Prepare for Georgia Milestones Tests with Digital GMAS Practice Tests

With the right preparation, Georgia Milestones tests are an opportunity for your students to shine — no stress necessary. And virtual GMAS practice tests make preparation easy. Your students can get a sense for both the content they’ll be tested on and the sorts of questions they’ll run into on the computer-based test.

Here’s what you need to know about Georgia Milestones and prepping your students with GMAS practice tests.

Georgia Milestone Assessment System, aka Georgia Milestones or GMAS, is a state test administered from Grade 3 through high school. Georgia Milestones measures how well students have internalized skills and knowledge outlined in the state-adopted content standards. The assessments are designed to determine how prepared students are for the next grade level of education or, in the case of graduating high school students, college or a career. Georgia Milestones tests are part of the state’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), an accountability structure for Georgia’s educational system.

Subjects tested at the end of each grade are:

• English language arts (grades 3–8)
• Mathematics (grades 3–8)
• Science (grades 5 and 8)
• Social studies (grade 8)

High school students take Georgia Milestones end-of-course (EOC) exams for the following subjects:

• American Literature and Composition
• Algebra I / Coordinate Algebra
• Biology
• U.S. History

Any middle school students enrolled in those same high school courses must also take the EOC assessment, which serves as the course’s final exam. The EOC exams contribute to each student’s total grade in the corresponding course. In 2020-2021, the EOC grade weight was 0.01% due to pandemic impacts. This year, 2021-2022, the EOC grade weight returned to its typical 20%.

For students with special needs whose individual educational plan (IEP) team determines that the GMAS test is not appropriately accessible, the state offers the Georgia Alternate Assessment 2.0 (GAA 2.0).

The core aim of Georgia Milestones is to provide teachers and parents with key information about students’ achievement. Test results can indicate areas in need of improvement on both the individual and school levels.

Here are top ways to help prepare students for the Georgia Milestone:

1) Build Comfort with the Online Testing Environment: Integrate online tools, keyboarding, and embed online testing strategies throughout the school year.

2) Guide Content Mastery: Work with students to ensure they understand the content, topics, and learning standards needed to do well on the test.

3) GMAS Practice Tests: Give students practice tests so they get an idea of what to expect and you as the instructor can identify where you can best support your students.

Georgia Milestones assessments are primarily given on computer, so tech literacy is a must for students. To best prepare your students, you’ll want to provide opportunities for them to not only learn the content that will be on the tests, but to also spend time in a virtual testing environment similar to that of the Georgia Milestones tests.

All grade and course tests for Georgia Milestones include technology-enhanced items, or digital question styles made possible by the virtual testing environment. These may include drag-and-drop, multiple-selection questions, or filling information in tables. Every ELA test also includes open-ended (or constructed response) items, as well as a writing component in response to a passage read by the students.

They’ll learn keyboarding and how to finish one question before going on to the next. They can also practice on the same digital device they’ll use for the real test, ensuring that they’re comfortable and familiar with the technology before crunch time.

Make sure students learn and master what they need to know for the state test! Give students formative assessments throughout the year to check in on how well they’ve mastered the content and understand essential concepts. The Georgia Milestone website contains details about what to expect on the test. Released GMAS practice tests can give a realistic perspective on how students will do on the official Milestone exam.

Practice builds stamina, comfort, and confidence for students. It helps them know what to expect when the official testing day comes around. Plus, for you as the instructor, you can get insight into where students are at so the results on the official test don’t need to be a surprise. Read on for how to access practice tests.

To make practicing for the Georgia Milestones as easy as possible, Edulastic has already uploaded GMAS practice test content to the Edulastic Public Library. You (and your students) can access this practice content with a free Edulastic account — and start preparing for test day right away. Students will get more comfortable with what to expect on the official test day, and you as the instructor will get insights into what students have mastered and where learning gaps might still exist so you can course correct.

Practice items are available for both math and ELA, grades 3 through 8. In Edulastic you can make any adjustments to customize items and assessments, or you can make your own practice assessments and items too! There is no limit!

Along with getting a glimpse of the sort of content they may see on the Georgia Milestones test, your students will be able to practice using the same kind of virtual testing tools they’ll encounter in Georgia Milestones. Their skills will be well-polished by the time they take the real test.

Join Edulastic for FREE and prepare for Georgia Milestones

Resource Links

• http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Assessment-System.aspx
• https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GAA_2.aspx
• https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/EOG-Study-Resource-Guides.aspx
• https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Documents/For%20Educators/Newsletter/2021-2022/Assessment-Update-July-2021.pdf