WIDA Screener Online

WIDA Alternate Screener 
is coming in summer 2025!

Learn about the new test

WIDA Screener Online is an English language proficiency assessment given to new students in grades 1–12 to help educators identify whether they are English learners (ELs). It is available for free to WIDA Consortium members.

assessment purpose icon
Identification
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U.S.
Grades 1-12
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Online
assessment score type icon
Proficiency Level

Preparing for and Administering WIDA Screener Online

See the Quick Start Guide below.

Scoring

The online test platform automatically scores the Listening and Reading domains during administration. A trained local rater scores the Speaking and Writing domains. To become a trained rater and score responses, you must complete the Speaking and/or Writing training course for the relevant grade clusters and pass the appropriate quizzes.

Using Screener Scores

Score reports provide proficiency level scores in seven categories: the four domains (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) and three composite areas (Oral Language, Literacy, Overall). Composite scores are created from two or more domain scores.

Proficiency level scores are interpretive scores. The scores describe student performance in terms of the six WIDA English language proficiency levels:

Entering > Emerging > Developing > Expanding > Bridging > Reaching

If a student is identified as an EL, proficiency level scores from WIDA Screener can be used by educators to plan differentiated levels of support for each child.

For further explanation of proficiency levels, scores and how they connect, refer to the WIDA Screener Interpretive Guide.

WIDA Screener Interpretive Guide for Score Reports

Test Administration Times*

Times do not include convening students, material distribution, directions or embedded test practice.
Reading

Up to 15 minutes

Listening

Up to 15 minutes

Speaking

Up to 25 minutes

Writing

Up to 25 minutes

80 minutes total test time

*Times will vary based on a student's proficiency level.
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Quick Start Guide for Administering WIDA Screener Online

1. Complete assessment training and review manuals.

Educators must complete the WIDA Screener Online: Administration training course and review the Test Administration Manual. If you will be scoring student responses, you must complete the relevant Speaking and Writing scoring courses.

2. Get additional training from WIDA as needed.

WIDA offers a webinar to help educators understand how to administer WIDA Screener Online.

View the WIDA Screener Online webinar (WIDA Secure Portal account required)

3. Make sure you have the right technology available for students to take the assessment.

Plan and collaborate with technology coordinators to consider all factors necessary for a successful and positive online testing experience.

Technology Coordinator Resources

4. Set up your test registrations in WIDA AMS.

In order to participate in WIDA Screener Online, students must be added to WIDA AMS and placed into test registrations. You may add students and create test registrations independently, or add students to an existing test registration.

Log in to WIDA AMS 
 

5. Administer the assessment.

Gather your headsets, devices and materials and you are ready to test. With thorough training and careful preparation, test administrators will be ready to deliver a reliable and positive testing experience.

See the WIDA Screener Online: Administration Course Resources page in the WIDA Secure Portal for the Test Administrator Scripts, writing test booklets for grades 1 and 2-3, and more.

6. Score student responses.

WIDA Screener Online will score the Listening and Reading domains automatically. Speaking and Writing responses must be scored locally by a certified test administrator who has successfully completed the Speaking and Writing scoring courses.

Log in to WIDA AMS to retrieve student scores. Most responses are available to score within 15 minutes but may take up to two hours.

Use the Speaking Scoring Scale to rate students’ speaking responses 
Use the Writing Scoring Scale to rate students’ written responses

7. Generate score reports.

Student score reports are available on-demand after scoring takes place.

Watch the Accessing Score Reports video in the WIDA Screener Online: Administration training course for more information.

Refer to the Test Administration Manual for step-by-step instructions on generating score reports.

Related Publications

Standards for the classroom that align with WIDA Screener
Can Do Descriptors that highlight what multilingual learners can do
Examining the Relationship Between the WIDA Screener and ACCESS for ELLs Assessments