Delaware Practice Tests
Delaware Practice Books and Flashcards
Delaware's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, the Delaware System of Student Assessments (DeSSA) covers English language arts and math every year, science in grades 5 and 8, and social studies in grades 4 through 8. The tests are given online, and paper tests are used only as an accommodation. Every test is untimed, so the times below are the state's estimates for scheduling. ELA, math and science are given in the spring, while social studies is given two or three times across the school year.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4 and 5 | Online; two parts: a computer-adaptive test with listening questions, and a performance task that ends with a full essay | Untimed; about 2 hours 30 minutes in all (about 1 hour for the adaptive test and 1 hour 30 minutes for the performance task) | Reading, listening, writing, and research and inquiry |
| Grades 6, 7 and 8 | Online; two parts: a computer-adaptive test with listening questions, and a performance task that ends with a full essay | Untimed; about 2 hours 30 minutes in all (about 1 hour 15 minutes for each part) | Reading, listening, writing, and research and inquiry |
Students write at every grade. Delaware recommends giving the adaptive test and the performance task on separate days, and each part is meant to be finished in one session.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4 and 5 | Online; two parts: a computer-adaptive test and a performance task; no calculator | Untimed; about 1 hour 30 minutes in all (about 45 minutes for each part) | Concepts and procedures, problem solving with modeling and data analysis, and communicating reasoning |
| Grades 6, 7 and 8 | Online; two parts: a computer-adaptive test and a performance task; on-screen calculator for some questions; graph paper | Untimed; about 1 hour 30 minutes in all (about 45 minutes for each part) | Concepts and procedures, problem solving with modeling and data analysis, and communicating reasoning |
The adaptive test adjusts to each student's answers, so the number of questions varies from student to student. In grades 6 to 8, one section of the test allows the on-screen calculator and another does not.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 | Online; one fixed-form test; question clusters built around a science scenario, with written responses, plus stand-alone questions | Untimed; about 1 hour 30 minutes | Physical science (38 to 54%), earth and space science (30 to 46%), life science (10 to 28%), engineering and technology (0 to 15%) |
| Grade 8 | Online; one fixed-form test; question clusters built around a science scenario, with written responses, plus stand-alone questions | Untimed; about 2 hours | Earth and space science (27 to 43%), physical science (27 to 43%), life science (20 to 35%), engineering and technology (0 to 15%) |
Delaware's science test is built on the Next Generation Science Standards. Students use science practices to make sense of real situations and solve problems.
Social Studies
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 4 | Online; three short tests a year (fall, winter and spring); no calculator | Untimed; about 30 to 40 minutes each | Delaware history and civics |
| Grade 5 | Online; two short tests a year (winter and spring); no calculator | Untimed; about 45 to 50 minutes each | Economics |
| Grade 6 | Online; three short tests a year (fall, winter and spring); no calculator | Untimed; about 30 to 40 minutes each | Geography |
| Grade 7 | Online; two short tests a year (winter and spring); no calculator | Untimed; about 45 to 50 minutes each | Civics |
| Grade 8 | Online; three short tests a year (fall, winter and spring); no calculator | Untimed; about 30 to 40 minutes each | United States history and its connections to Delaware history |
Social studies uses a through-year design: each test is short enough for one class period and covers fewer standards in more depth, and a year's tests are combined into one score.