First time taking NYSESLAT next month — where do I even start? — Forums

Hannah K.OP

May 27, 2026

Hi everyone, I'm a 7th grader at a school in Queens and my teacher told me I'll be taking the NYSESLAT in a few weeks. Honestly I'm kind of nervous because I've never taken it before and I don't really know what to expect. My English is pretty good for everyday stuff but I freeze up when it has to be formal writing or when someone speaks really fast in a listening section.

I found a NYSESLAT practice test online and did some of it but I'm not sure if I'm even practicing the right things. Like, is the reading part harder than the writing? And how much does speaking actually count toward the score? My goal is to test out of the ELL program so I can take regular classes next year — I really want that.

If anyone has a study guide they've used or any exam tips that actually helped them, I'd love to know. How many weeks did you study and what did you focus on most?

Tom W.

May 28, 2026

The listening and reading sections are timed so pacing is everything. I used to run out of time on reading because I'd reread sentences too much. My ESL teacher gave us a study guide with sample prompts and that helped a lot more than random stuff I found online. Also — the speaking isn't as scary as it sounds. They're not judging your accent, just whether you can communicate clearly and use details from what you heard.

Kevin O.

May 28, 2026

I took the NYSESLAT in 8th grade and honestly the speaking section caught me off guard the most. I'd practice out loud every day — like actually talking to myself about random topics for 5 minutes. The writing asks you to respond to a prompt using information from a reading passage, so don't ignore that combo. I studied about 3 weeks and focused on academic vocabulary. You'll do fine if you stay consistent.

Tom W.

May 28, 2026

Just want to say good luck! Testing out is totally doable. I did it in 9th grade after failing to qualify the year before. The second time I actually went back and reviewed the scoring rubric so I knew exactly what the graders wanted. That changed everything for me.

First time taking NYSESLAT next month — where do I even start?

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