PARCC and MCAS scores show similar validity in predicting college grades for Massachusetts students¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2015 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person · overdue for a recheck since 2018: tool and model accuracy changes quickly

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The validity of PARCC scores in predicting college grades is similar to the validity of MCAS scores. → Ira Nichols-Barrer 2015

Evidence¶

Ira Nichols-Barrer 2015¶

Ira Nichols-Barrer, Kate Place, Erin Dillon, Brian Gill. (2015). For Massachusetts Students, PARCC and MCAS Exams Comparable in Predicting College Outcomes (In Focus Brief). Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/in-focus-for-massachusetts-students-parcc-and-mcas-exams-comparable-in-predicting-college-outcomes

q2 · i? · associational · r?

The brief reports a comparative predictive-validity study of high school PARCC and MCAS exams against college grades, stating that "the validity of scores on PARCC assessments in predicting college grades is similar to the validity of scores on the MCAS." No effect size or test statistic is printed.

"Both the MCAS and the PARCC predict college readiness: The validity of scores on PARCC assessments in predicting college grades is similar to the validity of scores on the MCAS."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• More than 40 states adopted the Common Core, and many face assessment-system decisions similar to Massachusetts' — related
• Both MCAS and PARCC assessment scores predict college readiness, with similar validity in predicting college grades — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• PARCC sets a higher performance standard in mathematics than MCAS, while both exams predict college performance comparably — related
• PARCC and MCAS scores show similar validity for predicting college grades — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• MCAS and PARCC scores similarly predict which students need remedial coursework in college — related
• In math, meeting the PARCC college-readiness standard predicts higher college performance than meeting the MCAS proficiency standard
• The study is the first to examine whether PARCC assessments identify students who are ready for college, and it was commissioned to inform Massachusetts's decision between MCAS and PARCC — related
• The study is the first to examine whether PARCC assessments identify students who are ready for college — related
• In math, students meeting the PARCC college-ready standard are less likely to need remediation than students meeting the MCAS proficient standard; in ELA the standards are not statistically distinguishable — related