The iReady diagnostic test is an adaptive assessment that is administered for K-12 students in the United States. On this page, you will find all the necessary information for your child’s success:
Keep reading to start exploring the iReady test.
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The iReady diagnostic math test takes approximately 50 minutes for grades K-1 and 90 minutes for grades 2-8 and contains between 60-90 questions. As the test is adaptive, the number of questions varies with each student's performance.
The assessment presents the students with math questions on a number of different topics.There are four domains of mathematics that the test focuses on, and we will take you through them now, showing samples of what questions might look like in each domain.
Let's look at some sample questions to give you an idea of what to expect on the iReady test.
A common type of question you will find on the iReady Diagnostic Math test is in the topic of algebra or algebraic thinking. These include basic arithmetic skills such as word problems, equations, number patterns, and more. The concepts and problems are in accordance with the given grade level of the student and his or her performance on the test.
Tommy claims that 70 is in the multiplication table of five. In order to prove this, Tommy counted by fives until he reached 70.
How many numbers did Tommy count?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is (D).
Let's think about this like a fun counting game! Imagine Tommy is hopping from one number to the next, counting by fives. He starts at 5 and keeps hopping until he reaches 70.
Let's count with him:
5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70
Now, let's count how many "hops" or numbers Tommy said. Start with 1 at 5 and keep counting until you reach 70. You'll find that 70 is the 14th number in this list.
Student Tip: When you need to count by a certain number, write out the sequence and count the total numbers. Don't forget to include the first and last numbers!
When facing word problems, keep track of all of the numbers introduced, and write them out on paper. Then determine based on the information given what operations the question is asking you to do with those numbers, and write them out in an equation.
Our iReady practice test packs have hundreds of questions!
The iReady question is a foundational exercise that lays the groundwork for more advanced algebraic concepts, which will be further developed and refined in a few grades when students tackle more complex equations and functions. Let's look at a more advanced alegbra question.
If 7p = 175, what does p equal?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is (A), 25.
In the equation above, 7p means 7 multiplied by an unknown number. The result is 175. To find out the unknown number, p, you must find a number that gives 175 when multiplied by 25. To find this, you can do 175 ÷ 25 = 7. That means that 7 × 25 = 175. So, 25 is the missing number, p.
It is also worth remembering that in order that the result of a multiplication ends in a 5, one of the factors also must end in a 5 so 25 is the likely candidate.
Therefore, the correct answer is (A).
When solving equations, think about undoing what's been done. If a number is multiplied, divide to solve for the variable. To find out, we divide: 175 ÷ 7 = 25. We can check our answer: 7 × 25 = 175. It works!
Now, let's move on to the next sub-topic, Numbers and Operations: Another skill you will need for the test is the four basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—as well as the ability to operate with varying types of numbers relevant to the student’s level, such as fractions, decimals, and integers.
What is 2/5 as a decimal?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is (C).
Let's think about this step-by-step:
Another way to think about it:
Therefore, 2/5 as a decimal is 0.4. The answer is C!
To change a fraction to a decimal, think about dividing the top number by the bottom number.
Daniel and Isla are each writing a novel. Daniel has written 40 pages in the last five days and Isla has written 120 pages in the last 24 days.
What is the difference between their unit rates per day?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is (A).
Let's break this down like we're comparing how fast Daniel and Isla write:
Daniel's speed:
Isla's speed:
Now, let's find the difference:
So, the difference in their writing speeds is 3 pages per day. The answer is A!
When comparing rates, calculate the rate for each person first, then find the difference.
Now that you are familiar with number and operations questions, let's move on to the next sub-topic, measurement and data:
The next domain we will look at includes both measurement and analysis of data. Depending on the grade level, this can involve reading rulers, calculating distance, converting units of measurement, calculating probability, familiarity with mean, mode, and median, as well as interpreting charts and graphs.
Lucy is training for a marathon. A marathon is a race of 42 kilometers. Every day, Lucy practices and goes for a run until she gets tired. The last day of practice, Lucy ran 39 kilometers. The day of the marathon, Lucy finished the entire race.
How much more distance did Lucy run between the marathon and the last day of practice?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is (C).
Let's think about this like a number line:
Or we can subtract: 42 - 39 = 3
Either way, we find that Lucy ran 3 kilometers more in the marathon than in practice. The answer is C!
When finding a difference, subtract the smaller number from the bigger number.
Amy wants to know the favorite ice cream flavor among students in her school, so she asked 36 random students from the school. 14 said they prefer vanilla, 9 said they prefer chocolate, 6 said they prefer fruit flavors, and the rest said they prefer other flavors. The school contains a total of 540 students.
Based on the data that Amy collected, what would be a reasonable estimation of the number of students who prefer flavors other than chocolate or vanilla?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is (D).
Let's break this down step-by-step:
Find how many students in the sample prefer flavors other than chocolate or vanilla:
Find what fraction of the sample this is: 13 out of 36 students
Now, apply this to the whole school:
Therefore, we estimate that 195 students in the whole school prefer flavors other than chocolate or vanilla.
In this kind of question, you are given data regarding a sampling group and should use it to draw conclusions about the entire group. Notice that the conclusion you can make out of the sample is merely an approximation and cannot reflect reality correctly.
In this kind of question, you are given data regarding a sampling group and should use it to draw conclusions about the entire group. Notice that the conclusion you can make out of the sample is merely an approximation and cannot reflect reality correctly.
Check your units: Make sure the units of your answer match the units of the problem. In this case, the answer should be in terms of students.
The final math topic we will explore is geometry. This includes understanding and classifying two and three-dimensional shapes, calculating perimeter and area, familiarity with the properties of angles, and how to use all of these principles and others to solve word problems and shape diagrams.
Which 3-D shape is most similar to the following object?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is C.
The 3-D shapes mentioned in the answer choices are these:
Let's think about what makes each shape special:
Now, look at the ball. It's completely round with no flat sides or points. This matches the description of a sphere!
Therefore, the answer is C. A sphere is most similar to a ball.
Look at the key features of the object - does it have flat sides or curved surfaces? Does it have points or edges?
Which angle is approximately 70 degrees?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answer is (C).
Let's think about this like slices of a pizza:
Now, let's look at our options: A: This looks like half of a right angle (about 45 degrees) B: This is exactly a right angle (90 degrees) C: This is a bit smaller than a right angle - it could be our 70 degrees! D: This is bigger than a right angle (more than 90 degrees)
The angle that looks closest to 70 degrees is C. That's our answer!
Use a right angle (90 degrees) as a reference. Is the angle larger or smaller than 90 degrees? By how much?
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The iReady reading test, just like the math test, takes approximately 50 minutes in grades K-1 and 90 minutes in grades 2 – 8. You will be presented with extended passages and asked questions at different intervals pertaining to the text.
The nature of the questions and the passages varies throughout the test, as we will now explore over a series of sample questions.
The first category of questions we will look at includes three domains catered to the development of early literacy, and only students in K-2 (or those scoring at that level) will encounter such questions on the test. A 2nd or 3rd-grader who demonstrates a 3rd-grade reading level will cut short or bypass these questions entirely.
The first domain is called Phonics, which asks about the sounds of the English language and how they are represented with letters. Closely related to that is Phonological Awareness, which includes identifying syllables and the pronunciation of words. Finally, there are High-Frequency Words, which focus on the student’s familiarity with the most commonly appearing words in written English.
Complete the sentence:
Don’t forget to close _____ door.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Answer & Explanation
The right answer is (C) "the". When we say "Don't forget to close ___ door," we need a word that points to a specific door. "The" does this job perfectly! "There" and "to" just don't make sense in this sentence.
Read the sentence out loud with each option. Which one sounds right to your ear?
Give them the tools to succeed in the classroom.
Identifying syllables in words
Click on all the words that contain three syllables.
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Correct!
Answer & Explanation
The correct answers are C and E. The words Telescope and Luxury have three syllables.
To find the number of syllables in a word, count the number of times you hear the letters: a, e, i, o, u.
Read the sentence out loud for each option. Which one sounds right to your ear?
Manipulating sounds in words
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The right answer is D (Harm). Here's how we get there:
Our language often has different spellings for the same sounds. So focus on the sounds you hear, not just how the word is spelled. This method can help you "hear" the new word you're creating, making it easier to choose the correct answer.
Another category of questions you will face on the iReady at all levels aims to test your knowledge of vocabulary, understanding the meanings of words and their proper application.
They are defined as follows:
Which sentence uses the word “head” to mean the leader?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is A: "She is the head of the school's chess club."
Think about how the word is being used in each sentence. Does it mean a thing, a person, or an action? Remember:
Ready to sharpen your reading skills? Let's dive into the next question: "Using context clues to understand word meanings."
Read the following sentence:
The cocoa nibs are what give chocolate its distinct taste and aroma, as well as its dark-brown color.
Which of the following is the definition of the word “distinct?”
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is (A).
"Distinct” describes something that is different from others in a unique way. If you do not already know what” distinct” means, you can infer from the sentence that cocoa nibs have an influence on the taste and aroma of chocolate.
Answer (B) is incorrect. If you believed this to be the definition, you likely confused this word with "district," which refers to a division of land. This definition does not fit into the context of the sentence.
Answer (C) is incorrect. This is a harder choice because the definition fits in the context of the sentence, but it does not match the correct definition. It is more likely that a natural ingredient will give something a unique flavor than a higher quality because quality usually has more to do with how well something is made than the presence of a particular ingredient.
Look at the words around the tricky word. They often give you clues about what it means!
Now that we've honed our context clue skills, let's get precise with our reading comprehension - Next up: "How to identify and apply supporting evidence from the text to answer questions"
We now move on to the reading comprehension portion of the test, beginning with literary texts. Here you will be given stories, poetry, or any kind of work of literature, and you must answer a series of questions designed to determine how well you understood and were able to analyze different elements of the text, considering, plot, characters, language, and other devices.
Saroo Brierley, an Australian businessman, was born in 1981 in the city of Khandwa, India. He had two brothers and a sister. His family was very poor, and his older brother, Guddu, had to work to support the family.
One evening, when Saroo was five years old, Guddu and Saroo took a train to another city where Guddu had a job. By the time they got there, Saroo was exhausted, and Guddu told him to wait until he came back. When Guddu did not come back, Saroo thought he might be on one of the trains and boarded an empty carriage. He fell asleep waiting for his brother, and when he woke up, the train was traveling across an unfamiliar country. When the train finally stopped and someone opened the door, Saroo escaped, not knowing he was about 930 miles away from home.
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is (D).
In line 2, the passage mentions Saroo's family being poor as the reason his older brother needed to work to support the family. Line 3 informs us that Guddu and Saroo travel to the place where Guddu must work. By following the logical progression of this sequence, you can infer that the reason for the trip was for Guddu to work, and by extension, to earn money to support the family.
It may be beneficial to read the question—and even the answer options of an individual question—before reading the passage so that you know what to look for.
We've mastered finding details in the text! Now, let's explore the author's craft - Next up: "How authors use literary devices to create mood, tone, and atmosphere"
Saroo was found by a teenager who took him to the police station. The police took him to a government center for lost children, but it was impossible to locate his family and hometown as Saroo, being very young, could not give the staff enough information. Fortunately for Saroo, he was adopted by a loving Australian couple, Sue and John Brierley, who raised him as their own. Saroo moved to Australia, leaving behind his Indian heritage and memories of his birth family. Meanwhile, Saroo's real mother stayed in the same city for twenty-five years, waiting for him to return.
What is the role of the following sentence in the paragraph, considering the literary devices or techniques used by the author?
“Saroo moved to Australia, leaving behind his Indian heritage and memories of his birth family.”
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is (B).
Each of the answer choices includes an impression on the readers that the author intends to create, as well as a literary or rhetorical device that he uses to accomplish this. Answer (B) is the only one in which both of these are correct. Pathos refers to the emotional response evoked from the audience, and the author certainly plays on the readers’ emotions, describing how Saroo left his heritage and childhood memories behind. It is therefore clear that he was intending to gain sympathy for Saroo, the protagonist (main character).
Answer (A) is incorrect because this was not the author’s intention. While he certainly uses emotive language—it is clear that the author views Saroo’s adoption as a good thing, and the sadness of the situation does not make the case that Saroo may have been better off in India with no family.
Answer (C) is incorrect because there is no descriptive language in the sentence. Descriptive language refers to writing that skillfully utilizes adjectives, adverbs, figurative speech, or other methods of vividly describing something, often to create images or sensations in the mind of the reader. There are no adverbs, similes, or metaphors in the sentence, and the only adjective (Indian) is not at all descriptive; nothing in the sentence helps create any sort of image in the reader’s mind.
When answering questions about literary devices or techniques used by the author, follow these steps:
Like the previous category, here you will be given long passages to read, and you will face questions designed to assess your understanding and analysis of the passages along the way. However, this time the passages will be informational, not literary. You will be asked to follow the structure, purpose, and argument of the texts, among other elements.
Read the passage:
One of the most popular foods across many different cultures and continents is the Japanese delicacy of sushi. Like most people, you are likely familiar with this strangely appealing food, and you may also count yourself among the millions who consider it one of their favorite things to eat. But have you ever wondered why on earth anyone ever decided that it would be a good idea to put raw fish in vinegared rice, wrap it in seaweed, and eat it with a side of pickled ginger? The outspoken minority group of sushi haters that you have doubtlessly encountered tend to point out this oddity as if it should somehow mean that sushi does not have a right to taste good. In truth, no one ever decided to test this recipe out off the top of their head because that would be ridiculous; this delicious abnormality evolved slowly over thousands of years.
How does the narrator’s specific choice and usage of the word “right” in the second to last sentence of the first paragraph affect the meaning of the sentence?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is (A).
By explaining the “sushi haters’” argument as not believing that sushi has a right to taste good, the narrator portrays this position as even more foolish than it actually is, largely due to the usage of the word “right.” This is clearly not meant to accurately explain this point of view, as foods cannot be granted rights. The point that the narrator is making is that the fact that it is strange does not actually make sushi taste any worse, so there is no validity to what the “sushi haters” are saying.
Answer (B) is incorrect because there is no hyperbole in this sentence. Hyperbole is the use of extreme exaggeration in order to illustrate a point. While the narrator does make the argument seem worse than it is with sarcasm, there is nothing that is being exaggerated or overstated.
Answer (C) is incorrect because it does not explain anything that the word “right” adds to the sentence, as the question specifically asks for. This answer provides an explanation of what the whole sentence might mean, but it does not address the effect of the specific word “right.”
Answer (D) is incorrect because the narrator himself is not making an argument that people should be prohibited from liking sushi. Rather, he is creating the impression that this is the argument being made by “sushi haters,” and he is creating this impression in order to show how illegitimate their argument is.
Pay attention to unusual word choices. Authors often use surprising words to make a point or change how you think about something.
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The iReady diagnostic test is a computer-adaptive, untimed assessment for grades K-12, and it is administered by Curriculum Associates. The test is used to help teachers monitor their student’s academic standing and progress throughout the school year.
The iReady is usually administered three times during the school year - at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. The test is divided into two subtests: Math and Reading. Most schools divide the tests into a few sessions that span a couple of days. However, students may take up to 21 days in theory to complete the assessments on their own time.
We know taking the iReady assessment can be a stressful experience for your child, so here are a few helpful tips that could help your child approach the test with confidence and ease:
The iReady assessment is considered a difficult test. Most students are expected to get 50% of the questions wrong. The goal isn't to get everything right, but to show what you know and what you're ready to learn next.
Purpose of Scores
It's important to note that iReady scores are just one measure of a student's abilities and should be considered alongside other assessments and classroom performance. People ask "what is a good score on the iReady test?" Overall, a good score is one that shows the student is performing at or above their expected grade level, but the specific numbers vary based on grade and subject area.
iReady is used for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
iReady Connect is the online platform where educators can access student data, reports, and instructional resources.
While the test is untimed, it typically takes about 45-60 minutes for each subject.
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