The ACCESS for ELLs is a summative test which tests four domains of English: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Generally students take the Listening and Reading tests on one day and the Speaking and Writing tests on another day.

Most English learner students take this test annually in December or January. This year (2020-21) the test will be held February through April.

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