COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

March 22, 2013

TO:  Division Superintendents

FROM:  Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:  Updates to the Standards of Learning (SOL) Practice Item Sets on the Virginia Department of Education Web Site

In preparation for the spring 2013 Standards of Learning (SOL) test administration, additional practice items have been added to the grades 3-8 mathematics, grades 3-8 reading, and the grades 3, 5, and 8 science practice item sets located at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml. 

The number of additional items varies by grade level and content area, but in all cases the additional items have been added to the end of the previously posted practice items.

In addition, the practice item guides for each practice item set have been updated to reflect the inclusion of the additional practice items.  The use of the guides is strongly encouraged, as their use will help ensure that students are familiar with the item types, the online tools, the navigation through the test and the Section Review screen within TestNav.

Should you have any questions, please contact the student assessment staff at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2102.

PIW/SLR/aw