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Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP)

The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) provides information to educators, parents and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland state content standards.  Through a strong assessment system, stakeholders gain an understanding of how schools are performing and where assistance can be directed to support student growth and achievement.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that states administer the following annual statewide assessments to students in:

  • Kindergarten readiness assessment to all kindergarten students;
  • English languages arts/literacy and mathematics in grades 3-8 and one time in high school;
  • Science once in each grade span (3-5, 6-8, and high school); and
  • English language proficiency assessments in grades K-12 for all emergent multilingual learners.

Students who require alternate assessments that are written to alternate standards take alternate English language arts/literacy, alternate mathematics, alternate science, and/or alternate English language proficiency assessments. 

In Addition, the following annual assessments are administered to students:

  • Early learning assessment to all pre-kindergarten students; and
  • Social studies once in middle school grade span.

Assessment Administration Times – 2025 – 2026

  Assessment Title Elementary Middle High

Early Childhood


(ELA – Fall and Spring)
(KRA – Fall administration)		 Early Learning Assessment
  • Pre-K
  • Early literacy and rating scale
    
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)
  • Grade K
  • Early literacy, math, and teacher survey
    

MCAP Assessments


(Spring administration)
*These assessments required for graduation are taken at the completion of the MCAP assessment-aligned Semester B course.		 English Language Arts/Literacy
  • Grades 3-5
  • Four 70-minute sessions
  • Grades 6-8
  • Four 70-minute sessions
  • English 10*
  • Four 70-minute sessions
  • Graduation requirement
Mathematics
  • Grades 3-5
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Grades 6-8, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Algebra 1*
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Graduation requirement
Science
  • Grade 5
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Grade 8
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Biology*
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Graduation requirement
Social Studies  
  • Grade 8
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Government*
  • Four 40-minute sessions
  • Graduation requirement

Alternate MCAP


(Spring Administration)
Note: Testlets are very short tests or test sections with just two or three test items		 Alternate English Language Arts/Literacy
  • Grades 3-5
  • Two Domains (Reading, Writing)
  • Nine untimed testlets
  • Grades 6-8
  • Two Domains (Reading, Writing)
  • Nine untimed testlets
  • Grade 11
  • Two Domains (Reading, Writing)
  • Nine untimed testlets
Alternate Mathematics
  • Grades 3-5
  • Eight untimed testlets
  • Grades 6-8
  • Seven or eight untimed testlets
  • Grade 11
  • Six untimed testlets
Alternate Science
  • Grade 5
  • Nine untimed testlets
  • Grade 8
  • Nine untimed testlets
  • Grade 11
  • Ten untimed testlets

English Learners


(administered January-mid February)		 ACCESS for ELLs
  • Grades K-5
  • Four Domains (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
  • Untimed
  • Grades 6-8
  • Four Domains (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
  • Untimed
  • Grades 9-12
  • Four Domains (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
  • Untimed
WIDA Alternate ACCESS
  • Grades K-5
  • Four Domains (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
  • Untimed
  • Grades 6-8
  • Four Domains (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
  • Untimed
  • Grades 9-12
  • Four Domains (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking)
  • Untimed

Why do we have a middle school social studies assessment?

In 2017, the Maryland General Assembly amended Md. Ed. Art §7-203 Education Accountability Program. The amendment called for the creation of a middle school grade band assessment in social studies. The law states that the assessment shall be developed in collaboration with county boards, curriculum specialists, teachers, and academics with expertise in social studies education. It further defined the assessment by stating that it should, "Consist to the greatest extent possible, of criterion-referenced, performance-based tasks that require students to utilize critical and historical thinking skills and analyze primary sources."

End of Course Exams Information

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, for students entering the ninth grade (Class of 2027), the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for science and government will count as 20 percent of the student’s final grade in the respective high school level biology and government course. Additional information can be found at the End Of Course Exams Information page.

Resources

Practice Tests and Public Release Test Items

PARENT GUIDES

Parent Guides for ACCESS for ELLs

Parent Guides for WIDA Alternate ACCESS

ELA/Math/MISA 5 & 8/Social Studies 8

Parent Guides for Government/LS MISA