Preparing Students for ACCESS for ELLs
WIDA resources designed to get your students ready for ACCESS
Educators can help prepare students to take ACCESS for ELLs (Online, Paper and Kindergarten).
WIDA recommends that you start preparing about two weeks ahead of testing day:
- Familiarize students with the kind of content they will encounter on the test and give them a chance to practice the different question types.
- Allow students to work with the test platform so they are comfortable with it on testing day. This is especially important for the online Speaking test.
While you may have some of your own ideas for getting students prepared, WIDA offers several resources to assist you, from tip sheets to practice tests.
If you are administering Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, please visit the Preparing and Administering Alternate ACCESS page.
View the two QuickStart Guides (Online and Paper) below to get started.
QuickStart Guide for Preparing Students for ACCESS Online
1. Review WIDA’s advice on how to prepare your students for ACCESS Online.
Looking for a place to start preparing students for ACCESS Online? Look no further! The ACCESS for ELLs Online document has general tips and domain-specific information to help you ease students into testing.
Also, view our ACCESS Writing Test Tips document to learn more about how to prepare your students for the Writing domain.
2. If the format of the Online Speaking test is new or unfamiliar to students, get them talking by using our grade-level, cluster-specific tools!
These pre-testing guides have classroom tools and instructional methods educators can use to work with students in preparation for the Speaking test.
3. Play the Test Demo for groups of students on a SMART Board or projector.
A test demo for each grade-level cluster shows students how to navigate different features of the test.
4. Walk through Sample Items using suggested scripts as students follow along.
The Online Sample Items User Guide includes suggested scripting to help you explain testing features to students. This gives them a chance to practice answering questions. You can modify the scripting to fit the needs of your students.
Paper-based Writing Sample Items
- Grade 1, Tier A: Indoor Play
- Grade 1, Tier B/C: Making Bird Feeders
- Grades 2-3, Tier A: Flowers at the Park
- Grades 2-3, Tier B/C: Our Town
5. Have students take some practice tests prior to testing day.
A practice test is embedded prior to the start of the online test. It allows students a chance to get comfortable with the test format before their official test session.
QuickStart Guide for Preparing Students for ACCESS Paper
1. Review WIDA's advice on how to prepare your students for ACCESS Paper.
Looking for a place to get started with how to prepare students for ACCESS Paper? Look no further! The ACCESS for ELLs Paper document contains general tips and domain-specific information to help you ease students into testing.
2. Play the Sample Items for Listening and Speaking as students follow along in booklets.
Give students a chance to practice answering questions and get comfortable with the audio format of the Listening and Speaking tests.
Get resources specific to your state
State-specific contact information and additional testing resources, including the ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, for WIDA Consortium members.