The content areas for which the tests have been released are: English: Reading and Writing, Mathematics, and Science in grades 3, 5, and 8 and End-of-Course.

The Standards of Learning in History and Social Science were amplified through the Teacher's Resource Guide in 1999, and the tests were revised to match this new amplification. In 2001, new History and Social Science Standards of Learning were approved and the Teacher Resource Guide was replaced with a Curriculum Framework. These changes brought another alignment that again resulted in the removal of items from the history and social science section of the test bank. During these processes the test question bank had to be rebuilt, leaving a minimum number of questions available.

History and Social Science tests are not being released. However, ten released items for each of the history tests are available at the History and Social Science Released Items site. The new tests for United States History to 1877, United States History from 1877 to the Present, and Civics and Economics were implemented Spring 2004; thus, no items for these tests are available for release.

In addition to all history and social science tests, the following Spring 2005 SOL tests will not be released:

· Grade 8 English: Reading test (cumulative)

Grade 8 Mathematics test (cumulative)

These tests are being kept secure because students, in grades 9 through 12, who are pursuing a Modified Standard Diploma may continue to take the cumulative Grade 8 English: Reading and Mathematics tests to verify the literacy and numeracy requirements for this diploma. Releasing the spring 2005 tests would compromise the availability of the grade 8 cumulative reading and mathematics tests for students who still need to take them.

· End-of-Course (EOC) English: Reading test (1995 Standards)

This test is being kept secure because students who passed the coursework for the English SOL for grades 9 through 11 prior to fall 2005 may retake the EOC English: Reading tests (1995 Standards) for verified credit. Releasing the spring 2005 tests would compromise the availability of the EOC reading test (1995 Standards) for students who still need to take it.

· EOC Algebra II test (2001 Standards)

This test is being kept secure because students who passed the coursework for the Algebra II SOL prior to fall 2005 will continue to retake the EOC Algebra II test (2001 Standards).

Beginning in fall 2005, students who completed coursework for Algebra II took a new test called Algebra II (2001 Standards Revised) based on a revised blueprint that reflected changes in the Reporting Category: Relations and Functions. However, students who passed the coursework for Algebra II prior to fall 2005 should continue to be administered the test called Algebra II (2001 Standards).

Releasing the spring 2005 tests would compromise the availability of the EOC Algebra II test (2001 Standards) for students who still need to take it.

Please note that the reading and mathematics tests that are being administered in spring 2006 in grades 3, 5, and 8 are different from those that have been administered in the past. At grade 3 there is now a reading test; the writing component that was previously part of the grade 3 English test has been eliminated. At grades 5 and 8, the tests now measure grade level content only. Prior to spring 2006, these tests were cumulative with the fifth-grade tests measuring the SOL from grades 4 and 5, and the grade 8 test measuring content from grades 6, 7, and 8.

Braille