Features
ACCESS is available in both paper and online formats for grades 1-12. States and districts select a testing format to meet their unique needs and requirements (see your member/state page for state-specific testing requirements). Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Alternate ACCESS are both paper format tests.
Each ACCESS assessment includes:
- On-demand test administrator training
- Downloadable manuals and resources
- Online material management and test coordination
- Online delivery of individual student score reports
Purpose and Use
Educators use ACCESS results, along with other WIDA resources, to make decisions about students' English academic language and to facilitate their language development.
Students' scores reflect proficiency levels ranging from Level 1 (Entering) to Level 6 (Reaching).
Test scores can be used:
- For accountability purposes
- As benchmarks against which educators can measure future performance
- As a measure to make reclassification decisions about whether a student can exit English language support services
- To support decisions about placing students into appropriate classes or groups for instruction, instructional planning
- To show the progress students have made
Scores
Each test is scored differently, depending on assessment type (paper, online, kindergarten) and domain (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing).
- ACCESS for ELLs Online
- The online test engine automatically scores Listening and Reading during administration.
- Our test delivery partner scores the Speaking and Writing domains in winter and spring.
- ACCESS for ELLs Paper
- States send test booklets to our test delivery partner, which scores the Listening, Reading and Writing domains.
- Test administrators score the Speaking domain in the test booklet and send to our test delivery partner, which captures the scores for reporting.
- Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs
Test administrators score all domains in the test booklet and send them to our test delivery partner, which captures the scores for reporting.
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS
Test administrators score all domains in the test booklet and send them to our test delivery partner, which captures the scores for reporting.
States have a chance to review their data before scores are printed, allowing them to identify errors and make corrections. The test delivery partner then ships printed score reports directly to states.
