New York Practice Tests
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New York's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, the New York State Testing Program covers English language arts and math every year, plus science in grade 5 (the Elementary-level Science Test) and grade 8 (the Intermediate-level Science Test). The tests are taken on computer each spring, with paper tests for students who need them under an IEP or 504 plan or who need certain alternate-language editions. ELA and math are each given in two sessions on two school days in a row, and science is one session. None of the tests has a time limit: students may keep working as long as they are productive, within the regular school day.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; 6 reading passages; 29 multiple-choice questions; 5 short written responses; no essay | Untimed; on average 60 to 70 minutes (Session 1) and 70 to 80 minutes (Session 2) | Close reading of literary and informational passages: key ideas and details (up to 65%), craft and structure (up to 35%), integration of ideas (up to 30%); up to 50% of credits also call for writing and language skills |
| Grade 4 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; 7 reading passages; 29 multiple-choice questions; 5 short written responses; 1 essay, in Session 2 | Untimed; on average 60 to 70 minutes (Session 1) and 70 to 80 minutes (Session 2) | Close reading of literary and informational passages: key ideas and details (up to 65%), craft and structure (up to 35%), integration of ideas (up to 30%); up to 50% of credits also call for writing and language skills |
| Grade 5 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; 7 reading passages; 33 multiple-choice questions; 5 short written responses; 1 essay, in Session 2 | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 70 to 80 minutes (Session 2) | Close reading of literary and informational passages: key ideas and details (up to 65%), craft and structure (up to 35%), integration of ideas (up to 30%); up to 50% of credits also call for writing and language skills |
| Grade 6 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; 7 reading passages; 33 multiple-choice questions; 5 short written responses; 1 essay, in Session 2 | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 90 to 100 minutes (Session 2) | Close reading of literary and informational passages: key ideas and details (up to 60%), craft and structure (up to 40%), integration of ideas (up to 40%); up to 40% of credits also call for writing and language skills |
| Grades 7 and 8 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; 8 reading passages; 40 multiple-choice questions; 5 short written responses; 1 essay, in Session 2 | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 90 to 100 minutes (Session 2) | Close reading of literary and informational passages: key ideas and details (up to 60%), craft and structure (up to 40%), integration of ideas (up to 40%); up to 40% of credits also call for writing and language skills |
A short written response asks for an inference backed by two details from the passage, usually in two or three sentences. The essay asks students to write about one text or, in grades 4 to 8, a pair of related texts. Question counts include a few field-test questions that do not count toward the score, and students cannot tell which ones they are.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; no calculator; 30 multiple-choice and 8 written-answer questions | Untimed; on average 55 to 65 minutes (Session 1) and 60 to 70 minutes (Session 2) | Operations and algebraic thinking (31 to 43%), base-ten numbers (7 to 14%), fractions (18 to 29%), measurement and data (21 to 32%), geometry (2 to 8%) |
| Grade 4 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; no calculator; 35 multiple-choice and 9 written-answer questions | Untimed; on average 65 to 75 minutes for each session | Operations and algebraic thinking (15 to 25%), base-ten numbers (20 to 30%), fractions (20 to 30%), measurement and data (9 to 14%), geometry (13 to 23%) |
| Grade 5 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; no calculator; reference sheet; 35 multiple-choice and 9 written-answer questions | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 70 to 80 minutes (Session 2) | Base-ten numbers (25 to 35%), fractions (34 to 44%), measurement and data (22 to 32%), geometry (2 to 7%) |
| Grade 6 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; calculator in Session 2 only; reference sheet; 36 multiple-choice and 10 written-answer questions | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 75 to 85 minutes (Session 2) | Ratios and proportional relationships (21 to 30%), the number system (17 to 26%), expressions, equations and inequalities (25 to 43%), geometry (14 to 24%) |
| Grade 7 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; scientific calculator in both sessions; reference sheet; 38 multiple-choice and 10 written-answer questions | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 75 to 85 minutes (Session 2) | Ratios and proportional relationships (24 to 33%), the number system (16 to 25%), expressions, equations and inequalities (26 to 39%), geometry (2 to 7%), statistics and probability (12 to 21%) |
| Grade 8 | Two sessions on two days; on computer; scientific calculator in both sessions; reference sheet; 38 multiple-choice and 10 written-answer questions | Untimed; on average 80 to 90 minutes (Session 1) and 75 to 85 minutes (Session 2) | The number system (2 to 9%), expressions, equations and inequalities (28 to 41%), functions (16 to 25%), geometry (28 to 41%), statistics and probability (4 to 11%) |
Session 1 is all multiple choice; Session 2 adds questions where students write an answer and may need to show their work. Students use a ruler in every grade, and a protractor too in grades 4 to 8. Graphing calculators are not allowed. Question counts include a few field-test questions that do not count toward the score.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 (Elementary-level) | One session; on computer; 7 to 9 question clusters, 34 to 41 questions; about 60% multiple choice and 40% written or interactive answers; on-screen calculator, ruler and protractor | Untimed; schools plan for at least 90 minutes | Grades 3 to 5 science standards: physical science (34 to 40%), life science (23 to 30%), earth and space science (27 to 33%), engineering and technology (3 to 7%) |
| Grade 8 (Intermediate-level) | One session; on computer; 10 to 12 question clusters, 51 to 57 questions; about 60% multiple choice and 40% written or interactive answers; on-screen scientific calculator, ruler and protractor | Untimed; schools plan for at least 120 minutes | Grades 6 to 8 science standards: physical science (32 to 38%), life science (31 to 37%), earth and space science (21 to 27%), engineering and technology (2 to 6%) |
Each cluster is a set of questions built around one science story, with passages, tables, graphs or diagrams. Students also complete required hands-on investigations in class. The investigations are not scored as part of the test, but about 15% of the test questions cover the same science.