ACCESS Assessment Preparation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The ACCESS test is developed and administered by which organization?
- College Board
- ACT, Inc.
- WIDA Consortium (Correct answer)
- Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Correct answer: WIDA Consortium
The ACCESS test is developed and administered by the WIDA Consortium, housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Question 2: Which ACCESS domain assesses a student's ability to understand spoken English in academic contexts?
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening (Correct answer)
- Speaking
Correct answer: Listening
The Listening domain measures a student's ability to understand spoken academic English, including lectures and conversations.
Question 3: In preparing for the ACCESS Speaking domain, what type of language function should Bridging-level students practice most?
- Labeling pictures with single words
- Describing and explaining ideas with extended academic discourse (Correct answer)
- Repeating words after a teacher
- Matching spoken words to images only
Correct answer: Describing and explaining ideas with extended academic discourse
Bridging students should practice producing extended explanations and academic discussions, demonstrating language complexity.
Question 4: A student's ACCESS score report shows separate scores for Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. What term is used for the overall score that combines all four domains?
- Aggregate Score
- Composite Score (Correct answer)
- Cumulative Score
- Blended Proficiency Index
Correct answer: Composite Score
The overall score that combines all four domain scores using specific weights is called the Composite Score.
Question 5: Which grade band does NOT exist in the ACCESS for ELLs assessment structure?
- Kindergarten
- Grades 1-2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 7-8 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Grades 7-8
ACCESS grade bands are K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12; there is no separate Grades 7-8 band.
Question 6: When a student moves from one WIDA state to another, how does ACCESS help receiving schools?
- The student must retake all assessments from the beginning
- ACCESS scores transfer seamlessly because all WIDA states use the same assessment (Correct answer)
- Each state must create a new individualized assessment for the student
- Receiving schools are not allowed to use prior ACCESS data
Correct answer: ACCESS scores transfer seamlessly because all WIDA states use the same assessment
Because all WIDA-member states use ACCESS, score reports are portable and comparable across state lines without retesting.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of the ACCESS Kindergarten assessment compared to other grade bands?
- It focuses on written essay production
- It uses an individually administered oral format rather than paper or online testing (Correct answer)
- It is scored by parents rather than trained raters
- It only measures reading fluency
Correct answer: It uses an individually administered oral format rather than paper or online testing
The Kindergarten ACCESS assessment is individually administered and focuses on oral language since young children cannot yet produce extended written responses.
ACCESS Assessment Preparation 3
The ACCESS test is developed and administered by which organization?