Student Assessment
Prairie
State Achievement Examination (PSAE)
Announcements • General Information • Educator Information • Test Supervisor/Accommodations Coordinator Information
The Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) measures the achievement of grade 11 students in reading, mathematics, science, and writing.
The PSAE includes three components: (1) the ACT Plus Writing, which includes the ACT battery of four multiple-choice tests (English, mathematics, reading, and science) and a 30-minute constructed-response writing test with a single prompt question; (2) an ISBE-developed science assessment, and (3) two WorkKeys assessments (Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information).
Announcements
- Grade 12 Records in the Pre-ID file: Frequently Asked Questions
(Posted 01/29/10)
- 2009-10 Guidance – PSAE and the Receipt of a Regular High School Diploma
(Posted 09/30/09) - Interpretive Guide and Report Formats (Spring 2010)
- Memorandum: Elimination of the Fall Retake for the PSAE and Exemptions from the PSAE Diploma Requirement
(Posted 08/11/09) - Availability of ACT Scores from PSAE Day 1 Online

- 2009-10 Guidance – Assessment Accommodations for Students with Limited English Proficiency

- Guidance: Illinois State Board of Education Assessment Accommodations Students with Disabilities: IEP and 504 2009-2010 School Year

- Comparison of New and Old Methodology for PSAE
(Posted 10/27/2008)
PSAE Presentations
- 2010 PSAE - General Updates
(PDF)
(PPT) (Posted 10/08/09) - 2010 PSAE Mathematics
(PDF)
(PPT) (Posted 10/08/09) - 2010 PSAE Science
PDF
PPT (Posted 10/08/09)
Test Dates
Spring Administration |
|
Initial Test Dates
|
Makeup Test Dates
|
|
April 27-28, 2011
(Wed. - Thurs.) |
May 11-12, 2011
(Wed. - Thurs.) |
|
April 24-25, 2012*
(Tues. - Wed.)** |
May 8-9, 2012*
(Tues. - Wed.)** |
*Tentative dates. Dates for the 2012 PSAE will be deemed final upon signing of each year’s contract renewal.
**Please note that the initial and makeup PSAE dates will shift to Tuesday and Wednesday beginning in 2012, which will provide an additional day for accommodations testing that week and will expedite processing.
General Information
- ACT Assessment Test-Preparation Materials (ACT Web site)
- WorkKeys Test-Preparation Materials:
- Use of State ACT Tests for NCAA
- 2009-2010
PSAE Parent Brochure
- 2009-2010
Overview and Preparation Guide for PSAE Day 2
(contains sample items for students) (Posted 11/16/09) 
Information for Educators
- 2009-2010
PSAE Teacher's Handbook
(appendices D and E contains sample items)
(Posted 11/23/09) 
- Setting Standards on
the Prairie State Achievement Examination
- PSAE Performance Definitions
- PSAE Scale Score Cut Points
- 2001 PSAE Reliability Estimates
- PSAE Technical Manuals
- Relationship
Between the ISAT and PSAE Scale Scores

- A Review of Illinois State Assessment System High School Scoring Patterns

2010-2011 Information for PSAE Test Supervisors / Accommodations Coordinators
- Translated Test Instructions for use with LEP Students (Coming in March 2011)
- PSAE Staff Profile Forms (ACT Web site)
- PSAE Day 1 Supervisor’s Manuals (ACT Web site)
- PSAE Day 2 Supervisor’s Manual of Instructions (Coming Soon)
- 2011 Taking the ACT-English Version (Coming Soon)
- 2011 Taking the ACT-Spanish Version (Coming Soon)
- School Schedule and Site Options for Administration of the 2011 PSAE (includes Off-Site form) (Coming Soon)
- Test Administration Policies
for ACT State Testing
(Updated 05/10) - PSAE Test Accommodations Coordinators Training Video for Day 1 (Coming Soon)
- 2011 PSAE Answer Document Supplement for Day 1 and Day 2 (Coming Soon)
- 2011 PSAE Checklist of Dates (Coming Soon)
- PSAE Day 1 Accommodations Comparison: ACT-Approved and State-Allowed
(Posted 11/18/08) - 2011 Header Sheet for Requesting Day 1 PSAE Accommodations (Coming Soon)
- 2011 Procedures and Form for Requesting Day 1 PSAE ACT-Approved Accommodations (Coming Soon)
- 2011 Form for Requesting Day 1 PSAE State-Allowed Accommodations (Coming Soon)
- Order Form for the ACT Practice Special Formats
(Posted 8/30/10) - 2011 ACT State Testing Transfer Form (Coming Soon)
- PSAE Spanish Format
(Updated 9/02/09) - PSAE Standard Testing
Requirements
(Posted 8/30/10) - Test Supervisor/Accommodations
Coordinator Qualifications and Responsibilities
(Posted 8/30/10) - 2011 PSAE Day 1 and Day 2 Audio DVD Guidelines (Coming Soon)
- 2011 PSAE Abbreviated Webinar Training Workshop (Coming in January 2011)
- 2011 PSAE Training Workshop (Coming in March 2011)
For PSAE questions not addressed on this site, please send e-mail to psae@isbe.net.






