GCPS 8th graders show what they know this spring…

Georgia Milestones Online

The 8th Grade Georgia Milestones Assessment is part of the Georgia Milestones assessment system, spanning 3rd grade to high school. This state assessment measures how well 8th grade students have learned knowledge and skills in the core areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. This assessment provides information about student achievement and readiness to move on to the next level of learning.

All Georgia students will take the assessment online. Students answer technology-enhanced questions as part of the assessment. (See below for more about the types of questions on the Milestones assessment.) Here in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), the testing calendar and an increase in the number of computers available for testing ensure a smooth testing experience for students and allow for a normal instructional day for students who are not in testing. .

So, what do I need to know about Milestones for my 8th grader?

Instruction Continues During Testing.

Schools follow a district testing schedule that is designed to maximize the instructional time for our students. In addition, GCPS has invested in additional devices so that schools have enough available technology to assess students while still being able to use technology in the classroom to enhance instruction. The additional devices allow more students to test at a given time, reducing the total number of days required to complete testing. This schedule also helps to ensure that students are rested and ready for testing. With this schedule, Milestones seems less like a testing event and more like a regular school day.

Access to Computers for Testing.

The technology-enhanced questions require higher technology specifications on computers used for testing. Your student’s school has enough computers with adequate capacity so that every student in a grade level will be able to take a Milestones exam on the designated day, using morning and afternoon sessions if needed. As much as possible, computers in the media center and productivity labs will not be used for testing so that students in other grades and subjects have continued access to these technology resources on testing days.

Milestones is not an “all day” event. Times for each assessment range from 15 minutes up to 90 minutes on any given day. Students will continue instruction and normal school activities the rest of the day. 

Your student will be ready! Gwinnett’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum includes all of the state standards, so the teaching and learning that goes on in the classroom every day prepares students for the rigorous assessments of Georgia Milestones. In addition, classwork, homework, quizzes, and tests throughout the school year prepare students for the assessment. Of course, regular school attendance and participation in the classroom is critical to a student’s academic success as well. 

You can support your student. Remind your child that the tests will cover material learned in class. Please reference the Georgia Department of Education Milestones Resources page for additional support materials. 

Your student can practice. Help your student practice using the online testing environment and the tools that will be used for testing. Visit GAExperienceOnline.com, select “Test Practice,” and follow the prompts to see the types of questions and tools available.

Types of Questions for 8th Grade Milestones 

Georgia Milestones includes four types of questions:

Selected Response: These multiple-choice questions in the language arts and mathematics assessments require students to select an answer from a set of options. 

Constructed Response: Used for both the language arts and mathematics exams, these open-ended questions require students to generate a response that both answers the question and provides an explanation.

Extended Response: In the writing component of the language arts assessment, students answer questions with more in-depth answers and extensive explanation.

Technology-Enhanced Response: These items are more interactive, requiring students to use technology to answer the question. Examples include a “drag and drop” response, editing text, shading an object, or classifying items. These items are part of both assessments.