New York State Tests: Everything You Need to Know to Help Prepare Your Child

Standardized testing begins in third grade for most New York students—and continues up until they graduate from high school. Many parents however admit that they know little about these tests—their only heads-up was an after-the-fact report from their kids or scores in the mail months later. While we don’t know for certain what this school year’s testing situation will be, it’s always a good idea to know when tests are being administered for the 2021-2022 school year to help your student prepare.

Annual New York State Test Information

There are several New York State tests administered to public school students in NY throughout their education. The results give teachers information about their students’ progress. The DOE also uses test results to judge how schools are performing.

New York State ELA Test (English Language Arts)

Grades tested: third-eighth grades

Students take the New York State ELA Test each spring. (Students who have been in the U.S. for less than 1 year usually take the ELA tests after their first year here. Some students with disabilities take the NY State Alternate Assessment instead.) On this untimed test, students read or listen to short passages of stories, articles, or poems and then answer multiple-choice questions, as well as write longer written responses.

NYS ELA Test 2022 Dates: March 29-31, 2022 (paper); March 29-April 5, 2022 (computer)

New York State Math Test

Grades tested: third-eighth grades

Like the ELA, the NYS Math Test is administered each spring. It is also untimed and includes both multiple choice and open-ended questions. For both this test and the ELA, teachers (from a different school) score the tests and distribute results to parents, which include the student's scale score, performance level, and information on his or her strengths and weaknesses in the different skill areas tested.

NYS Math Test 2022 Dates: April 26-28, 2022 (paper); April 26-May 4, 2022 (computer)

New York State Science Test

Grades tested: fourth and eighth grades

The NYS Science test requires students to apply scientific concepts, formulate hypotheses, make predictions, and/or use other scientific inquiry techniques. The written examination is untimed and consists of multiple-choice and short and long open-ended questions. The assessment also includes a 1-hour laboratory performance examination, which tests students’ skill using hands-on equipment and materials.

NYS Science Test 2022 Dates: May 24-June 3, 2022 (performance); June 6, 2022 (written)

New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA)

Grades tested: third-eighth grades

Every year, students with cognitive disabilities take the NYSAA, which covers English language arts, mathematics, and science. The subjects are reduced in depth and breadth to meet the needs of the test-taker. (New York state contracts with Dynamic Learning Maps to customize the test to the individual abilities of the student.) The Committee on Special Education determines which students are eligible to take the NYSAA; most eligible students will have an Individualized Education Plan that identifies them as such.

NYS Alternate Assessment 2022 Dates: March 14-June 10, 2022

New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT)

Grades tested: kindergarten through 12th grades

All students who receive English as a New Language services will take the NYSESLAT every year until they show that they have mastered the language enough to flourish in an English-only classroom. (There are five levels depending on the student’s grade level.) The speaking section is administered individually, and the other sections, where students respond to stories, questions, or a picture, can be administered to a group.

NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Test 2022 Dates: April 11-May 20, 2022 (speaking); May 9-20, 2022 (listening, reading, writing)

New York State Regents Exams

Grades tested: at any point in high school

Regents Exams measure achievement in high school-level courses. In order to graduate from high school, students must pass five Regents exams: English language arts, a math, a science, social studies, and any additional Regents exam approved by the state (options include United States History and Government, Global History and Geography, English Language Arts, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics). High scorers are eligible for honors and distinctions; the scores are also used for school quality reports, and teacher development and evaluation.

New York State Regents 2022 Exam Dates: Jan. 25-28, 2022; June 1, 2022; June 15-24, 2022; and Aug. 16-17, 2022

NYC School Placement Exams

Although they are optional, these tests are required for placement in certain schools.

Gifted & Talented

Admission to G&T programs for the 2021-2022 NYC school year was different than previous years: a test was not administered. Instead, families and educators helped to identify students for accelerated learning. For students enrolled in a Pre-K for All program, parents submitted an application and educators from the child's school determined if the child was eligible to enter a random lottery for a G&T seat. For children not enrolled in a Pre-K for All program, parents could submit an application, then the child's eligibility was determined via a remote interview.