School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Assessments: Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the MSA might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the VSC and may be formatted similarly to those appearing on the MSA; however, these are sample items only and have not appeared on any MSA form.

Standard 1.0 General Reading Processes

Topic B. Phonics

Indicator 1. Use a variety of phonetic skills to read unfamiliar words

Objective a. Apply phonics skills

Selected Response Item
Look at the word with the underlined letters. The underlined letters stand for a sound. Decide which of the other three words has the same sound in it. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

crayon

  1. break
  2. ready
  3. bean
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_015.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item
Look at the word with the underlined letters. The underlined letters stand for a sound. Decide which of the other three words has the same sound in it. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

bounce

  1. four
  2. brown
  3. soup
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_016.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item
Look at the word with the underlined letters. The underlined letters stand for a sound. Decide which of the other three words has the same sound in it. Then mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

sure

  1. silver
  2. crash
  3. pass
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_017.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

In which word does the letter c have the same sound as it does in the word cabin?

Cabin

  1. cellar
  2. doctor
  3. race
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_030.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

In which word do the letters st have the same sound as they do in the word stone?

Stone

  1. stuck
  2. short
  3. split
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_031.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item

In which word do the letters sm have the same sound as they do in the word smart?

Smart

  1. stem
  2. stump
  3. smell
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_032.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

In which word do the letters th have the same sound as they do in the word third?

Third

  1. they
  2. thin
  3. there
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_033.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Which word has the same sound as the letters sh in the word wash?

Wash

  1. nation
  2. sandwich
  3. sweep
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_034.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item

In which word does the letter a have the same sound as it does in the word snap?

Snap

  1. state
  2. handle
  3. straw
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_035.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

In which word does the letter a have the same sound as it does in the word lady?

Lady

  1. garden
  2. candle
  3. able
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_036.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item

Which word has the same sound as the letter g in the word orange?

Orange

  1. sang
  2. gold
  3. jet
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_ela_3_029.xml

Correct Answer:
C