Assessments

ACCESS testing is an assessment designed specifically for English language learners (ELLs) in the United States. Typically, students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are identified as English language learners take the ACCESS test. The primary goal of the ACCESS test is to measure students' proficiency in English language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It evaluates their abilities to understand and communicate in English across various contexts, such as academic, social, and everyday situations. The results of the ACCESS test provide information to educators, allowing them to gauge students' English language proficiency levels and tailor instructional strategies to meet the student needs and the district monitor students' progress in learning English over time and ensure that appropriate support services are provided to help them succeed academically.

 

AIMSweb testing is a widely-used assessment tool primarily administered to students in kindergarten through 8th grade. The primary goal of AIMSweb testing is to measure students' academic proficiency in key areas such as reading, math, and language arts. It provides educators with data on students' progress in mastering fundamental skills and benchmarks, allowing for early identification of academic difficulties and targeted interventions to support struggling learners. AIMSweb assessments are typically brief and conducted multiple times throughout the school year to monitor students' growth and inform instructional decisions. The results of AIMSweb testing enable educators to identify areas where students excel and areas where they may need additional support, ultimately helping to improve overall student achievement and academic outcomes.

The Cognitive Abilities Test is a widely used assessment designed to measure students' cognitive abilities across three domains: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. This test provides valuable insights into your child's learning preferences, problem-solving skills, and reasoning abilities. The CogAT is not a traditional achievement test but rather an instrument that helps educators better understand how students think and approach new challenges.

 

 

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is a standardized test administered to elementary school students third through eighth in Illinois, to evaluate proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. It provides insights into students' academic progress and areas needing improvement, aiding educators in reviewing instructional strategies to support student learning.

 

The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is another standardized test administered to elementary school students in Illinois, typically in grades five and eight, assessing their understanding of science concepts and skills. Similar to the IAR, the ISA offers insights into students' academic strengths and areas for growth.

Bloomingdale School District 13 utilizes NWEA MAP Reading and Math Growth testing three times a year in the Fall, Winter and Spring. These assessments are adaptive and able to pinpoint specific skills a student has mastered as well as inform teachers what content that student is ready for next. Please see the resources from NWEA below.