AABL ® Test vs. ERB Test

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - March 11th, 2015

Many parents in NYC are wondering about the difference between the AABL ® test and the ERB test. That’s because the AABL test (Admissions Assessment for Beginning Learners®) recently replaced the ERB test as the admissions test for elite kindergartens in the city.

The AABL test is an achievement test, meaning that it measures kids’ readiness to tackle the work that will come in kindergarten. The test covers math, pre-reading, and phonics. This might sound simple enough but keep in mind that these are 4- and 5-year-old taking this test that contains material challenging for their age. And many of these kindergartens (which include Riverdale Country Day School and Horace Mann) are so hyper-competitive that there are up to 150 parents vying for a single seat. Those are some pretty steep odds!

The AABL test is unique in a few different ways. Perhaps most interesting is that the test will be administered on an iPad, in a sign of things to come in today’s technologically advanced world. While this might sound like an advantage, in reality it means that you need to get your child comfortable using an iPad if they aren’t already. Part of your prep for the test should include playing games and using apps and other programs on a tablet so that your child gets comfortable with the feel and experience of using one.

That said, it’s also important to practice the material that your child will face on the test with them. A good way to combine these two missions is to use apps on your iPad that help children learn how to read and That said, it’s also important to use other, more traditional materials like workbooks and flash cards, both to give your child some variety and also to get them ready for “the real world” of kindergarten. After all, once they make it in, they’ll need to get right down to work!

AABL® – Admissions Assessment for Beginning Learners® is a registered trademark of the Educational Resource Bureau (ERB) and/or the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or their affiliate(s), or their licensors. TestingMom.com is not affiliated with nor related to the Educational Resource Bureau (ERB) and/or the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or their affiliates (“ERB/ETS”). ERB/ETS do not sponsor or endorse any TestingMom.com product, nor have TestingMom.com products or services been reviewed, certified, or approved by ERB/ETS. Trademarks referring to specific test providers are used by TestingMom.com for nominative purposes only and such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners.

CTP® (Comprehensive Testing Program®) is a registered trademark of the Educational Resource Bureau (ERB) and/or the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or their affiliate(s), or their licensors. TestingMom.com is not affiliated with nor related to the Educational Resource Bureau (ERB) and/or the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or their affiliates (“ERB/ETS”). ERB/ETS do not sponsor or endorse any TestingMom.com product, nor have TestingMom.com products or services been reviewed, certified, or approved by ERB/ETS. Trademarks referring to specific test providers are used by TestingMom.com for nominative purposes only and such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners.