North Dakota Practice Tests
North Dakota Practice Books and Flashcards
North Dakota's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, the ND A+ Summative Assessment covers English language arts (a reading test and a writing test) and math every year, plus science in grades 4 and 8. The tests are given online each spring, and paper forms are used only for students who have a paper accommodation. There are no time limits: students may take breaks as needed, and schools may split testing into several testing events. The reading and math tests are computer adaptive, so the questions adjust to how a student is doing, while the writing and science tests are the same fixed form for every student.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4 and 5 | Two tests: reading and writing; online; reading is computer adaptive, in passage sets; writing is a fixed form in two sections, two passages and two essays | Untimed; on average about 70 minutes for reading and about 90 to 100 minutes for writing | Reading comprehension (43 to 44%), text analysis (30 to 31%), writing and language usage (26 to 27%) |
| Grades 6, 7 and 8 | Two tests: reading and writing; online; reading is computer adaptive, in passage sets; writing is a fixed form in two sections, two passages and two essays | Untimed; on average about 65 to 80 minutes for reading and about 80 to 95 minutes for writing | Reading comprehension (32 to 33%), text analysis (40 to 41%), writing and language usage (27 to 28%) |
Each essay is scored with an 8-point rubric, and the writing contributes up to 8 points to the ELA score.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | One section; online; computer adaptive; no calculator | Untimed; about 1 hour on average | Number and operations (31 to 32%), algebraic reasoning (28 to 29%), geometry and measurement (23 to 24%), data, probability and statistics (15 to 16%) |
| Grades 4 and 5 | One section; online; computer adaptive; no calculator; reference sheet | Untimed; on average about 65 minutes at grade 4 and about 80 minutes at grade 5 | Number and operations (42 to 43%), algebraic reasoning (23 to 24%), geometry and measurement (18 to 19%), data, probability and statistics (15 to 16%) |
| Grade 6 | One section; online; computer adaptive; built-in calculator on some items; reference sheet | Untimed; about 70 minutes on average | Number and operations (23 to 24%), algebraic reasoning (39 to 40%), geometry and measurement (15 to 16%), data, probability and statistics (21 to 22%) |
| Grade 7 | One section; online; computer adaptive; built-in calculator on some items; reference sheet | Untimed; about 65 minutes on average | Number and operations (21 to 22%), algebraic reasoning (39 to 40%), geometry and measurement (18 to 19%), data, probability and statistics (21 to 22%) |
| Grade 8 | One section; online; computer adaptive; built-in calculator on some items; reference sheet | Untimed; about 1 hour on average | Number and operations (18 to 19%), algebraic reasoning (39 to 40%), geometry and measurement (23 to 24%), data, probability and statistics (18 to 19%) |
Calculators are not allowed at all in grades 3 to 5. In grades 6 to 8 the calculator is built into the test and appears only on items that allow it; handheld calculators are allowed only when a student's IEP or 504 plan calls for one.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 4 | One section; online; fixed form; built-in calculator; digital ruler for items that need one | Untimed; about 80 minutes on average | Physical science (28 to 38%), earth and space science (28 to 38%), life science (28 to 38%) |
| Grade 8 | One section; online; fixed form; built-in calculator | Untimed; about 65 minutes on average | Physical science (28 to 38%), earth and space science (28 to 38%), life science (28 to 38%) |
The grade 4 science test covers science standards from both grade 3 and grade 4, and the grade 8 test covers the middle school standards.