New Jersey Practice Tests
New Jersey Practice Books and Flashcards
New Jersey's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, New Jersey tests English language arts and math every year, plus science in grades 5 and 8. The ELA and math tests are the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments-Adaptive (NJSLA-A): computer-adaptive tests taken online, where question difficulty adjusts to each student's answers while every question stays on grade-level standards. The science test, NJSLA-Science, is a fixed form and is not adaptive. Paper versions are available as an accommodation, and the paper ELA and math tests are not adaptive. All of the tests are timed, and testing takes place in the spring.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Online; reading unit is computer-adaptive, in two sessions; writing unit is one narrative or informative essay | Reading 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions); writing 90 minutes | Reading literary texts, reading informational texts, language (vocabulary and conventions), writing |
| Grades 4 and 5 | Online; reading unit is computer-adaptive, in two sessions; writing unit is one narrative, informative or opinion essay | Reading 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions); writing 90 minutes | Reading literary texts, reading informational texts, language (vocabulary and conventions), writing |
| Grades 6, 7 and 8 | Online; reading unit is computer-adaptive, in two sessions; writing unit is one argumentative, informative or narrative essay | Reading 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions); writing 90 minutes | Reading literary texts, reading informational texts, language (vocabulary and conventions), writing |
The writing unit is not adaptive because it is a single essay, scored with one rubric for composition and one for conventions. Students answer each question before moving on, and once the second reading session begins they cannot go back and change answers from the first.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Online; computer-adaptive; two sessions; no calculator | 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions) | Operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in base ten and fractions, measurement, geometry and data literacy (counted in the overall score only) |
| Grade 4 | Online; computer-adaptive; two sessions; no calculator | 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions) | Number and operations in base ten, number and operations with fractions, operations and algebraic thinking with measurement, geometry and data literacy (counted in the overall score only) |
| Grade 5 | Online; computer-adaptive; two sessions; no calculator; reference sheet | 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions) | Number and operations in base ten, number and operations with fractions, operations and algebraic thinking with measurement, geometry and data literacy (counted in the overall score only) |
| Grade 6 | Online; computer-adaptive; two sessions; a no-calculator part, then a part with a four-function calculator; reference sheet | 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions) | Ratios and proportional relationships, the number system, expressions and equations, geometry with statistics and probability |
| Grade 7 | Online; computer-adaptive; two sessions; four-function calculator allowed throughout; reference sheet | 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions) | Ratios and proportional relationships, the number system, expressions and equations, geometry with statistics and probability |
| Grade 8 | Online; computer-adaptive; two sessions; scientific calculator allowed throughout; reference sheet | 150 minutes (two 75-minute sessions) | Expressions and equations with the number system, geometry, functions with statistics and probability |
The math test uses only machine-scored question types, such as multiple choice, multi-select, equation and graphing questions, and has no extended written answers. Where calculators are allowed, they are built into the testing platform, and students may bring a handheld calculator that meets New Jersey's calculator policy. The math test is available in English and Spanish.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 5 and 8 | Online; fixed form, not adaptive; four units; calculator in every unit (four-function in grade 5, scientific in grade 8); periodic table in grade 8 only | 45 minutes per unit; 180 minutes in all | Earth and space science, life science, physical science; also reported by science practice: investigating, sensemaking and critiquing |
Questions are grouped in clusters about a real-world event or scenario and include multiple-choice, multi-select, interactive and written-response questions; the written responses are scored by trained people. The test covers several years of science, not only the year of the test. Schools may give no more than two science units in one day.