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PARENTS’ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
NEW YORK STATE’S ANNUAL GRADES 3-8
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS & MATHEMATICS TESTS
The Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Tests are administered in the spring to students across New York
State. These annual ELA and mathematics tests for students in grades 3-8 are required by the federal Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA) of 2015. Public and charter school students enrolled in Grades 3–8 are expected to take the ELA and mathematics
tests administered for their grade level. The tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning
standards that guide classroom instruction and are a valuable tool used to help ensure students have the support needed to
succeed. The tests can also help identify any learning needs a student may have.
1. What is the length of the 2023 tests?
• The 2023 Grades 3–8 ELA Tests consist of two sessions that are administered over two days.
• The 2023 Grades 3–8 Math Tests consist of two sessions that are administered over two days
2. When will the 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests be administered?
• The ELA Tests administered on paper will be given on two school days of the school’s choosing between
Wednesday, April 19 – Friday, April 21, with make-up dates between Monday, April 24 – Friday, April 28.
• The Math Tests administered on paper will be given on two school days of the school’s choosing between
Tuesday, May 2 – Thursday, May 4, with make-up dates between Friday, May 5 – Thursday, May 11.
• The ELA tests administered on computer will be given on two school days of the school’s choosing between
Wednesday, April 19 – Wednesday, April 26, with make-up dates between Monday, April 24 – Friday, April 28.
• The Math Tests administered on computer will be given on two school days of the school’s choosing between
Tuesday, May 2 – Tuesday, May 9, with make-up dates between Friday, May 5 – Thursday, May 11.
3. What is computer-based testing?
• Some districts/schools have chosen to administer the 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests on the computer.
This is called computer-based testing (CBT).
• The computer-based tests will have the same questions as the paper versions. However, students testing on
computer will select their answers for the multiple-choice questions on the computer instead of on an answer
sheet and will type their responses to the open-ended questions on the computer instead of handwriting them
in the paper test booklets.
• The Question Sampler (https://ny.nextera.questarai.com/tds/#practice) is available publicly online and offers an
opportunity for students, parents, and educators to become familiar with CBT.
• CBT has been successfully implemented in many states. New York State will begin its statewide transition to
CBT for the Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests in 2024. The transition will take place over a 3-year period with 2
grades per year. In Spring 2024, all students in Grades 5 and 8 will take the ELA and Math Tests via CBT.
Paper-based testing will remain available as an accommodation for students who, according to their
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 Plans, must test on paper, and to religious and
independent schools, who because of religious beliefs, do not have technology in the classroom.
4. Will the tests continue to be untimed?
• The 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests will be untimed. Schools and districts have the discretion to create
their own approaches to ensure that all students who are productively working are given the time they need
within the confines of the regular school day to take the tests. A supervised lunch break should be arranged for
students during any of the test sessions if necessary.
• If the test is given in a large-group setting, administrators may permit students who finish to hand in their test
materials (or submit the test if testing on computer) and leave the room. If so, students should exit quietly so
they do not disturb any students still working.
• While exact testing times will vary by student, estimated testing times are in the 2023 Educator Guides
(http://www.nysed.gov/state-assessment/grades-3-8-ela-and-math-test-manuals).
5. What types of questions are asked on the tests?
• The ELA and Math Tests include multiple-choice and open-ended questions, which assess grade-level learning
standards.
• The questions require students to apply their knowledge and, in open-ended responses, explain their reasoning.
Students will read texts, write responses, and solve real-world word problems, all of which are foundational
skills necessary for success in their next grade.
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• The Department will continue to release at least 75% of test questions that count toward students’ scores,
including all open-ended questions. You can view previously released test questions
(http://www.nysed.gov/state-assessment/past-grades-3-8-tests) on the Department’s website.
6. How are New York State teachers involved in the test development process?
• Hundreds of New York State educators were involved in creating and reviewing questions for the
2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests and selecting the questions for the test forms.
7. Are there testing accommodations for students with disabilities?
• Yes, testing accommodations are changes made in the administration of the tests that provide an opportunity
for students with disabilities to demonstrate mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited
or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability. Specific testing accommodations are recommended for
individual students by the school’s Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Section 504 Committee based
on the student’s unique needs.
• Testing accommodations must be documented on students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or
Section 504 Plans and could include: flexibility in scheduling (e.g., scheduled breaks); flexibility in the test
setting (e.g., separate location); changes in test presentation (e.g., enlarged print); and changes in the method
of response (e.g., use of a scribe for written responses).
• Principals are responsible for ensuring that accommodations for students with disabilities are implemented on
all State and local tests consistent with the recommendations in the IEP/Section 504 plan and in accordance
with Department policy.
8. Do English Language Learners (ELLs) who are new to the United States take the Grades 3-8 ELA Tests?
• For the 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA Tests, schools are allowed to exempt ELLs (including those from Puerto Rico)
who, on April 1, 2023, will have been attending school in the U.S. for the first time for less than one year.
• All other ELLs are expected to participate in the 2023 Grades 3–8 ELA Tests.
• There are no exemptions for students from the Grades 3-8 Math Tests.
9. Are there testing accommodations for English Language Learners (ELLs)?
• Yes. The school principal may authorize certain testing accommodations to ELLs in accordance with their best
judgment about the needs of these students. Principals should consult with each student’s classroom teacher
in making these determinations.
• Testing accommodations could include, for both the ELA and Math Tests, separate location and bilingual
glossaries; and, for the Math Tests only, translated editions in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese
(Traditional), Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish; oral translation (for lower-incidence languages);
and writing responses in students’ home language.
10. What will I learn from my child’s score report?
• The results of the annual assessments will provide information about your child’s academic progress and
achievement. You can use your child’s score report to guide a discussion with your child’s teacher(s) about
additional supports that may be helpful in school, as well as ways to support your child’s learning at home.
• The report will show how your child scored in specific skill and concept areas. The ELA report gives scores for
both reading and writing. The Math report gives scores for the key math concepts for your child’s grade level.
• State test results may differ from the information on your child’s school report card. Report card grades are
cumulative and based on many factors, including class participation, homework, attendance, quizzes, tests,
and other instructional activities, all of which are important in determining a child’s academic achievement.
11. When will the 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests results be available?
• As in prior years, we anticipate the test results will be available in September.
12. How will the 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests results be used?
• The results can be used to see how schools, districts, and the State overall are progressing with the State
learning standards. The 2022 scores for your school/district are available on the Department’s public data site
(https://data.nysed.gov/).
• State law and Regulations of the Commissioner prohibit school districts from making promotion or placement
decisions based solely or primarily on student performance on the Grades 3-8 ELA or Math Tests. However,
the statute provides that a district may consider student performance on the assessments in these decisions
provided it uses multiple measures in addition to the assessments and the assessments do not constitute the
major factor in such determinations. Districts should also establish procedures to ensure that parents/students
are involved in and may appeal such determinations.
• Additionally, results from the 2023 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests cannot be used to evaluate teachers.
