Standard #: LA.7.1.7.7 (Archived Standard)

Test Item Specifications

Item Type(s): This benchmark may be assessed using: MC item(s)
N/A


Clarification :
The student will identify similarities between elements within or across texts or will identify differences between elements within or across texts.

Content Limits :
Grade-level appropriate texts should include elements that can be compared or contrasted and may include, but are not limited to, character, setting, descriptive language, subject, author’s purpose, author’s perspective, main idea, and themes and topics.

Content Focus :
Compare (similarities within/across texts)
Contrast (differences within/across texts)

Text Attributes :
Texts should be literary or informational. 

Other stimuli may include, but are not limited to, illustrations with captions, graphics, and charts. 

Texts should provide sufficient information that establishes a clear relationship between the similarities or a clear relationship between the differences. 

Texts should include elements that compare and/or contrast. 

To assess this benchmark across texts, items should be based on two related texts that contain elements that can be compared or contrasted. 

To assess this benchmark within a text, items should be based on elements that can be compared or contrasted.

Distractor Attributes :
Distractors may include, but are not limited to 

• incorrect comparisons; 
• incorrect contrasts; 
• similarities or differences that are drawn from the text but unrelated to the test item; 
• facts and details that are drawn from the text but unrelated to the test item; and 
• plausible but incorrect distractors based on the text. 

Note: When constructing a comparison item, distractors should not contrast elements. When constructing a contrast item, distractors should not compare elements. 

Note: For differentiating between Benchmark LA.7.1.7.7 and Benchmark LA.7.6.2.2, items that require students to compare or contrast specific details within the text should be aligned with Benchmark LA.7.1.7.7. Items that require students to synthesize similarities or differences and to draw conclusions from those similarities or differences within or across text(s) should be aligned with Benchmark LA.7.6.2.2.

Sample Test Items (1)