The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test period is underway, but this year, the exam bears a slew of differences.

San Antonio CBS affiliate KENS reported that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) said the exam has been redesigned to have questions that are similar to what’s posed in class.

"And now it has embedded writing in the science, social studies and reading exams has a short, constructive response and an extended constructive response in the reading exam," Southside Independent School District (SISD) Superintendent Roland Ramirez told KENS.

The district prepared the students by doing so outside of the classroom, Ramirez said.

"It's been, from last week to today, having those pep rallies and just rallying everyone to get ready for tomorrow's testing," the superintendent told the station.

Another major change is the test is entirely online, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported. 

Simply put, students aren’t required to be equipped with a pair of No. 2 pencils, with the TEA expressing confidence in the switch from the physical SCANTRON, according to the station. 

"We’re looking forward to seeing how it goes," Dr. Lily Laux, the agency’s deputy commissioner of school programs, said, KHOU reported.

State lawmakers approved changes to the test in 2019, merely a year before the COVID-19 pandemic forced classes to be held virtually, per KHOU.

Laux told the station students last year had the option to take it online, with close to 80% choosing to do so.

Midland-Odessa NBC affiliate KWES reported that the Texas Legislature is again mulling action on the STAAR, this time to eliminate it altogether.

Per KWES, State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed measures that would render the exam obsolete.

"When it comes to the discussion about education policy, the thing that gets brought up most is the STAAR exam and our need to have something to replace it," Landgraf said, the station reported.

KENS reported that parents can view how their children did online.