VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING

Spring 2011 Released Test

GRADE 5
WRITING

Form W0111, CORE 1

Property of the Virginia Department of Education

Copyright ©2011 by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia
23218-2120. All rights reserved. Except as permitted by law, this material may not be reproduced or used in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval
system, without written permission from the copyright owner. Commonwealth of Virginia public school educators may
reproduce any portion of these released tests for non-commercial educational purposes without requesting permission.
All others should direct their written requests to the Virginia Department of Education, Division of Student Assessment
and School Improvement, at the above address or by e-mail to Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov.
Writing

Directions

Read the passage. Then read each question about the passage and choose the best answer.
Fill in the circle on your answer document for the answer you have chosen.

SAMPLE A

A Special Person
In English class, Sarah has been asked to write a description of someone
special to her. Sarah wants to write about her older brother.

Which of these would best help Sarah write her description of her older
brother?

A Calling his friends and telling them about him

B Thinking about all the things she likes about him
C Making a list of things she wants him to do for her
D Asking him to take her to the library

SAMPLE B

Here is the first part of Sarah’s rough draft.

(1)A special person in my life is my big brother. (2)He is Ben.

How can sentences 1 and 2 best be combined?

F A special person in my life is Ben, my big brother.

G A special person in my life is my big brother and Ben is who he is.
H In my life a special person is my big brother and he is Ben.
J My big brother Ben is a special person, he is in my life.

SAMPLE C

Here is the next part of Sarah’s rough draft.

(3)He helps me with my homework.

In sentence 3, He helps should be written —

A He were helping
B He have helped
C He help
D as it is

3
Directions

You do not need to read a passage to answer the following question. Read and answer
the question.

SAMPLE D

Read this sentence.

The race proved that Lee was a

more fast runner than Bob.

In this sentence, more fast should be written —

F faster
G fastest
H more faster
J as it is

4
 A Special Weekend

Elizabeth’s teacher asks her class to write a letter. Elizabeth decides to

write to her friend Angela.

1 Before writing her letter, Elizabeth makes these notes.

Things we will do:

1.Have a cookout
2. Think about my favorite subject
3. Play board games and ball games
4. Have a party for Judy
5. Take Judy to the bus station
6. Take Angela home after saying
goodbye to Judy

Which of these does NOT belong in Elizabeth’s notes?

A Think about my favorite subject

B Play board games and ball games
C Have a party for Judy
D Take Judy to the bus station

5
 Here is the first part of Elizabeth’s letter. Use it to answer questions 2–3.

Dear Angela,

(1)I have some amazing news to share with you. (2)Judy, who lives in California, my
favorite cousin, is coming to visit in two weeks. (3)She is the person I was telling you
about who works at an aquarium. (4)Judy is graduating from college in one month
and will be staying with us for two days.

(5)Would you like to join us for this special weekend? (6)You are interested in
becoming a marine biologist. (7)Judy can tell you many stories about whales and
other sea life. (8)I am sure she has many amazing experiences to share.

(9)If you are able to join us, my family and I can pick you up at your home on Friday
afternoon. (10)Since you live so close to us, it won’t take very long to drive there.
(11)You will have a wonderful time during these two days.

2 Which of these is the best way for Elizabeth to rewrite sentence 2?

F In two weeks Judy, who lives in California, my favorite cousin, is coming to visit us.
G Coming to visit us in two weeks is Judy who lives in California, my favorite cousin.
H My favorite cousin Judy, who lives in California, is coming to visit us in two weeks.
J My favorite cousin is coming to visit us in two weeks, Judy, who lives in California.

6
3 Which of these is the best way to combine sentences 6 and 7?

A I know that you are interested in becoming a marine biologist, then Judy can tell
you many stories about whales and other sea life.
B Since you are interested in becoming a marine biologist, Judy can tell you many
stories about whales and other sea life.
C I know that you are interested in becoming a marine biologist, but Judy can tell you
many stories about whales and other sea life.
D Since you are interested in becoming a marine biologist, and Judy can tell you many
stories about whales and other sea life.

7
Read the next part of Elizabeth’s letter and use it to answer
questions 4–8. This section has groups of underlined words.
The questions ask about these groups of underlined words.

(12)We are planning many activities for the weekend. (13)On Friday night we will
have a cookout. (14)Judy says Mom’s hamburgers are the most delicious she has
ever eaten. (15)She especially loves the sauce Mom adds to the burgers. (16)After
dinner the whole family including our dog Rex, will play games. (17)That means
there will be laughing, joking, and even some barking. (18)We will have the best
time playing games together. (19)I can’t wait.

(20)On Saturday Dad will take us to the museum. (21)He is eager to see the new
exhibit, “Sounds All Around.” (22)The exhibit will show how different sounds are
made with instruments. (23)My dads friend went to the new exhibit and said that he
had a great time listening to the various sounds from the instruments that were
displayed. (24)He told Dad there is even a giant gong, a large metal disk that makes
a loud sound when hit. (25)Seeing and hearing it will be very exciting!

(26)When we come home from the museum, and Mom will have a party for my
cousin. (27)My entire family will be invited, which means many people will be there.

(28)On Sunday afternoon I and my family will take Judy to the bus station. (29)She
is going to visit her friend in Norfolk. (30)Dad says we can take you home after we
say goodbye to my cousin.

(31)Please come spend the weekend with us. (32)You would enjoy meeting Judy,
and I know she would enjoy meeting you. (33)We can make plans for you to visit
once you receive permission from your parents. (34)The weekend will be perfect if
you join us. (35)Please write back soon.

Your friend,

Elizabeth

8
4 In sentence 16, family including our dog Rex, should be written —

F family including, our dog Rex

G family, including our dog Rex,
H family including our dog Rex
J as it is

5 In sentence 23, dads should be written —

A dads’s
B dad’s
C dads’
D as it is

6 In sentence 26, home from the museum, and Mom should be written —

F home from the museum, Mom

G home from the museum, so Mom
H home from the museum, because Mom
J as it is

9
7 In sentence 28, I and my family should be written —

A my family and I
B my family and me
C me and my family
D as it is

8 In sentence 34, weekend will be should be written —

F weekend is
G weekend was
H weekend has been
J as it is

10
 Go to the next
page and continue
working.

11
 Pygmy Shrews

Kevin’s teacher asks the class to write about an animal found in Virginia.
Kevin decides to write about the pygmy shrew.

9 Which should Kevin do to gather the most information about pygmy shrews?

A Research pygmy shrews on the Internet

B Find pictures of pygmy shrews
C Write an introduction about pygmy shrews
D Ask his friends about pygmy shrews

12
 Go to the next
page and continue
working.

13
 Here is the first part of Kevin’s rough draft. Use it to answer
questions 10–11.

(1)One of the smallest creatures in Virginia is so difficult to find that scientists

have trouble studying it. (2)This tiny creature is called the pygmy shrew. (3)With a
pointed nose that looks like a mouse, its other name is sometimes called a
shrew mouse.
(4)The extremely small size of the pygmy shrew is hard to believe. (5)The body
and tail combined measure approximately 2 1/2 inches long. (6)This animal is so tiny.
(7)It weighs less than a dime. (8)Scientists believe that pygmy shrews are among
the smallest mammals in North America.

10 How should sentence 3 be revised to make the ideas clearer?

F Its other name being called a shrew mouse is because it looks like a mouse with a
pointed nose.
G Because it looks mouselike with a pointed nose, it has another name which is a
shrew mouse.
H Its name is because it looks like a mouse with a pointed nose and is sometimes
called a shrew mouse.
J It is sometimes called a shrew mouse because of its mouselike, pointed nose.

14
11 Which is the best way to combine sentences 6 and 7?

A This animal is so tiny because it weighs less than a dime.

B This tiny animal weighs less than a dime.
C This tiny animal when it weighs less than a dime.
D This animal is so tiny so that it weighs less than a dime.

15
Read the next part of Kevin’s rough draft and use it to answer
questions 12–17. This section has groups of underlined words.
The questions ask about these groups of underlined words.

(9)Although the tiny shrews are difficult to find and study, scientists know
something about where the shrews live. (10)These creatures like to inhabit the
sloping sides of mountains, and they can be found in Virginias Appalachian
Mountains. (11)They build dens and live under thick layers of leaves. (12)According
to some reports, the tunnels they dig to their dens are approximately the size of an
earthworm hole. (13)These animals spend their entire lives in small areas around
their dens. (14)They eat spiders, beetles, and caterpillars that are found near
their homes.
(15)Scientists who study pygmy shrews also have a challenging time locating
these creatures’ homes. (16)One question scientists want answered is how many
pygmy shrews live in an area. (17)To find this answer, scientists set traps for it.
(18)However, catching these animals is not easy. (19)Most are so small that they are
sure to escape from almost any trap. (20)To avoid this problem, scientists dig
openings in the ground and place buckets at the bottom. (21)The tiny animals fall
into the bucket and cannot escape. (22)By carefully trapping the animals, scientists
can count the shrews living in an area. (23)The scientists then release the animals
back into their homes. (24)Since people hardly never see them, it is easy to think
that not many shrews exist. (25)Studies have found, however, that pygmy shrews
are actually more common than people realize.
(26)These animals continued to interest scientists. (27)As scientists discover
more about pygmy shrews, they cannot help but wonder how these small animals
thrive in their environment. (28)There is still much to be learned about pygmy
shrews. (29)Therefore, scientists will continue to uncover more facts about
these creatures.

16
12 In sentence 10, Virginias should be written —

F Virginias’
G Virginia’s
H Virginias’s
J as it is

13 In sentence 12, hole should be written —

A hoal
B whole
C whoal
D as it is

14 In sentence 17, it should be written —

F him
G they
H them
J as it is

17
15 In sentence 22, carefully should be written —

A careful
B more carefully
C most careful
D as it is

16 In sentence 24, hardly never should be written —

F never hardly
G hardly ever
H not hardly never
J as it is

17 In sentence 26, continued should be written —

A continue
B continues
C continuing
D as it is

18
You do not need to read a passage to answer the following questions. Read and
answer the questions.

18 Read this sentence.

Elena gathered her homework extra

pencils, and highlighter before going
home at the end of the school day.

In this sentence, homework extra pencils, and highlighter should

be written —

F homework, extra pencils, and, highlighter

G homework extra pencils, and, highlighter
H homework, extra pencils, and highlighter
J as it is

19 Read this sentence.

The play shouldnt last longer than

two hours.

In this sentence, shouldnt should be written —

A should’nt
B shouldn’t
C shouldnt’
D as it is

19
20 Read this sentence.

Students will be asked to share stories

about themselves with the class.

In this sentence, themselves should be written —

F themself
G himself or herself
H him or her
J as it is

20
 Answer Key-5090-W0111
Test Sequence Reporting
Number Correct Answer Category Reporting Category Description
1 A 001 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes
2 H 001 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes
3 B 001 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes
4 G 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
5 B 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
6 F 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
7 A 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
8 J 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
9 A 001 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes
10 J 001 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes
11 B 001 Plan, compose, and revise in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes
12 G 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
13 D 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
14 H 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
15 D 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
16 G 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
17 A 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
18 H 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
19 B 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
20 J 002 Edit for correct use of language, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
 Spring 2011 Released
Grade 5 Standards of Learning Writing Test
Total Raw Score to Scaled Score Conversion Table for
Multiple Choice Form W0111 Administered with Prompt 5253

Total Raw Score

Number of Multiple Choice Items
Answered Correctly Added to the Total Scaled Score
Number of Points Earned on the
Short Paper
0 000
1 022
2 043
3 065
4 086 A total raw score (left
5 108 column) is converted to a
6 129 total scaled score (right
7 195 column). The total scaled
8 228 score may range from 0 to
9 248 600.
10 262
11 274 A scaled score of 400 or
12 284 more means the student
13 292 passed the SOL test, while
14 300 a scaled score of 399 or
15 308 less means the student did
16 315 not pass the test. A scaled
17 322 score of 500 or more
18 329 indicates the student
19 335 passed the SOL test at an
20 342 advanced level.
21 349
22 356
23 363
24 370
25 377
26 384
27 391
28 399
29 406
30 414
31 422
32 431
33 440
34 450
35 461
36 473
37 487
38 504
39 524
40 546
41 571
42 599
43 600
44 600