Testing Information
Students at Aldrin are assessed in many areas throughout the year. Please see testing notification letters below. Teachers will communicate with parents/guardians with specific testing days prior to assessing. Parents will also receive the results of each test. Please see the FCPS public page for ways parents receive score reports.
NGAT ABILITIES TEST
PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATON LETTER and INFORMATION
Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT) Score Report
Printable PDFs of the NGAT score report for online tests
iREADY UNIVERSAL SCREENER
PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION LETTER
SCORES REPORT - Please locate in SIS ParentVUE after each testing window.
FCPS adopted a universal screener assessment for all elementary school students in grades 1 through 6.
The purpose of this assessment is to identify students who may have gaps in reading and math skills so that teachers can plan appropriate support for each child.
The universal screener is an online, computer-adaptive assessment. Computer-adaptive means that the difficulty of questions will adjust based on each child’s performance. When your child gets a question correct, the next question will be a little harder. When your child gets a question wrong, the next question will be a little easier. Through this adjustment process, the computer will narrow in on just the right level for your child.
Opt-Out: There is no official Opt-Out Form for iReady. If you wish for your child not to participate in iReady assessments Reading, Math, or both, please email your request not to test to your child's teacher. The teacher will forward this to the School Testing Coordinator (STC), and put a copy in the student's cum folder.
SEL SCREENER
SOL (GRADES 3-6) / IRW(GRADE 5)
PREPARING FOR TESTS
PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES
TestNav 8 Practice Test Items - No Sign In -> click SOL Practice Items
- Master the Tools: Students should practice using the online highlighters, eliminators (to cross out wrong answers), and the "Exhibit" window for formulas or reference sheets.
- Technology-Enhanced Items (TEI): Practice "Drag and Drop," "Hot Spots" (clicking a specific part of an image), and "Multiple Select" (choosing more than one right answer).
- No Skipping: On CAT tests (Reading and Math), students cannot skip a question and return to it later. They must make their best guess to see the next question.
- Elimination is Key: Use the "Strikethrough" tool to visually remove choices that are definitely wrong. This makes it easier to choose between the remaining options.
OTHER PRACTICE OPORTUNITIES
Download Printable PDF version of practice items.
SOLPass - Click Log In –> School (Aldrin Elementary) Password (aldrin) -> Login -> Released SOL Tests - > Click SOL pass to go to new subject
Henry Anker - Click on Grade Level
IQ Interactive Quizzes – Released SOL tests
Review Practice Items - Math 2016, Desmos Virginia Calculators, Reading 2017, Science (5 th Grade), TEI Tools
Desmos Four-Function Calculator (Grades 4 and 5 on calculator section)
Desmos Scientific Calculator (Grade 6 on calculator section)
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Remind your child to get a good night's rest.
- Make sure your child has a healthy breakfast. - Avoid scheduling appointments that would take your child out of school on a testing day.
- Remind your child that electronic devices are not allowed in testing, unless required by 504 or IEP.
- About Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
- BLUEPRINTS OF WHAT WILL BE COVERED ON SOLs
- Parent/Guardian Notification
- Parent/Guardian Permission To Retest
- FCPS Assessment Information for Families
- FCPS Standards of Learning Information
- FCPS Tips to Ease Test Anxiety
- Test Refusal
- Parent and guardian refusal of testing must be updated annually. If caregivers choose to refuse testing for one or more tests administered in FCPS, they should first contact their student's school. The assessment coach, school test coordinator, or the student's teacher can address questions the caregivers may have about the test content, format, purpose, and available testing accommodations or adjustments.
- After speaking with school staff, caregivers that are choosing to refuse the testing will need to officially notify the school of this decision. For certain tests like SOL and WIDA, the school will need to document the family or caregiver decision for state reporting. A form, letter, email, or documented phone conversation may be accepted for the refusal.
KEY ONLINE STRATEGIES
Suggestions offered by Gemini based from VDOE recommendations and blueprint information.
- The "Pointer" Rule:For coordinate plane or graphing questions (common in Grades 5–6), remember that the Dot Tool marks your spot, but the Pointer Toolis what officially selects it as your answer.
- **Complete All Parts:Many TEI questions (like "Select all correct answers") are all-or-nothing. If a question says, "Select three," and you only select two, the whole item is marked incorrect.
- Drag-and-Drop Check:After dragging numbers into a box (like ordering fractions OR ordering numbers), read them out loud in your head to ensure they follow the requested order (e.g., "least to greatest" vs. "greatest to least").
- Elimination is Key:Use the "Strikethrough" tool to visually remove choices that are definitely wrong. This makes it easier to choose between the remaining options.
- Positive Talk:Remember SOLs are just one way to show what you have learned. Take your time and do your best.
- Vocabulary is Key:Review key vocabulary for math, reading and science
Grades 3 & 4: Keep in Mind
- Look for "Practical Problems": The VDOE loves "real-world" context. In 3rd and 4th grade, notice and use the underline tool for the labels (e.g., "gallons," "miles") to ensure the final answer matches what the question is asking.
- Model Matching: If a question asks for 3/4 look for the model with 4 equal parts—not just any 4 parts
Starting in Grade 4, you get access to a built-in Desmos calculator for the second half of the test.
- Section 1 is "Non-Calculator":This usually focuses on basic computation, estimation, and number sense. Don't rush; show your work on your scratch paper to avoid "careless" mental math errors.
- Graphing for Geometry:Use the calculator to verify calculations for Area ($A=lw$)and Perimeter ($P=2l+2w$). Even if you know the math, the calculator prevents simple addition mistakes.
Grades 5 & 6: Increasing Rigor
- Example: Order of Operations (PEMDAS/GEMS):Grade 6 students often face multi-step numerical expressions. Use your scratch paper to solve one step per lineto avoid skipping a step.
-
Ratio and Proportion:For Grade 6, use a "Ratio Table" on your scratch paper. It's the most reliable way to solve problems involving rates and unit prices.
STRATEGIES TOOLKIT
- Read the questions first.Then read or listen to the passages.
- This will allow you to highlight answers as you discover them. - Multiple Choice Types of Questions: LOOK FOR THE WRONG ANSWERS FIRST
- The Jokester- The answer that is so wrong it is almost funny.
- The Trickster -Be careful, This answer is almost correct, but there is something tricky about it that doesn't go with the question.
- The Champ- The correct answer.
- The Sneaker- Sometimes, you need to select more than one answerto get a problem correct, read carefully.
- If question say, "In paragraph 2", "According to the text", or is in BOLD,
- Go back and LOOK.
- The answer will be there. - TRICKY Questions
- "Which is mostlikely?" or "Which is the bestanswer?"
- Both will seem correct. Be careful and read carefully. Only oneof them is correct. - Watch out for these words in an answer choice - never, always, most, or none
- These are usually notthe correct answer. - For "fill in the blank questions", read the question with each of the possible answers listed below to see which one is the best choice.
- Highlight key words
- " Select” , " Choose 2 answers", or " All the above"
- "All Except" - *Understand what this means.
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES BY SUBJECT
Answers below generated by Gemini with prompts requested from VDOE and SOL blueprints.
📖READING
Reading tests focus heavily on word analysis, fiction, and non-fiction comprehension.
- Read Questions First:This "primes" the brain. If a question asks about the "main idea of paragraph 3," the student can focus specifically on that section.
- Use the "Read & Locate" Method:For right-there questions, non-fiction, look for bold words, captions, and headings. These often contain the answers to specific factual questions.
- Context Clue Hunt:When asked for a word's meaning, read the sentence before and the sentence after the word.
- The "Evidence" Rule:For inference questions, ask: "Can I point my finger at the sentence that supports this?" If not, it might be a trick.
🔢MATH
- Draft on Scratch Paper:It is very helpful to number your scratch paper and work out each problem on your scratch paper.
- Check the Sign:Many errors occur when students have subtracted instead of added. Review your work before moving onto the next question.
- Reverse Operations:Always check your work by doing the reverse operation. If the answer is 12 X 4 = 48, check your work by doing 48 divided 4 = 12.
- Estimate First:Before solving a problem like 482 + 319, estimate 500 + 300 = 800. If the answer choices include 600 or 1,200, they can be immediately eliminated.
- Analyze the Diagram:Science questions often include charts or life cycle diagrams. Students should "read" the picture before reading the text.
- Variables (IV/DV):For experimental design questions, remember the "Change vs. Measure" rule:
- Independent Variable:What "I" change.
- Dependent Variable:The "Data" I collect.
- Keywords:Look for absolute words like "always" or "never," which are often (but not always) signs of an incorrect answer choice.
- Think Like a Scientist:If a question asks about an experiment, identify the Constants—what stayed the same to make the test fair.
🔢SCIENCE
- Analyze the Diagram:Science questions often include charts or life cycle diagrams. Students should "read" the picture before reading the text.
- Variables (IV/DV):For experimental design questions, remember the "Change vs. Measure" rule:
- Independent Variable:What "I" change.
- Dependent Variable:The "Data" I collect.
- Keywords:Look for absolute words like "always" or "never," which are often (but not always) signs of an incorrect answer choice.
- Think Like a Scientist:If a question asks about an experiment, identify the Constants—what stayed the same to make the test fair.
SCORES REPORT
Please see in your SIS ParentVUE account under Test History and the full report under Documents.
The state of Virginia has established achievement tests that are administered at the end of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades to measure the mastery of the curriculum. The Standards of Learning Tests (SOLs) test students in the areas of reading, writing, math, history, and science.
- Grade 3 – Math and Reading | Local Alternative Assessment (LAA) and Performance-Based Assessments (PBA) - Social Studies and Science
- Grade 4 – Math and Reading | Local Alternative Assessment (LAA) and Performance-Based Assessments (PBA) - Virginia Studies
- Grade 5 – Math, Reading/Writing, and Science | Local Alternative Assessment (LAA) and Performance-Based Assessments (PBA) - Social Studies (POG/POL)
- Grade 6 – Math and Reading | Local Alternative Assessment (LAA) and Performance-Based Assessments (PBA) - United States History to 1865 (US History I)
VAAP
VALLSS
Parents can expect VALLSS, EMAS, CBRS score reports to be available in their SIS ParentVUE for students in grades 1-3 by the end of October.
Kindergarten parents can expect VALLSS, EMAS, CBRS score reports to be available in their SIS ParentVUE by mid-November.
Pre-Kindergarten parents can expect VALLSS, EMAS, CBRS score reports to be available in their SIS ParentVUE by December 9.
Score reports are accompanied by a cover letter informing families that students who score “high risk” will receive a reading plan, which will be discussed with parents/guardians during upcoming conferences. Translated versions of the cover letter are available on the VALLSS Information public webpage.
VIRGINIA LAA/PBA
Local Alternative Assessment (LAA) and Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) are used in place of SOL tests in some grade level content areas.
VKRP - EMASS (PRK-K)
The Early Mathematics Assessment System (EMAS) is one test required in PreK and Kindergarten classrooms under the the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP). The VKRP also requires PreK-K testing in literacy and student behaviors (self-regulation, and social skills).
