WIDA Screener Online
WIDA Screener Online is an English language proficiency assessment given to new students in Grades 1–12 to help educators identify them as English language learners (ELLs). It is available for free to WIDA Consortium member states.
Preparing for and Administering WIDA Screener Online
If you are a first-time Test Administrator (TA) or District Test Coordinator (DTC), please visit your state's member page for state-specific instructions on how to get your accounts set up. If you are a returning TA or DTC and you are having trouble signing in to the WIDA Secure Portal, please contact the WIDA Client Services Center (see bottom of page).
Log in to the WIDA Secure Portal for a quick start guide, supporting documents, and the training course for administering WIDA Screener Online.
Test Administration Times*
Up to 15 minutes
Up to 15 minutes
Up to 25 minutes
Up to 25 minutes
80 minutes total test time
Scoring
The online test engine automatically scores the Listening and Reading domains during administration. A trained local rater scores the Speaking and Writing domains using the Screener Scoring Interface. To become a trained rater and score responses, you must complete the WIDA Screener Online Training Course and pass the appropriate scoring quizzes.
Student responses are often ready to score within 15 minutes. Occasionally the system can take as long as two hours to make them available. Reports are generated by WIDA AMS.
Results
Students receive a proficiency level (PL) score for each of the following:
- Language domains: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing
WIDA Screener domain scores are reported as integers, with no decimals. - Composite Scores: Oral Language, Literacy, Overall Language
Composite scores are derived from a combination of weighted domain scores and cannot be calculated if a domain score is missing. Composite scores are reported to the first decimal point at half of a level (i.e., 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0).
Proficiency level scores are interpretive scores. They help educators understand what the score means in terms of the language skills of the student. 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 ELL, proficiency level scores from WIDA Screener can be used by educators to compare across ELLs and 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.
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.