State Tests: A Parent’s Guide
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If you have a child in public school, chances are that at some point you’ll hear:
“State testing starts next week.”
And your child may come home talking about testing sessions, practice questions, computer tools, scratch paper, or suddenly remembering that they absolutely need a new water bottle before test day.
State tests are a regular part of public education in the United States, but they can be confusing because there isn’t one national state test.
Every state has its own academic standards, testing program, test names, schedules, and policies.
Here’s what parents need to know.
What Are State Achievement Tests?
State achievement tests measure how well students have learned the academic knowledge and skills expected at their grade level.
Depending on the grade and state, students may be assessed in subjects such as:
- English language arts or reading
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social studies or other subjects required by the state
These are achievement tests, meaning they’re designed to measure what students have learned.
They aren’t the same thing as ability or cognitive tests, such as those sometimes used for gifted identification.
Why Do Schools Give State Tests?
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, requires states to measure student achievement in reading or English language arts, mathematics, and science.
Federal requirements include statewide reading/ELA and mathematics testing each year in grades 3–8 and once in high school. Science is assessed at least once during each of three grade spans.
States decide which assessments they will use to meet those requirements and may have additional testing requirements.
That’s why a third grader in Texas may take a test with a completely different name and format from a third grader in California.
Are State Tests the Same Everywhere?
No.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions parents have about state testing.
The United States doesn’t give every public-school student one national achievement test.
States establish their own academic standards and assessment systems.
For example, you may hear names such as:
- STAAR in Texas
- CAASPP in California
- EOG assessments in North Carolina
- SOL assessments in Virginia
- MCAS in Massachusetts
- PSSA in Pennsylvania
- Georgia Milestones
- SC READY in South Carolina
- TCAP in Tennessee
Other states have their own testing systems, and test names and formats can change.
Always check your state’s Department of Education or your child’s school district website for the most current information.
What Happened to Common Core?
For years, parents heard Common Core and state testing mentioned together so often that the terms sometimes seemed interchangeable.
They aren’t.
The Common Core State Standards were developed for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. They describe academic knowledge and skills rather than prescribing one national test.
States decided whether to adopt, revise, replace, or incorporate those standards.
Today, your child’s state assessment is based on the academic standards your state has adopted.
So instead of asking:
“Is this a Common Core test?”
I would ask:
“Which state standards does this assessment measure?”
What Do State Tests Look Like?
Today’s state assessments are often computer-based, although testing formats vary.
Students may encounter:
- Multiple-choice questions
- Multi-select questions with more than one correct response
- Short written responses
- Extended written responses
- Technology-enhanced questions
- Questions requiring students to interpret charts, graphs, diagrams, or passages
- Multi-part questions
- Performance tasks
- Computer-adaptive questions in some testing systems
This means test readiness isn’t just about knowing the academic content.
Students also need to understand how to show what they know.
What Does a State Test Measure?
A well-designed state assessment goes beyond asking students to memorize facts.
Depending on the subject and grade, students may need to:
- Read closely
- Identify evidence
- Compare information
- Make inferences
- Solve multi-step problems
- Apply mathematical concepts
- Interpret data
- Analyze charts and graphs
- Explain their reasoning
- Write clearly
- Apply knowledge in unfamiliar situations
These are skills children develop throughout the school year—not something they should try to learn the weekend before testing.
How Are State Test Scores Used?
This varies by state.
State assessment results may be used to help:
- Parents understand their child’s performance relative to grade-level standards
- Teachers identify strengths and areas needing additional instruction
- Schools evaluate curriculum and instruction
- Districts and states identify achievement patterns
- States meet federal accountability and reporting requirements
Depending on state and local policies, results may also play a role in particular educational decisions.
However, a state test score is one piece of information about a child.
It doesn’t tell you everything your child knows.
It doesn’t measure every talent.
And it certainly doesn’t define how smart your child is.
What Will My Child’s Score Report Tell Me?
Score reports differ by state, but parents may see:
- An overall score
- A performance level
- Subject-area results
- Skill or reporting-category information
- An indication of whether the student met grade-level expectations
- Comparisons with school, district, or state performance
When you receive the results, don’t stop at the overall number.
Ask:
What does this tell me my child does well?
Where might my child need additional support?
Does this match what I’m seeing in schoolwork and other assessments?
If something doesn’t make sense, ask your child’s teacher.
How Should My Child Prepare?
Here’s where parents sometimes make themselves—and their children—a little crazy.
Your child doesn’t need six months of state-test boot camp.
The most important preparation happens in school all year long.
But it can be very helpful for children to become familiar with:
- The types of questions they’ll encounter
- Computer-based testing tools
- Multi-part questions
- Reading passages on a screen
- Selecting more than one answer when instructed
- Typing written responses
- Using scratch paper appropriately
- Managing time
- Checking work
- Persisting when a question feels difficult
I want a child to see an unfamiliar testing tool before the real test.
Familiarity can reduce unnecessary anxiety and allow students to concentrate on demonstrating what they know.
What Should Parents Do Before Testing?
Keep things normal.
Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
Provide breakfast.
Get to school on time.
And please don’t send your child out the door saying:
“This test is REALLY important. You HAVE to do well.”
That’s rarely helpful.
Instead, try:
“Take your time, read carefully, do your best, and if you get to a hard question, don’t give up.”
That’s enough.
Find Your State Test
Because state testing programs change, parents should always verify the current assessment directly with their state’s Department of Education or their school district.
Look for information about:
- Current test name
- Grades tested
- Subjects tested
- Testing dates or windows
- Test format
- Practice tests or sample questions
- Accommodations
- Score reports
- State academic standards
TestingMom can also help children practice the academic and test-taking skills they’ll use on many state assessments.
My Advice
State testing can sound intimidating, especially when schools start sending home testing schedules and reminders.
Keep it in perspective.
Your child’s job is to learn throughout the year and then do their best when test day arrives.
Your job is to make sure they understand what to expect, have opportunities to practice unfamiliar question formats, and walk into school feeling prepared rather than terrified.
A state test can tell you something useful about how your child is doing academically.
It should never be the only thing that tells you who your child is as a learner.
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.
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6 Responses
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