Georgia Milestones Algebra: Concepts & Connections EOC (GaDOE): the content domains and weights, the item types, the formula sheet and calculator policy, the achievement levels, and how the End-of-Course test counts as 20 percent of the course grade

The Algebra: Concepts & Connections End-of-Course (EOC) assessment is the Georgia state test for the first high-school mathematics course under Georgia's K-12 Mathematics Standards, adopted in 2021. It is administered by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) as part of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System and is delivered online through the DRC INSIGHT platform. This course replaces the older GSE Algebra I and Coordinate Algebra courses, so the standards, the domain names, and the item mix are specific to the new framework. This page is the index for the whole course: it explains the four content domains and their weights, the item types, the formula sheet, the calculator policy, the achievement levels, and how to study each strand. The topic pages below carry the worked Milestones-style questions.

What the EOC is and why it matters

A Georgia Milestones EOC is a course-level final assessment, not a single graduation exit exam. Algebra: Concepts & Connections is the gateway high-school math course, taken by most students in grade 9, and its EOC is the math test that matters most early in high school because it feeds forward into Geometry: Concepts & Connections and then Advanced Algebra. By GaDOE policy the EOC counts as 20 percent of the student's final course grade, so it works like a weighted final exam: strong year-long work plus a solid EOC is what earns a high course grade and the Proficient Learner level that signals readiness for the next course.

The four content domains

GaDOE's published blueprint groups the standards into four scored reporting domains, each carrying an approximate share of the points. The new framework uses domain codes such as A.NR (Numerical Reasoning), A.PAR (Patterning and Algebraic Reasoning), A.FGR (Functional and Graphical Reasoning), A.DSR (Data and Statistical Reasoning), and A.GSR (Geometric and Spatial Reasoning), plus A.MM (Mathematical Modeling) and A.MP (Mathematical Practices) that run through everything.

Two consequences follow. First, algebra and functions together are about 60 percent of the test, so fluent equation solving and confident work with the three function families (linear, exponential, quadratic) is the surest route to Proficient. Second, the geometry and statistics connections are not afterthoughts: coordinate geometry is about a quarter of the points, and two-variable data and one-variable statistics make up the rest, so a student who ignores those domains caps out well short of Distinguished.

The Standards for Mathematical Practice

The eight Standards for Mathematical Practice (A.MP.1 through A.MP.8) are not a separate scored domain. They are woven into items across all four domains and show up as task complexity: making sense of a problem and persevering, reasoning quantitatively, constructing and critiquing arguments, modeling with mathematics, using tools strategically, attending to precision, using structure, and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning. The two you will feel most on the EOC are modeling (translating a real situation into an equation, function, or data model) and structure (recognizing a factorable form or a transformation family at a glance).

The item types

The Algebra: Concepts & Connections EOC has about 50 scored items (roughly 42 worth one point and 8 worth two points), with a small number of unscored field-test items mixed in. The items come in three families.

• Selected-response (multiple choice). Four options, one correct, machine-scored, no partial credit. Still the largest single share of points.
• Technology-enhanced items (TEIs). Interactive formats delivered in the online platform: drag and drop (placing values, expressions, or labels), graphing (plotting points, lines, or a parabola), hot spot (clicking a point or region on a graph or number line), numeric and fraction entry (typing an exact value), and inline choice (in-sentence dropdowns). Many TEIs allow partial credit, so a single slip costs only part of the item.
• Constructed-response items. You produce your own multi-step answer, which is hand-scored against a rubric and is typically worth two points. These reward shown work and clear reasoning, not just a final number.

The formula sheet and the calculator policy

Every Algebra: Concepts & Connections EOC includes a mathematics reference (formula) sheet. Knowing what it provides, and what it does not, saves time and prevents you from hunting for a formula that is not there.

The sheet typically provides common reference items such as the slope formula, the distance and midpoint formulas, the quadratic formula, and area and volume formulas. It generally does NOT provide the exponential growth and decay models $y = a(1 + r)^t$ and $y = a(1 - r)^t$, the explicit and recursive rules for arithmetic and geometric sequences, or the slope-intercept and point-slope forms, so memorize those cold.

The test is split into a non-calculator section and a calculator-allowed section.

• In the non-calculator section no device is available, so arithmetic, factoring, and exact-value work must be done by hand.
• In the calculator-allowed section you may use an approved graphing or scientific calculator, and the online platform offers an embedded calculator tool. Calculators with computer-algebra-system (CAS) features, QWERTY keyboards, or wireless or internet access are prohibited.

Achievement levels

Raw points convert to a scale score, reported in four achievement levels:

• Beginning Learner - has not yet demonstrated proficiency; substantial support needed.
• Developing Learner - partial proficiency; additional support needed for the next course.
• Proficient Learner - demonstrates proficiency in the course standards; prepared for the next course.
• Distinguished Learner - advanced proficiency; well prepared for the next course and for college and career.

Proficient is the on-track target. Securing the algebra and functions domains reliably, then adding the geometry and statistics connections, is what moves a student from Developing into Proficient and Distinguished.

How to study Algebra: Concepts & Connections

1. Bank algebra and functions first. These two domains are about 60 percent of the test. Fluent linear solving, systems, and confident work with linear, exponential, and quadratic functions is the largest, most reliable block.
2. Do not skip the connections domains. Coordinate geometry is about a quarter of the points, and data and statistics another 15 percent. Distance, midpoint, slope relationships, scatterplots, lines of best fit, and comparing distributions are very learnable points.
3. Train every item type. Practice graphing and hot-spot tasks, numeric entry, and constructed response, not only multiple choice. The EOC tests production, not only recognition.
4. Memorize what the sheet omits. Exponential models, sequence rules, and the linear forms are not guaranteed on the reference sheet.
5. Read modeling items twice. Pull the quantities and the relationship out of the paragraph, write the model, then compute, especially on the two-point constructed-response items.

The course, topic by topic

Each topic below has its own answer page with worked Milestones-style questions across the item types, plus an overview guide and a quiz for each module.

Numerical Reasoning and Modeling (Algebra domain, A.NR and A.MM).

• Rational and irrational numbers, radicals and rational exponents, units, quantities, and accuracy, interpreting and structuring expressions, polynomial operations and factoring.

Linear Equations, Inequalities, and Systems (Algebra domain, A.PAR).

• Solving linear equations in one variable, solving linear inequalities in one variable, graphing linear equations in two variables, writing linear equations and models, solving systems of linear equations, linear inequalities in two variables and systems.

Linear and Exponential Functions (Functions domain, A.FGR).

• Functions, notation, domain, and range, linear functions and rate of change, arithmetic sequences, exponential functions, growth, and decay, geometric sequences, comparing linear and exponential models.

Quadratic Functions and Equations (Algebra and Functions domains, A.PAR and A.FGR).

• Graphing quadratic functions and key features, transformations of quadratic functions, solving quadratics by factoring, completing the square and square roots, the quadratic formula and the discriminant, modeling with quadratic functions.

Data and Statistical Reasoning (Statistics connection, A.DSR).

• Displaying one-variable data, center, spread, and comparing distributions, scatterplots and two-variable data, lines of best fit and linear regression, correlation, causation, and residuals.

Geometry and Modeling Connections (Geometry connection, A.GSR and A.MM).

• Distance and midpoint on the coordinate plane, slope, parallel, and perpendicular lines, perimeter and area in the coordinate plane, the mathematical modeling process.

For the official materials

GaDOE publishes the Algebra: Concepts & Connections blueprint, assessment guide, formula sheet, and calculator policy through the Georgia Milestones Assessment System pages, and the standards themselves live in Georgia's K-12 Mathematics Standards (2021). Always study from the current blueprint and assessment guide, because the domain weights, the item types, and the achievement-level cuts are specific to the Georgia Milestones EOC.