Grade Four: English–Language Arts (ELA)

Typical Grade Four ELA Performance on the CST

Advanced

Students in grade four at the advanced level demonstrate excellent comprehension of implicit and explicit features of grade-appropriate texts. They synthesize information within and across texts, infer the author's purpose in informational text, and distinguish cause and effect. Advanced students also possess a wide variety of English language skills, including using context to determine shades of meaning, understanding figurative language, identifying topic sentences, improving text by adding appropriate details, and using correct punctuation in less common situations.

Proficient

Students in grade four at the proficient level demonstrate a good understanding of implicit and explicit features of grade-appropriate texts. They follow written instructions, compare information within and across texts, identify the main events of a plot, and understand character. Proficient students also demonstrate knowledge of synonyms and multiple-meaning words, audience and purpose for writing, use of details to develop ideas, and a variety of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization rules.

Basic

Students in grade four at the basic level demonstrate understanding of explicit features of grade-appropriate text, such as recalling key details, contrasting information within and across texts, and comparing characters in different texts. Basic students also draw conclusions regarding implicit features of texts: they distinguish between reality and fantasy, and they predict content based on the title. Language skills demonstrated by basic students include using root words, identifying synonyms for words in context, determining the purpose for writing, and using simple written conventions.

Below Basic

Students in grade four at the below basic level demonstrate an understanding of some explicitly stated aspects of grade-appropriate texts, including the topic of the text. The English language skills of below basic students include such abilities as identifying the meaning of frequently occurring words in context and recognizing the correct use of apostrophes in contractions.