Graduation diploma
For more information about graduation requirements, and the number of standard credits and verified credits needed for a Standard Diploma and Advanced Studies Diploma, please visit VDOE’s webpage. Additional information on other diploma options that are available for eligible students with disabilities and adult learners can be found on this VDOE webpage.
SOL Scoring
There are a total of 29 SOL assessments.
|
Reading |
Writing |
Math |
History & Social Studies |
Science |
|
Grade 3 Reading Grade 4 Reading Grade 5 Reading Grade 6 Reading Grade 7 Reading Grade 8 Reading EOC Reading |
Grade 8 Writing EOC Writing |
Grade 3 Math Grade 4 Math Grade 5 Math Grade 6 Math Grade 7 Math Grade 8 Math Algebra I Algebra II Geometry |
Virginia Studies Civics & Economics World History I World History II World Geography Virginia & US History |
Grade 5 Science Grade 8 Science Earth Science Biology Chemistry |
Student performance is graded on a scale of 0-600 with 400 representing the minimum level of acceptable proficiency and 500 representing advanced proficiency. The achievement levels for grades 3-8 reading and mathematics tests are: Pass/Advanced, Pass/Proficient, Fail/Basic, and Fail/Below Basic. Cure scores are presented below.
The achievement levels for science tests, history tests, and End-of-Course (EOC) tests are: Pass/Advanced (0-399), Pass/Proficient (400-499), and Fail/Does Not Meet (500-600).
For additional information, including recorded webinars, on SOL test scoring and performance report, please visit VDOE’s webpage.
SOL Test Blueprint (SOL Reporting Category)
SOL test blueprints guide test developers as they write test questions and construct the assessments. They also provide information to educators, parents and students, including:
- Specific standards covered by the test
- Number of test items in each reporting category and on the total test
- Standards assigned to each reporting category
The test blueprint for each English, Mathematics, Science, History/Social Science SOL assessment can be downloaded through VDOE’s webpage.
Reporting category scaled scores are on a scale of 0-50 and can be used to identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses. A score below 30 indicates the student may benefit from additional instruction in this area, and a score of 40 or above indicates a strength.
Performance Level Descriptors
The performance level descriptors (PLD) for the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests convey the knowledge and skills associated with each performance level. The PLD indicates the content-area knowledge and skills that students achieving at a certain level are expected to demonstrate based upon the SOL and Curriculum Framework. These descriptors may guide educators and parents in understanding the type of student performance required for each achievement level. Detailed PLD for each SOL assessment can be downloaded through VDOE’s webpage.
Growth Assessments
Legislation passed in the 2021 General Assembly (HB2027 and § 22.1-253.13:3) requires the implementation of “through year” growth assessments in reading and mathematics in grades 3-8. The legislation calls for the administration of a fall assessment and a spring assessment in grades 3-8 reading and mathematics to measure growth. Full implementation of the legislation will occur in 2022-2023 with assessments in these content areas and grade levels occurring three times during the year: fall, mid-year, and spring. The 2021–2022 school year has the following exception: the through-year growth assessment system shall include one beginning-of-year and one end-of-year assessment but shall not include any mid-year assessment.
To ensure that the growth assessments administered for this purpose are aligned to the Standards of Learning (SOL), shorter computer adaptive tests (CAT) using existing SOL test items are developed. The assessments administered to students in late August or early September 2021 will be based on the previous grade level’s content (ex., a grade 4 student will take an assessment based on grade 3 content in the fall of 2021). The grades 3-8 reading and mathematics assessments administered to students in spring 2022 will be the normally occurring SOL CAT assessments.
Growth from the spring 2021 SOL assessments or fall 2021 growth assessments to the spring 2022 SOL assessments will be based on a vertical scale, as shown below. The methodology used to measure growth on the vertical scale after the spring 2023 SOL assessments is still under consideration.
