Tiered assessments allow students to show their understanding at varying degrees of challenge. Besides tests, we also offer tiered projects and performance assessments. Below, you’ll find examples of tiered tests. We’ve worked to improve these over the years. Recently, we’ve worked to merge the three choices into a single test. Students can now choose green, blue, or black challenges for each intended learning goal after showing grade-level proficiency with the questions required of all students. Here is an example. This innovation has increased choice (kids can choose green for some learning goals and blue or black for others) and eliminated the need for retests as a safety net for kids who try blue or black tests (since all students are asked to demonstrate grade level proficiency on the “all” questions).
*** 8th Grade (Mostly) Algebra ***
Solving Linear Equations and Evaluating Expressions
Green Assessment Solutions
Blue Assessment Solutions
Black Assessment Solutions
Problem Solving with Linear Equations
Green Assessment Solutions
Blue Assessment Solutions
Black Assessment Solutions
Analyzing Patterns, Relations, and Functions
Green Assessment Solutions
Blue Assessment Solutions
Black Assessment Solutions
Linear Functions – Numerical, Symbolic, and Graphical Representations
Green Assessment Solutions
Blue Assessment Solutions
Black Assessment Solutions
Solving, graphing, and applying linear systems of equations
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Solving Problems in 2 and 3-D Space
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Angle Relationships
Green Assessment
Blue Assessment
Black Assessment
Exponents, Radicals, and the Pythagorean Theorem
Green Assessment Solutions
Blue Assessment Solutions
Black Assessment Solutions
Polynomials and Quadratic Equations
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
*** 7th Grade ***
Algebraic Expressions and Integers
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Factors, Fractions, and Exponents
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Operations with Fractions
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Ratios, Proportions, Percents, and Probability
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Solving Multi-Step Equations
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Area and Volume
Green AssessmentSolutions
Blue AssessmentSolutions
Black AssessmentSolutions
Data Analysis (Histograms and Box and Whisker Plots)
Green Assessment
Blue Assessment
Black Assessment
*** 6th Grade ***
Number Sense and Algebraic Thinking
Green Assessment
Blue Assessment
Black Assessment
Decimal Operations and Applications
Green Assessment
Blue Assessment
Black Assessment
Number Patterns and Fractions
Green Assessment 1
Blue Assessment 1
Black Assessment 1
Green Assessment 2
Blue Assessment 2
Black Assessment 2
Ratios, Rates, Proportions, and Percents
Green Assessment 1
Blue Assessment 1
Black Assessment 1
Green Assessment 2
Blue Assessment 2
Black Assessment 2
Area and Volume
Green Assessment
Blue Assessment
Black Assessment
Challenge by Choice with Tiered Instruction and Assessment 
First, let me say that I enjoyed working through all of the “Black” level assessments for the “8th Grade Algebra Course (and a touch of Geometry)”! They were indeed quite challenging.
Second, I wanted to point out what I consider an error in the wording of problem #3 of the 8th grade “Problem Solving with Linear Equations” Black assessment. The final solution one arrives at algebraically is indeed n = 80 bags of flour (which I note your solution key also shows); however, the solution of 80 bags of flour at the outset does NOT satisfy the problem requirement for “all transactions involving whole bags.” In fact, after the first gate, which leaves the merchant w/ 74 bags (i.e., 7/8 * 80 = 70, plus the four bags returned to the merchant…), all other tax transactions involve fractional amounts of bags!
The problem statement should probably say something like “If the merchant starts and ends w/ a whole number of bags, find the value of n” as its last sentence if you wish to retain the final answer of n = 80 bags.
In looking over the online solution key for the “8th Grade Algebra Course (and a touch of Geometry) – Analyzing Patterns, Relations, and Functions” Black assessment, I wanted to point out something that as a Physics and Math teacher I would consider an error in your posted solution: Your vertical axis for problem #3 (the two colliding trains w/ a fly traveling between them…) should NOT be labeled “Distance.” Instead, the appropriate term for that particular axis quantity should be “Position.”
In the case of your solution graph, what you’ve really shown is the position of each quantity (Trains A & B, as well as the fly) relative to the starting position of both Train A and the fly. In physics this makes a huge difference whether we use the appropriate term “position,” since velocity then can be easily defined as an appropriate signed quantity corresponding to the slope along the position vs. time graph.
The earlier you can get students used to the difference between “position” and “distance,” the better! (Esp. while working w/ nice, simple 1-D motion graphs!)
Thanks a lot for the feedback, Carlos. I’ll pass your comments along to our 8th grade team so they can think about what you’ve said when they arrive at that unit during the coming school year. It feels really good to hear you say that you enjoyed working through the problems, and that they seemed quite challenging. You clearly know your stuff, and if you found the problems challenging while finding only those two errors, then I think we’re doing pretty well. If you find anything else, please let us know. Thank you again!
I just found your site, and am blown away by the assessments your team has created. I work in an urban school, where the need for tiered assessments and instruction stems from a broad range of readiness for Algebra. I was wondering if you could describe (or post examples) of the type of work you have students do in class – or how you structure your classes. Do all students receive the general instruction, and then divide up afterward? Any information/resources would be much appreciated, as I am always trying to catch my lower skilled kids up, while pushing my higher level students as far as they can go.
Thanks!
Thanks for the comment, Jen. Where do you work? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this work started in an urban school in Oakland (though we were applying it in science classes at the time). The range of readiness in our classes was huge, which had a major impact on classroom managment, culture, and learning in general. The strategy helped in a big way.
About running a class – Could you check out the comments section of the “Tiered Instruction and Assessment” page. A similar question was asked and I discussed some lesson design approaches we use.
Hi, David.
I am *so* impressed by these assessments, and find myself referring to them, constantly, when planning my own instruction. I noticed, however, that all the beautiful and incredible sixth grade math assessments are no longer available! I’m hoping this is a glitch – ? I’d LOVE access to them, again. They are amazingly useful! Any way to get them on the site, again? (I’m sure others would benefit, too.)
Thanks,
Rachel
Rachel,
I’m thrilled to hear these resources have been useful. Realizing that teachers use these assessments as examples to learn and build from, I’m trying to make sure they all represent tiered assessment at its best – problem solving challenges that are natural conceptual extensions for the knowledge and skills assessed during a given unit. I’m sorry if the absence of the 6th grade assessments is holding you back at all. I hope to upload improved 6th grade assessments in the near future.
David
Oh, great! Thanks so much. I’ll be glad to have them back, but can definitely make do without them, for a while. =)
Rachel
This is incredible! I teach 5th grade G.T. math, and have found the tiered assessments to be invaluable…especially as I work on making my own assessments. Thanks!
It’s great to hear a comment like this, Marc. Thanks for the feedback and enjoy!
Hi there!
Excellent job on the tiered assessments! A lot of work has gone into what your team has created and is so helpful to us teachers who care to reach all of our students. Using Challenge by Choice in my classroom has made a great difference in the students’ motivation to work out their tasks! Anyhow, I was wondering if you could share your textbook/workbook resources used for 8th grade Pre-Algebra/Algebra?
Thanks,
Kristin
Thanks so much for the positive thoughts, Kristin. At the time these assessments were developed, 7th grade teachers were using Prentice Hall Pre-Algebra and 8th grade teachers were using McDougal Littell’s Algebra 1 Concepts and Skills. Supplemental problems were offered from a wide variety of sources. https://challengebychoice.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/7th-and-8th-grade-problem-set-bibliography.pdf
The other posts say it all, this is wonderful work. Do you have plans to extend the resources down to lower grades?
Thanks,
Irene
Thanks, Irene. I’d love to be part of team effort to develop resources for lower grades, but that isn’t in the cards at the moment.
FYI, in 7th grade, the blue assessment for simplifying expressions and solving basic equations is a repeat of the blue Algebraic Expressions and Integers. I really love this tiering!!!! Thank you for sharing them.
Laurie
thanks, Laurie! I just tried to fix… look and see.
Will there be a posting for solutions to Grade 6?
sorry, Chris. i don’t have plans to post grade 6 solutions.
So, there is nothing to keep students from finding this site, right? Do you share the contents of the tests with your students ahead of time or are these just sample tests for the rest of us?
Yes, that’s right. Our tests have evolved over the years, and these are samples. Here’s an example of a recent test if you’re interested.
Thanks. That is interesting. Still very skill based tests. Do you do anything with more conceptual or applied kinds of questions? Maybe shorter tests that target a couple or a few skills and require students to do more thinking than recall? I’m super interested in multiple levels of things like that.
We enjoy supplementing tests like these with more conceptual and/or applied tasks. For an example, check out the tiered performance task on the classroom videos page. This was given in addition to the test you looked at.
Are there solution keys to the 6th grade assessments?
Sorry. No, these were provided by some generous 6th grade teachers a while back, and I don’t have solutions to share.
I apologize — I meant to reply to your post, but I made a new one instead 🙂
Very generous indeed — they are excellent assessments, and I am so grateful for this resource! I am trying this approach with my Math 6 Accelerated class –beginning our unit on number patterns and fractions with a formative assessment. It was so interesting to see my students choose the color/challenge of choice. Several went for black and then soon asked to try blue. Some went for blue and asked to go to green. I am trying to think about how I will use these assessments to inform my teaching. I saw the sample tiered questions (practice) — I will continue to look through this site to learn more. Thank you!
I can’t seem to find the assessments for 7th grade. All I can find are the solutions?
This seems like an amazing resource, especially because beginning my third year the big thing I am struggling with is challenging my students and differentiating for them as well.
Thanks, Bethany. The link to the solutions is literally a space away from the assessment. I did a bad job of visually separating them. Just slide a bit to the left and click.
I am so excited to find this site! I have been trying to implement these practices in my room. I had no idea there was a word for it, let alone such a great resource!
Excellent work done
I would like to link to these examples from an online course I am developing for PBS TeacherLine. To whom shall I send my request for permission?
No problem. If you require more formal permission, email dsuarezteacher@gmail.com
any answer keys available
yes. you can click the “solutions” link
How can I get copies of the assessments? Thank you.
You should be able to click on the provided links above.
Hello there, I was wondering if you had the solutions for the Grade 6 Black level set? I see “solutions” for Grade 7 and 8 but not 6. Thank you!
sorry, Margie. I don’t have solutions to these assessments in my files.
Is there an answer sheet?
I’m sorry there aren’t solutions for grade 6.
why is that
I never had solutions as these assessments were made by colleagues, and I haven’t gotten around to making any of my own. If you decide to have a go and feel inspired to share, I’ll happily post.
are you ever going to post year 6 solutions?
This seems to be an old thread, but I LOVE these tiered assessments. I’ve been using them for 3 years now and the kids are so challenged by the black and some of the blue questions. Please let me know if you have anything for 4th-5th grade as well.
Great comments here