ACCESS for ELLs Paper
ACCESS for ELLs Paper (ACCESS Paper) is a paper-based test that allows teachers to place students into tiers based on their language proficiency level and may be administered in group or individual settings. This assessment is given annually to students in Grades 1-12. It tests students' language in four domains: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing.
ACCESS Paper meets U.S. federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for monitoring and reporting ELLs’ progress toward English language proficiency.
States may choose to offer only ACCESS Paper, while others offer both formats (paper and online).
Features
- ACCESS Paper is available for situations where a student is unable to test online.
- This assessment is administered to groups of students in one tier and grade-level cluster.
- The Speaking domain is administered individually and scored by the Test Administrator.
- The Listening, Reading, and Writing domains are scored centrally at DRC by trained raters.
- Scores from ACCESS Paper can be used to inform instruction and monitor progress of ELLs in a school or district.
Test Administration Times*
Up to 45 minutes
Up to 40 minutes
Up to 35 minutes
Up to 65 minutes
185 minutes total test time
Test Preparation and Administration
An overview of what’s involved in preparing for and administering ACCESS for ELLs. Helpful for Test Administrators and District Test Coordinators.
Student Preparation
Suggestions to help you get your students ready for ACCESS for ELLs testing. Note: only for educators of multilingual learners in Grades 1-12.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Guidance for supporting students with disabilities taking ACCESS for ELLs. Helpful for Test Administrators and IEP teams.
Scores and Reports
An overview of how ACCESS for ELLs tests are scored and how scores can be used. Helpful for Test Administrators, ELL educators, and school, district and state administrators.
Resources for Educators
Get resources specific to your state
State-specific contact information and additional testing resources, including the ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, for WIDA Consortium members.