparing students for examinations and running an academy for supplementary education give her invaluable insights into what it takes for job seekers and graduates to succeed in assessments.

Sarah is an accomplished educator, researcher and author in the field of testing and assessment. She has worked with various educational institutions and organisations to develop innovative evaluation methods and enhance student learning. Sarah has published numerous articles and books on assessment and learning. Her passion for promoting equity and fairness in the education system fuels her commitment to sharing insights and best practices with educators and policymakers around the world.

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Tea gives more information on staar essay machine scoring after spike in zeros, concerns from school leaders.

After a series of headlines about STAAR machine scoring and concerns from school leaders, the Texas Education Agency is offering more information to districts. Educators say there wasn’t enough advance notice about the changes. 

After a spike in the number of students scoring a zero on STAAR writing questions and widespread concern from public school leaders about the shift to automated scoring this year, the Texas Education Agency is offering more information about the changes to the state's standardized test.

The agency said district testing coordinators will have "the opportunity to receive additional information about (student writing) that received a score of zero" if they contact the agency before Wednesday, March 13. In the message to testing coordinators , the TEA credited "educator inquiries about this first use of the hybrid scoring model."

Automated scoring is the latest change in a complete overhaul of the state's standardized test. Student composition scores plummeted after the STAAR 2.0 test was introduced last school year, even when writing was still graded by humans.

Over the past few weeks, school leaders have sounded the alarm about the shift to machine scoring for student writing this school year. They argued the automated scoring system has led to even lower scores, and they've criticized what they see as a lack of advance notice from the TEA.

"No one knew this was happening," said H.D. Chambers with the Texas School Alliance, which represents about 50 large public school districts. "The education field wasn’t told. There was no ‘Heads up, hey, this is happening,' and so it was just kind of discovered."

TEA officials have pushed back on that framing.

"For some reason, it's being portrayed as a quiet implementation," said assessment division director Jose Rios. "We did communicate during the fall (of 2023) to several stakeholders. We personally communicated this to all district testing coordinators in the fall during our big training that we call the kickoff of the year."

How does the new scoring model work?

The TEA changed a lot about the STAAR last school year when the test shifted entirely online. The STAAR 2.0 revamp marked the end of the separate writing exam in 4th and 7th grade; instead, writing is now included at every grade level.

The writing prompts are also different. Before last year, students generally wrote self-reflective responses to open-ended prompts, like "Write about the best teacher you know."

Now, students are asked to read passages, and then write a response to more narrow questions. The new grading rubrics are more stringent, making it more likely for a student response to score a zero. For example, a technically correct answer could earn a zero if it "lacks an introduction and conclusion" or "an organizational structure is not evident."

Even before the introduction of automated scoring this year, those changes contributed to a dramatic spike in the number of students scoring a zero for writing questions last year. Before the STAAR 2.0 revamp, 5% or less of students typically scored a zero on constructed writing responses. When students took the test in the spring of last year, more than 40% of third and fourth-graders across the state scored a zero, along with more than 20% of students in middle school and high school.

This school year brought another change — automated scoring for most student writing , first reported by the Dallas Morning News .

The early results from the December 2023 testing window have led to tension between school leaders and the TEA.

"We noticed, comparing those scores to ... when it was scored the old way, that the automated scoring engine was grading them much more difficult," Chambers said.

As Chris Rozunick with the TEA pointed out, the December testing window included many high schoolers who were "retesting" because they previously failed the exam. She also emphasized the sweeping changes to the writing prompts and grading rubrics.

"That more than anything else is driving up the zeros, particularly in December where you see a slightly larger retest population — kids who have tried the test and not passed," Rozunick said.

Back in spring 2023 — before the introduction of automated scoring — 25% of high schoolers scored a zero on writing compositions. Nineteen percent of first-time testers scored a 0, and 50% of retesters scored a 0.

Automated scoring was rolled out for the first time earlier this school year. For high schoolers who took the STAAR in December, almost 70% scored a 0 on the English I composition and almost 80% on English II. For first-time testers, more than 40% scored a zero, compared to more than 70% for retesters.

The TEA insists that machine scoring is in line with human grading.

"We’re confident in our results," Rozunick said. "We continue to look at things, you know, as they’re raised, and we haven’t seen any red flags to date."

When did the TEA actually announce automated scoring?

School leaders have argued the TEA did not provide enough advance notice about the shift to machine scoring.

"The concern with the specific issue of a machine scoring writing isn’t the true act of the machine scoring it, it’s more of the way it’s rolled out," Chambers said. "The reason that’s such a concern is because the stakes are so high with the accountability system."

STAAR results play a major role in the TEA's A through F accountability system, which assigns campuses and districts a letter grade based on student test scores and post-graduation readiness. The TEA revamped the accountability system last year. More than 100 school districts across the state sued the TEA over the changes, temporarily blocking the release of more stringent ratings.

In the eyes of Chambers, the machine scoring and A through F revamp represent the same thing — the TEA "moving the goalposts in the middle of the game."

A TEA spokesperson pointed to a state legislative hearing in August 2022 as the first time automated scoring was made public. Education Commissioner Mike Morath presented updates on standardized assessments to the House Public Education Committee. During his more than an hour-long presentation, he mentioned automation once.

"We are exploring cost-savings everywhere we can," Morath told lawmakers. "So, automation is a big way to save costs. If, for some reason, people don’t like automation, then we have to un-automate, which will cost you more money just to stay the course.”

According to the last slide of his presentation , "full human scoring" would cost up to $20 million more per year.

The agency spokesperson also pointed to training for testing coordinators in September 2023, presentations to "various stakeholder groups" in November, and the release of the " scoring process documents " in December.

According to the March 1 message from the TEA , district testing coordinators who contact the agency before March 13 will have the opportunity to view student responses that earned a 0 in December, but they won't be able to see the actual test questions or explanations of the grading rubrics "due to test security requirements."

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