Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

English Language Arts (ELA) Alignment and Coding

All MCAS ELA questions are coded to the College and Career Readiness (CCR) Anchor Standards for Reading, Writing, and Language in the 2017 Massachusetts English Language Arts and Literacy Curriculum Framework . Grade-level standards are considered in developing and reviewing each test question; however, MCAS questions are written to assess the broader skills of reading, writing, and language that students in all grades are working towards and that are defined by the anchor standards. Students are not expected to know grade-specific content beyond their grade level, but the tests will include items that reflect an understanding of all the grade-level standards up to and including the grade level being assessed. Some standards, such as Speaking and Listening, are assessable at the local level.

As noted in the Framework, "CCR and grade-specific standards are necessary complements-the former providing broad standards, the latter providing additional specificity-that together define the skills and understandings that all students must demonstrate."

Standards Alignment

As noted above, all ELA test questions are aligned to the anchor standards in the Framework. For each question type, the standard alignment is as follows:

  • Selected response questions (all grades) are aligned to one reading or language standard.
  • Extended response questions (grades 3–8) are aligned to both writing and language standards. Extended response questions are aligned to one of the following writing text types:
    • Standard 1: opinion (grades 3–5)/argument (grades 6–8)
    • Standard 2: informative/explanatory (grades 3–8)
  • Essay questions (grades 6–8 and 10) are aligned to both writing and language standards. Depending on the prompt, essays are aligned to one of the following writing text types:
    • Standard 1: argument
    • Standard 2: informative/explanatory

The MCAS ELA tests will no longer include narrative writing. This type of writing should continue to be assessed at the local level.

In addition, all extended response and essay questions are aligned to:

  • Writing standard 4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
  • Language standard 1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  • Language standard 2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
  • Language standard 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Standards Coding for ELA MCAS Tests:

For grades 3–8 and 10, each anchor standard code consists of three components separated by periods:

R, W, or L
Strand (Reading, Writing, or Language)
PK–12
Grade (PK-12 indicates an anchor standard)
01–10
Standard number

Examples:

R.PK-12.3
Anchor standard 3 in the Reading strand
W.PK-12.1
Anchor standard 1 in the Writing strand

Last Updated: August 18, 2026

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