Last modified: October 27, 2023

EL Assessments

WiDA Screener

WIDA Screener for Grades 1 to 12 WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to incoming students in grade 1 through grade 12. It is available in two delivery modes: online, and pencil and paper. There is also a separate WIDA Screener for Kindergarten that is only offered as a pencil and paper test. In this document, WIDA Screener refers only to the grade 1-12 test. (WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is always called by its full name, and is dealt with separately in the final section.) Students who take WIDA Screener complete four domain tests (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing). Test scores are used to assist educators in identifying students as English language learners (ELLs); the purpose of this assessment is to help educators make decisions about whether a student is a candidate for English language support services. WIDA Screener is not intended for use as a summative or diagnostic assessment. In this document, unless otherwise specified, “WIDA Screener” refers to both WIDA Screener Online and WIDA Screener Paper.

WiDA Kindergarten Screener

WIDA Screener for Kindergarten WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is an English language proficiency assessment given to incoming students in kindergarten and grade 1 (up to the end of the first semester only for first grade). The test is only available in the pencil and paper delivery mode. Students who take WIDA Screener for Kindergarten complete either two domains (Listening and Speaking), or all four domain tests (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) based on state policy. The purpose of the assessment is to identify students who would benefit from English language support services.

WiDA ACCESS

ACCESS for ELLs Online (ACCESS Online) is a computer-based, adaptive test that responds to student performance and may be administered in group or individual settings. This assessment is given annually to students in grades 1-12.

ACCESS Online meets U.S. federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for monitoring and reporting ELs’ progress toward English language proficiency. It tests students’ language in the four domains: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing.

Features

• The online test platform routes students to easier or more challenging content based on their performance.
• The online format promotes increased student engagement.
• Built-in accessibility and accommodation features support individual students’ needs.
• ACCESS Online can be administered to groups of students in various grades and at different proficiency levels at the same time.
• Online testing ensures standardized, reliable scoring.
• Domains are scored either automatically by the test platform or by the test vendor’s trained raters.

WiDA Kindergarten ACCESS

Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs (Kindergarten ACCESS) is a paper-based test individually administered to kindergarten students in a game-like, interactive format. This assessment is given annually.

Kindergarten ACCESS meets U.S. federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for reporting ELs’ progress toward English language proficiency and establishing a baseline to monitor students’ future growth. The test measures English language proficiency in the four domains: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing.

Features

• The test administrator scores all domains.
• Students are tested until they reach their performance ceiling for a given part.
• Scored tests are sent to WIDA’s test delivery partner for processing into score reports.
• Kindergarten ACCESS scores and score reports are provided in the same formats as those for ACCESS Online and Paper.