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ERB Testing for Grades 5-8Dear Parents and Caregivers, Each spring, Porter-Gaud administers the ERB (Educational Records Bureau) Comprehensive Testing Program to all students in grades 3 through 8. Given primarily in independent schools across the United States, this academically rigorous test provides students, parents, and schools with valuable data on student achievement and reasoning in the following areas: reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics, and quantitative reasoning. This year, testing for grades 5-8 will take place at the start of each school day on Monday, April 27 - Friday, May 1. Prior to the test, all students will complete a tutorial to familiarize themselves with the format of the online test. This will be especially important for those students new to school this year, as this will be their first time taking ERBs at Porter-Gaud. For all students, the tutorial will serve as a valuable opportunity to interact with navigation and testing features prior to test day. During the week of testing, you can help at home by making sure your child gets the proper rest, a good breakfast, and a positive start to the day. Students should remember to take their iPads home and charge their iPads each night before bringing their iPads and chargers to school each day. Children who are not feeling well should stay at home. Make-up testing will be available for students who are out due to illness. Being punctual is also extremely important. Students who arrive after the testing session has begun may need to take the test on the make-up day. If your child already receives testing accommodations, no action is needed on your part. The learning specialist working with your child will contact you to provide further information about accommodations. For parents who want to learn more about CTP-5 tests, please visit the link below. Following each testing cycle, we analyze scores in the context of previous years’ performance data to find student and grade-level patterns. Overall trends, including areas of strength and opportunities for growth, are shared annually with relevant grade-level and subject-area teachers so that testing data directly informs our curricular and instructional decisions. Starting in 5th grade, ERB scores in quantitative reasoning and mathematics are used as one of several data points in placement decisions for honors math courses. Beginning in 7th grade, ERB scores in quantitative reasoning, mathematics, and reading comprehension are also considered as one of several factors for course placement in 9th and 10th grade honors science courses. More details can be found in the Middle and Upper School course guides, available in the Important Downloads section of the website. We look forward to sharing your child’s testing results with you during the first weeks of summer vacation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Dr. Michael Wright, Head of Middle School
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