Progress Learning Minnesota

MCA Test Prep for Middle Schools

With MCA Practice and Assessments from Progress Learning, Minnesota educators can equip students to meet standards and perform well on final exams.

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Proven Results in Helping Schools Succeed Across the Country

The Evidence-Based Benefits of Gamification in Education
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From Fragmented Systems to Districtwide Results: Clarendon County School District
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From Fragmented Systems to Districtwide Results: Clarendon County School District

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Case Study: Paulding County School District in Paulding County, GA
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SAT® Case Study: George Westinghouse CTE High School
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What You Get With Progress Learning

  • Practice MCA Assessments for Reading, Mathematics, and Science for grades 6-8.
  • Tech-enhanced items aligned to the MCAs
  • Customizable and pre-built formative and summative assessments
  • MCA-aligned videos, games, projector questions, bellringer questions, printable worksheets, and more
  • Custom remediation for individualized learning that can be assigned quickly and easily
  • Data and reporting by district, school, classroom, teacher, and student
  • Independent practice for students tailored to their needs
  • 3 learning modes to mix and match inside your classroom
  • Spanish language, text-to-speech, and other accommodations available

What Is Progress Learning?

About the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments

Minnesota’s MCA tests serve as the state’s official evaluations of academic standards, tracking student progress and ensuring fair access to education, in compliance with Federal ESSA requirements.

The MCA is administered annually every spring, usually in digital format. Paper tests are available for students who need special accomodations. The online format allows for interactive questions, including drag-and-drop and graphing tasks. Each subject test is divided into multiple sections, and schools can schedule these sessions across multiple days.

Students take the Reading assessment in grades 3-8 and 10, Math in grades 3-8 and 11, and Science in grades 5, 8, and in high school years after taking a life science course.

How Do You Prepare for the MCA?

Students should start by getting familiar with the MCA format and content. The Minnesota Department of Education provides sample questions and practice tests, and learning test-taking strategies like time management and process of elimination can help students navigate each section effectively.

The Department of Education also offers item samplers, which match the types of questions students will come across in the actual assessment. These will help students build confidence and get practice answering questions in the test’s format.

How Is Progress Learning Aligned to Minnesota Standards?

Math
ELA
Science
Social Studies

6th Grade

Civics NAEP

Citizenship Test

6th Grade Math MCA-III

(MNAS)

Geography NAEP

Middle School Writing

US History NAEP

Liftoff Math 6+

6th Grade ELA MCA-IV

(MNAS)

Accuplacer - Arithmetic

6th Grade Science

(MNAS)

Liftoff Reading

Liftoff NGSS Science

6th Grade Social Studies

(MNAS)

7th Grade

Liftoff NGSS Science

ACT Science

SAT Reading & Writing

SAT Math

Liftoff Reading

Accuplacer - Arithmetic

7th Grade Life Science

(MNAS)

7th Grade Social Studies

(MNAS)

7th Grade ELA MCA-IV

(MNAS)

Liftoff Math 6+

ACT Math

ACT English

ACT Reading

Civics NAEP

US History NAEP

Middle School Writing

Geography NAEP

7th Grade Math MCA-III

(MNAS)

Citizenship Test

8th Grade

Citizenship Test

NAEP Grade 8 Reading

NAEP Grade 8 Mathematics

8th Grade Math MCA-III

(MNAS)

Geography NAEP

Romeo and Juliet

Middle School Writing

US History NAEP

Civics NAEP

ACT Reading

ACT English

ACT Math

8th Grade Science MCA-IV

(MNAS)

Liftoff Math 6+

8th Grade ELA MCA-IV

(MNAS)

8th Grade Social Studies

(MNAS)

8th Grade Science

(MNAS)

Accuplacer - Arithmetic

Liftoff Reading

SAT Math

SAT Reading & Writing

ACT Science

Liftoff NGSS Science

What Are Customers Saying About Progress Learning?

Michael F.

“Progress Learning has helped to improve student test scores across the curriculum.”

Michael F.
Bill Batson

“Progress Learning is a game-changer when it comes to education.”

Bill Batson
Keeley McEwen Fornal

“Many students have said this is has been the main ingredient that has help them get the scores they were looking for on their standardized test.”

Keeley McEwen Fornal

Ready to Explore More?

See how Progress Learning can fit in to your classroom, school, or district with our flexible pricing options.