Students in grades 3-8 take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement Test each spring. It is a timed, multiple choice assessment that measures skills in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Student results are reported to parents, teachers, and administrators. http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/doc/TCAP_Test_Dates.doc
The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Writing Assessment requires fifth grade students to write a narrative essay in response to an assigned prompt (topic) within a limited time period. The writing samples are scored holistically. http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tswritinghome.shtml
This is a great resource for understanding the TCAP scores your child brings home. http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tsachgti.shtml
All you wanted to know about the TCAP... http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tsachhome.shtml
What your child is taught, and needs to know for the TCAP... http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tsachsamp.shtml
How 5th grade writing TCAP's are scored. http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tswritinghome.shtml
Questions and answers to TCAP. http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/tsachfaq.shtml
Testing strategies: http://www.tennessee.gov/education/assessment/doc/tsteststrategies.pdf