The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards (ILS). The results give parents, teachers, and schools one measure of student learning and school performance.

In 2004, students in grades 3, 5, and 8 took the ISAT in reading, writing and mathematics. Students in grades 4 and 7 took the ISAT in science and social science. Schools voluntarily administered tests in physical development and health and fine arts to students in grades 9 and/or 10.

The Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) measures Student Progress toward meeting the Illinois Learning Standards (ILS). Beginning in spring 2005, the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) will measure grade 11 students’ achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards for reading, mathematics, and science.

The PSAE includes three components: (1) an ISBE-developed science assessment; (2) the ACT Assessment, which includes reading, English, mathematics, and science tests; and (3) two WorkKeys assessments (Reading for Information and Applied Mathematics).

The Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English (IMAGE) measures the progress of students with limited English proficiency (LEP). In 2005, the tests will be administered in reading and mathematics in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11.

Merit’s language arts and math software programs correlate to the Illinois Learning Standards (ILS) and can help students prepare for the ISAT, PSAE and IMAGE tests. The content and format of Merit’s programs can help students develop and strengthen their test-taking skills as well as their reading, writing and math skills.

Merit reading software has been proven -- through rigorous, scientifically based research -- to increase both student reading comprehension and standardized test scores. Merit research study findings reveal that education software is an effective tool to improve test scores and academic performance.

Published: May 2005