WIDA provides a flexible suite of tests because we know that no single test is suitable for all students
ACCESS for ELLs:
- Is available to WIDA Consortium member states as a primary benefit of membership
- Is administered to kindergarten through grade 12 students who have been identified as English learners (ELs)
- Is given annually to monitor students' progress in acquiring English language proficiency in academic contexts
- Meets U.S. federal requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for monitoring and reporting ELs’ progress toward English language proficiency
- Is anchored in the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework
- Assesses the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
Features
ACCESS is available in both paper and online formats for grades 1-12. States and districts select a testing format to meet their unique needs and requirements (see your member/state page for state-specific testing requirements). Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs are both paper format tests.
Each ACCESS assessment includes:
- On-demand test administrator training
- Downloadable manuals and resources
- Online material management and test coordination
- Online delivery of individual student score reports
Purpose and Use
Educators use ACCESS results, along with other WIDA resources, to make decisions about students' proficiency with English in academic contexts and to facilitate their language development.
Students' scores reflect proficiency levels ranging from Level 1 (Entering) to Level 6 (Reaching).
Test scores can be used
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For accountability purposes
- As benchmarks against which educators can measure future performance
- As a measure to make reclassification decisions about whether a student can exit English language support services
- To support decisions about placing students into appropriate classes or groups for instruction, instructional planning
- To show the progress students have made
WIDA offers many resources to aid in educators' placement decisions and instructional planning, including:
Scores
Each test is scored differently, depending on assessment type (paper, online, kindergarten) and domain (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing).
- ACCESS for ELLs Online
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- The online test engine automatically scores Listening and Reading during administration.
- Our test delivery partner scores the Speaking and Writing domains in winter and spring.
- ACCESS for ELLs Paper
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- States send test booklets to our test delivery partner, which scores the Listening, Reading and Writing domains.
- Test administrators score the Speaking domain in the test booklet and send to our test delivery partner, which captures the scores for reporting.
- Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs
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Test administrators score all domains in the test booklet and send them to our test delivery partner, which captures the scores for reporting.
- Alternate ACCESS for ELLs
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Test administrators score all domains in the test booklet and send them to our test delivery partner, which captures the scores for reporting.
States have a chance to review their data before scores are printed, allowing them to identify errors and make corrections. The test delivery partner then ships printed score reports directly to states.
ACCESS for ELLs Online
ACCESS for ELLs Online (ACCESS Online) is a computer-based, adaptive test that responds to student performance and may be administered in group or individual settings. This assessment is given annually to students in grades 1-12.
ACCESS for ELLs Paper
ACCESS for ELLs Paper (ACCESS Paper) is a paper-based, semi-adaptive test that may be administered in group or individual settings. This assessment is given annually to students in grades 1-12.
Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs
Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs (Kindergarten ACCESS) is a paper-based test individually administered to kindergarten students in a game-like, interactive format. This assessment is given annually.
Alternate ACCESS for ELLs
Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (Alternate ACCESS) is a large-print, paper-based test individually administered to students in grades 1-12 who are identified as English learners (ELs) with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Alternate ACCESS is intended for ELs who participate, or who would be likely to participate, in their state's alternate content assessment(s).
