CTP 5 Test (Comprehensive Testing Program) from ERB

What is the ERB-CTP^® 5 Test?

The ERB-CTP^® 5 is a test for high-achieving students and is given at private and public schools nationwide. It is used to collect basic information about student achievement and ability in the areas of the English language (reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills) and mathematics. Students in Grades 1 through 11 take the CTP 5 (Comprehensive Testing Program) assessment.

The Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) is a rigorous assessment for high achieving students that is administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Commonly referred to as the ERB-CTP, this test is used across the United States, and is particularly popular in private and select public schools, as well as in independent schools internationally.

The ERB-CTP 5, the latest version of the test, is designed to measure a student’s abilities in key academic areas such as reading, listening, vocabulary, writing, and mathematics. The content of the test is constantly updated to reflect the changing standards in education and the skills that students need to be successful in the 21st century.

The ERB-CTP 5 is unique because it assesses not only a student’s skills in these academic areas, but also their reasoning abilities. The test includes both multiple choice and open-ended questions, requiring students to apply their knowledge and think critically.

It is not one test, but a battery of subtests consisting of a series of multiple-choice and optional constructed-response questions. It is administered in either fall or spring. It can be given online or pencil to paper.

The test is administered over several days and is divided into subtests. Each subtest focuses on a specific academic area, allowing educators to gain a comprehensive understanding of a student’s academic strengths and areas for improvement.

The results from the ERB-CTP 5 can provide valuable information to teachers, administrators, and parents about a student’s academic performance. This information can be used to guide instruction, identify students who may need additional support or enrichment, and track a student’s academic growth over time.

When is the ERB-CTP 5 test given to students?

Grade Level When Given in Fall. During the fall window, the school will usually test at one grade level below the grade the child is in as they are testing for mastery of content knowledge from the previous year. For example, a child in Grade 4 will most likely test at Level 3 during the fall window. The fall testing period typically occurs at the beginning of the school year, often in September or October. The purpose of the fall testing period is to assess the students’ knowledge and skills at the start of the academic year. The results can provide teachers with valuable baseline data that can help them understand each student’s strengths and areas for improvement. This information can then be used to tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of each student, set individualized learning goals, and determine necessary supports or interventions.

Grade Level When Given in Spring. During the spring window, the school will most likely test at the same level as the grade the child is in as the school is testing for content knowledge of the current year. For example, a child in Grade 6 will test at Level 6 during the spring window. The spring testing period typically takes place towards the end of the school year, often in April or May. The spring test allows teachers, administrators, and parents to measure the students’ progress and growth over the course of the year. By comparing the results of the spring test with those of the fall test, educators can evaluate the effectiveness of instruction and interventions, identify areas where students may still be struggling, and plan for instructional needs for the following year.

In both testing periods, the ERB-CTP 5 seeks to provide a comprehensive and detailed understanding of a student’s academic abilities. This enables schools to ensure that their educational practices are effectively meeting the needs of their students, and that every student is receiving the support and enrichment necessary to foster their academic growth.

ERB-CTP Online and Paper-Based Test

The ERB-CTP5 Online Test

This is an adaptive test. It is computer-based and contains ELA, math, and science subtest sections (science for grades 3-9 only). Each CTP Online test consists of two parts: Stage 1 and Stage 2. For a specific content area, all students are given the same Stage 1 questions. How well a student performs in Stage 1 will determine what level of questions he/she will be given during Stage 2. Students who can handle harder questions are routed to more difficult questions during Stage 2. Students who can’t handle harder questions are routed to less rigorous questions in Stage 2.

Within each section (e.g. ELA, math), the Content Mastery Score takes into account whether a student answers the question correctly and difficulty level of the items they answered. The CTP Online test differs from the CTP 5 test in that it is adaptive, and students will not receive the exact same questions. The adaptive testing available online provides a more precise measurement of a student’s abilities. The computer-based version of the CTP test is automatically timed online.

The ERB-CTP 5 Paper-Based Test

This version was developed in 2018. The main difference between this test and its predecessors is that it assesses not only content-based curriculum performance but also has questions with increased complexity and critical thinking skills. CTP 5 consists of ELA and math subtest sections. It is presented in a multiple-choice format with an optional open-ended question format. Students in early grades take the test under untimed conditions and mark their answers in the test booklet. Students in the middle and upper grades take CTP 5 under timed conditions and mark their answers on a separate answer sheet. The time limits are generous, and all but a few students are able to complete the test in the time allowed. There is also an option for schools to include open-ended reading comprehension and mathematics questions in the test that provides full, partial, or no credit.

There is no wrong answer penalty on the CTP 5 or CTP Online test. Students are encouraged to answer every question.

For both the CTP 5 and CTP Online test, each question is assigned its own DOK (Depth of Knowledge) level. In short, this is a measure of the difficulty level of the question.

Sections of the ERB-CTP5 Test

English Language Arts:

The ERB-CTP 5 test in English Language Arts (ELA) focuses on assessing a student’s abilities in key literacy skills, including reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, and listening. The test is designed to evaluate not only a student’s knowledge and understanding of these areas, but also their ability to apply, analyze, and evaluate information.

This test incorporates different Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels, which refer to the complexity of mental processing that must occur to answer a question, perform a task, or generate a product.

DOK 1 – At the DOK 1 level, students are expected to recall or recognize facts, terms, and basic concepts. In the context of the ELA test, this might include identifying the correct meaning of a word in a sentence, recognizing correct punctuation, or recalling details from a text. These questions are typically straightforward and don’t require complex reasoning.

DOK 2 – At the DOK 2 level, students must use some mental processing, but it is not as complex as at higher levels. In ELA, this could include interpreting the meaning of a metaphor in a text, making predictions based on information in the text, or identifying the main idea of a passage. These tasks require students to make some decisions about how to approach the question or problem, but the mental processing is still relatively straightforward.

DOK 3 – At the DOK 3 level, students are required to engage in more complex reasoning, planning, and thinking. In ELA, this might include analyzing the relationship between different elements of a text, evaluating the validity of an argument, or writing a well-structured essay in response to a prompt. These tasks require students to use evidence, consider multiple variables, and engage in higher-order thinking.

The ERB-CTP 5 test in ELA is designed to provide a comprehensive picture of a student’s literacy skills, incorporating all three DOK levels to accurately assess a student’s understanding, application, and critical thinking skills in English Language Arts.

Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning:

The ERB-CTP 5 test in Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning is designed to measure a student’s understanding and application of mathematical concepts, as well as their problem-solving abilities. The test assesses a wide range of mathematical areas, including number sense, operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis. The questions are designed to capture varying levels of Depth of Knowledge (DOK).

DOK 1 – At the DOK 1 level, students are required to recall or recognize mathematical facts, definitions, terms, and simple procedures. For instance, they may be asked to perform simple calculations, recognize geometric shapes, or recall basic mathematical properties. These tasks require minimal cognitive processing beyond recall and recognition.

DOK 2 – DOK 2 involves some degree of mental processing. At this level, on the ERB-CTP 5, students might need to classify or sort items, interpret data from a simple graph, or solve word problems that require a direct application of a known procedure. These tasks require students to make decisions on how to approach the problem but are still quite structured and generally have a single correct response.

DOK 3 –  At the DOK 3 level, students are expected to engage in more complex reasoning and problem solving. In the context of the Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning test, this might include solving multi-step problems, making conjectures, or justifying a solution method. These questions require students to engage in higher-level thinking, planning, and analysis.

The ERB-CTP 5 test in Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning integrates all three DOK levels to present a comprehensive assessment of a student’s mathematical abilities. The goal is to measure not only their knowledge of mathematical facts and procedures but also their ability to apply this knowledge in problem-solving situations and reason mathematically.

Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, breaks it down for you below. What is the CTP Test?

Tell us about your experiences

42 Responses

sangitalalgupta@gmail.com

Hello! My daughters will be taking the NYC ERB, CTP test for 4th and 5th grade this fall. Where can I find some sample tests? Thank you so much.

Inessa

My son will be taking CTP4 testing for 5th grade. Where do I find some samples of the test?

TestingMom.com

Yes! We have practice questions for CTP4 practice! After you sign-up, email us and we’ll give you specifics. XOXO

Jane

Are the 100 free questions for ERB or CoGAT ?

sonet

What’s the difference between CTP and CTP-4R? What’s 4R? What is that level

GERI

Do you have the CPT 5 test? That is what the new school we are attending says they will be testing with this year. Thank you for your time.

Mariella

Hi, I would also like to know if you have CTP 5 tests. Thank you.

TestingMom.com

Mariella,
We do not currently have a page dedicated to the CTP-5, but it is on our To Do list and we do have some similar materials we can recommend from our site. If you are a member, please email help@testingmom.com to receive these recommendations. This is not a good forum for information sharing as it does not allow graphics.
Thank you,
Team TestingMom

kondubnoel@gmail.com

Do you have sample questions/tests for ERB/CTP for level 2?
Thanks!!

TestingMom.com

Thank you for reaching out to us! Our ERB materials range from Kindergarten – 6th grade.

All the best,

Marcus

Andrew von Mayrhauser

My son is currently in grade five. He is a sharp kid who does well in school but regularly bombs ERBs. We would like to give him some guided ERB or ERB-type test practice at home. Do you have any resources for this?
Thanks
Andrew

TestingMom.com

Hi Andrew –

With a paid subscription, we have sample questions for both the CTP and the ISEE, both are published by ERB.

All the best,

Marcus

jamiekeeling@verizon.net

Are there practice questions for 8th grade?

Kathleen

Looking for practice tests!

TestingMom.com

Hi Kathleen,

We do have practice prep for the CTP test on our website. Have you purchased a membership to Testingmom.com?

Thank you,
Ryan

Ingrid Clark

Hello, my twin sons will take CTP 5 in a few months. Where can I find sample tests and preparation materials? Many thanks.

Abbie

Hi!
I am looking for some sample ERB questions for my 4th and 5th grade math students. Would you mind emailing me some or telling me where to find some?
Thank you,
Abbie

TestingMom.com

Hi Abbie,

Thank you for reaching out to us. ERB publishes two different tests that we support on the website, the ISEE and the CTP. We do provide printable practice questions for both of these tests with a paid membership.

All the best,

Marcus

wenleung@msn.com

Hi, i signed up as member and was looking for CTP ERB test for my 7th grader but your sample questions portion only shows up to 6th grade. Where can i find the 7th grade sample tests?

Elizabeth O’Malley

Hello!

My 4th grade son will be taking the ERB, CTP tests in February. I was wondering if sample questions are available. 🙂

Thank you!
Elizabeth

TestingMom.com

Hi Elizabeth –

Thank you for reaching out to us!

We do have a section specifically for the CTP with a paid subscription to TestingMom.com.

All the best,

Marcus

Angela

I am interested in CTP 5. How can I get this from you?

Thank you,
Angela

TestingMom.com

Hi Angela –

With a paid membership to our website, we offer test preparation for many tests. The CTP 5 is a new test that we do not have a section setup for yet. But we do have recommendation for materials to prepare for this challenging test. Once you purchase a membership, you can email help@testingmom.com and we can provide you with this guidance.

All the best,

Marcus

kds32256@gmail.com

I paid and have never gotten to log on it’s been a year now and membership is expired, very disappointing

TestingMom.com

Hi Kavitha –

Thank you for reaching out to us. I am not showing that there has ever been a paid account associated with this email address. If you will reach out to us at help@testingmom.com, we can help locate the account. If you’re not sure which email you used when signing up, you can provide us with the last 4 digits of your credit card, the type of card and the amount you paid.

All the best,

Marcus

Rama

Would like some proactive test for my students.
Thanks

arti123@gmail.com

Could I please get a CTP 4 test for ERB practice

sonal7731@gmail.com

Hello,

My son needs to prepare for CTP 4th grade. Where can I get the sample practice questions.

Thank you,
Sonal

TestingMom.com

Hi Sonal,

Please email us at help@testingmom.com and we can help you find all the resources available for CTP 4th grade.

wjmprods100@gmail.com

you need to provide the solutions so someone can learn the thought process

TestingMom.com

Hi,

Thank you for this great feedback! We will be looking into offering more solutions on our example question pages in the future. Email us at help@testingmom.com so we can help you with the solutions to those questions for the CTP Test and many more!

Steven

Are CTP ERB online adaptive questions included if I purchase the Black Friday special?

TestingMom.com

Hi Steven,

We are working on interactive questions for the CTP. Currently, we have over 6,000 printable questions for the test covering Kindergarten – 8th grade.

All the best,

Marcus

Lorena

Seeking practice CTP tests for third and sixth grade level.

TestingMom.com

Hello,

We have many options for practice for the CTP 5 Test. Please reach out to our Parent Success Team at 877-609-6203 or help@testingmom.com. They are happy to help you find all the resources available to start practicing today!

Jennifer Huggins

I need ERB multiple choice questions at the 6th grade level to use for working with my son. He has scored in the 2-5% so I think he just picked answers at random. I need to help him get comfortable with selecting the best answer in a multiple choice scenario that matches what he is experiencing in the ERB test at school.

TestingMom.com

Hi Jennifer, We have tons of practice questions for the CTP that include multiple choice questions. Once you sign up as a paid member you’ll have instant access for you son to practice.

Here are some tips to help your son with CTP (ERB) test-taking strategies for multiple-choice questions:

Read the question carefully: Encourage him to read the entire question before looking at the answer options. This will help him understand what the question is asking and avoid making hasty decisions.

Eliminate obvious wrong answers: Have your son eliminate any answer options that are clearly wrong or irrelevant to the question. This will narrow down the choices and increase the likelihood of selecting the correct answer.

Look for clues in the CTP question: Sometimes, multiple-choice questions will provide clues to the correct answer within the question itself. Encourage your child to look for these clues and use them to help them select the best answer.
Use process of elimination: If your child is unsure of the answer, have them use the process of elimination to eliminate any answer options that are clearly wrong. This will increase their chances of selecting the correct answer.

Manage time effectively: Encourage your child to manage their time effectively during the test. Remind them to pace themselves and not spend too much time on any one question.

Practice, practice, practice with Testing Mom The more he practices taking multiple-choice tests, the more comfortable he will become with the format and the better he will be able to apply these strategies.

IF you have questions about Testing Mom, please email us at help@testingmom.com

Jennifer

I need Language Arts ERB questions at 6grade level.

TestingMom.com

Hi Jennifer, we have questions for all sections of the language arts sections for the CTP (ERB) test for 6th grade. Here are the 4 sections for this part of the exam. Since many kids are struggling with writing due to learning loss over the past 3 years, we’d recommend you sign-up for our one-to-one tutoring with expert teachers who specialize in writing. We also have small group classes (up to 8 students max) where your child can get instant feedback on writing.

Here is an overview of the types of questions that may be included in the language arts section of the CTP:

Reading Comprehension: These questions test a student’s ability to understand and analyze written passages. Questions may ask about the main idea, supporting details, author’s purpose, tone, and literary devices.

Vocabulary: These questions assess a student’s knowledge of words and their meanings. Questions may ask about synonyms, antonyms, context clues, and word relationships.

Grammar: These questions test a student’s understanding of sentence structure, punctuation, and usage. Questions may ask about subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun usage, and parts of speech.

Writing: These questions assess a student’s ability to write clearly and effectively. Questions may ask students to revise a sentence or paragraph, identify errors in a written passage, or write a short response to a prompt.

It’s important to note that the specific content and format of the language arts section may vary depending on the grade level and version of the CTP being used.

nonnychurch@gmail.com

Excellent results with print out of ERB 3ed grade for this year. I would like to print out similar test questions for 5th grade as this is the grade I will be teaching in the fall. Many thanks

Vicki

I am trying to find out what sort of results / scoring I’ll receive, as our state requires a composite score (stanine and/or percentile) for the basic and/or the complete battery. I can’t seem to find a sample of the results sheet?

TestingMom.com

Hi Vicki, Here’s a PDF from the ERB that has a very detailed score report for the CTP5:

https://cdn.erblearn.org/pdf/www/CTP-5_Sample_Items_v05-14-2018.pdf

Here’s a brief overview of the results and scoring that you can expect from the CTP5 ERB test:

Stanine Score: The test results will include a stanine score, which ranges from 1 to 9. Stanine scores group percentile ranks into nine categories, where:

1-3 is below average
4-6 is average
7-9 is above average
Percentile Rank: The results will also provide a percentile rank which indicates the percentage of students that your child scored as well as or better than when compared to other students in the same grade nationally. For example, a percentile rank of 85 means your child scored better than 85% of students who took the test in the same grade.

Subtest Scores: You’ll receive scores for each of the individual subtests (like reading, math, etc.), which will give you a more detailed insight into your child’s strengths and areas that may need improvement.

Composite Scores: If your state requires a composite score, this will typically combine the scores from multiple subtests to provide an overall score that represents your child’s general academic ability.

See if TestingMom.com supports your child’s test by your school district. If you don't see your child's school district listed, check with us! We have practice for other tests as well.