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NYSESLAT Information

Parent Information Brochure

Who takes this test?
The New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test is given to all students who are identified as English Language Learners. The purpose of the test is to determine how well they are learning English. All English Language Learners in kindergarten through grade 12 take the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test every year.

Students who receive English as a second language assistance take the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test to determine how well they are learning English. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 who receive English as a New Language services take the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test every year.

When is this test given?
The NYSESLAT is administered annually in Spring to ELLs in grades K-12 in all public and charter schools to determine English language proficiency and mandated services for the following year.

What is on the test?

The New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test has seven grade bands:

  • Kindergarten
  • Grade 1
  • Grade 2
  • Grade 3−4
  • Grade 5−6
  • Grade 7−8
  • Grade 9−12
  • It tests students' speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills defined by New York State English as a Second Language Learning Standards.
  • The speaking section is administered individually and asks students to respond to a word or statement read aloud or to a picture.
  • The other sections can be administered to students in a group:
    • The reading section asks students to answer questions about stories printed in their test books.
    • The writing section asks students to write in response to questions and prompts in their test books.
    • The listening section asks students to select the correct response to a picture and/or word or statement read aloud.

How are the results reported?
The results are reported in raw scores, scale scores, and performance levels. The “raw score” is the number of correct answers, which is converted to a “scale score,” to make it possible to compare scores across grade levels. Scale scores are divided into the following five performance levels that show how well students have mastered English language skills.

Commanding:

  • Students function fluently in listening, reading, writing, and speaking
  • Students' skills are equal to those of native English speakers at their appropriate grade level
  • These students have gained the skills necessary to participate in an English-speaking classroom

Expanding:

  • Students are able to use skills at a higher level than intermediate students.
  • Although their knowledge and use of English is at a more advanced level, these students make mistakes usually involving more subtle use of language difficult levels of vocabulary and grammar

Transitioning:

  • Students have better English skills than students at the basic level
  • However, these students' skills are often not well developed and they make significant errors in the four skill areas

Emerging:

  • A student at the Emerging level needs some supports and structures to improve their academic language skills

Entering:

  • Students are at the beginning level in the four skill areas
  • These students’ English skills are minimal

How are the results used?
Students will continue to receive English as a New Language or bilingual services until their scores on the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test show that they have learned English well enough to participate in English-only classes. Educators also use students’ New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test scores to help decide which instructional standards to focus on, and to evaluate their programs.