Beginning in the spring of 2025 The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is moving the elementary science PSSA from 4th grade to 5th grade. Parents and guardians should know that it assesses students' understanding of core ideas and practices across science, technology, and engineering. This is done through a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions with a focus on scientific practices and their application to core content knowledge aligned with Pennsylvania's standards for that grade level. Scores are used to gauge a student's overall science proficiency compared to other students in the state.
Key points for parents to understand about the 5th grade science PSSA:
• Content areas: Students are assessed on content across science, technology, engineering, environmental literacy, and sustainability. The test covers topics like life cycles, ecosystems, matter, energy, forces and motion, Earth's systems, and
engineering design.
• Question types: Students will encounter both multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions where they need to write out their answers, explaining their reasoning.
• Scoring: Open-ended responses are scored using a rubric based on specific criteria, including accuracy of scientific concepts and explanation.
• Preparation strategies:
o Review key science concepts covered in class throughout the year.
o Practice answering different types of science questions, including open-ended questions.
o Encourage critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills.
o Familiarize students with science vocabulary related to the tested topics.