Our NJSLA Practice Tests
Take one of our practice exams below to prepare for your NJSLA exam.
The New Jersey Student Learning Assessment is administered to students in elementary, middle, and high school. Make sure to use the answer explanations at the end of each exam.
What is the NJSLA Exam?
The NJSLA exam is a test administered to all students in the state of New Jersey through various grades in elementary school, middle school, and high school. The subjects covered are:
- English and Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
The point of the NJSLA test is to make sure that students in New Jersey schools are all achieving at the level they should be. This means that there are certain standards every grade level should be able to complete, and the NJSLA will test those standards.
For grades 3 to 8, students are required to take both math and English tests each year while their science exam will be administered in both fifth- and eighth-grade years to ensure they are at the levels they should be at.
Aside from subjects, NJSLA testing also has various levels that test the skills your child should know based on the grade they are in. The levels are as follows:
NJSLA Math Levels
| Items | 3rd Grade | 4th & 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Points |
| Type I (content) | 24 questions | 20 questions | 18 questions | 20 questions | 20 questions | 1 per question |
| Type I (content) | 3 questions | 5 questions | 4 questions | 5 questions | 3 questions | 2 per question |
| Type I (content) | 0 questions | 0 questions | 1 question | 0 questions | 1 question | 4 per question |
| Type II (reasoning) | 2 questions | 2 questions | 2 questions | 2 questions | 2 questions | 3 per question |
| Type II (reasoning) | 1 question | 1 question | 1 question | 1 question | 1 question | 4 per question |
| Type III (modeling) | 2 questions | 2 questions | 2 questions | 2 questions | 2 questions | 3 per question |
| Type III (modeling) | 1 question | 1 question | 1 question | 1 question | 1 question | 6 per question |
| Type I Total | 27 questions | 25 questions | 23 questions | 25 questions | 24 questions | 30 total points |
| Type II Total | 3 questions | 3 questions | 3 questions | 3 questions | 3 questions | 10 total points |
| Type III Total | 3 questions | 3 questions | 3 questions | 3 questions | 3 questions | 12 total points |
| All Totals | 33 questions | 31 questions | 29 questions | 31 questions | 30 questions | 52 total points |
NJSLA ELA Levels
| Unit | Subjects Covered | EBSR/TECR Points | PCR Points |
| 1: Literary Task Analysis (contains 2 passages) | Reading: Literary Text | 8 | 4 |
| Reading: Vocabulary | 4 | 0 | |
| Writing: Written Expression | 0 | 12 | |
| Writing: Knowledge of Language & Conventions | 0 | 3 | |
| 1: Short Passage Set (contains 1 passage) | Reading: Literary Text | 6 | N/A |
| Reading: Vocabulary | 2 | N/A | |
| 2: Research Simulation Task (contains 3 passages) | Reading: Informational Text | 12 | 4 |
| Reading: Vocabulary | 4 | 0 | |
| Writing: Written Expression | 0 | 12 | |
| Writing: Knowledge of Language & Conventions | 0 | 3 | |
| All 6 Passages | All of the Above | 36 reading | – 8 reading – 30 writing |
*EBSR – Evidence-Based Selected Response.
*TECR – Technology-Enhanced Constructed Response.
*PCR – Prose Constructed Response
NJSLA Science Levels
NJSLA testing also has a science portion taken by students in fifth and eighth grade, the topics covered are listed below:
5th Grade Science
- Properties of Matter
- Changes to Matter
- Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
- Water on Earth
- Earth Systems
- Interactions within Earth, Sun, and Moon System
8th Grade Science
- Evidence of Common Ancestry
- Selection and Adaptation
- Stability and Change on Earth
- Human Impacts
- Relationships among Forms of Energy
- Thermal Energy
- The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Scoring of the NJSLA Exam
When taking this exam, you will receive a detailed score report. Your score will be categorized into 1 of 5 levels:
- Level 1: Did Not Meet Expectations
- Level 2: Partial Met Expectations
- Level 3: Approached Expectations
- Level 4: Met Expectations
- Level 5: Exceeded Expectations
You will see additional items on your score report like school average, district average, and state average. You will also see the percentage of students in NJ who scored in each level.
Studying for the NJSLA
Preparing for the NJSLA is a fairly straightforward process. Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing for your exam:
- Class Work: Everything on the exam should have been taught to you in your classes. Make sure to pay attention in class.
- Practice Exams: If you want to brush up on some material before taking your exam, you can take a practice exam above.
- Individual Help: If you are really struggling on a topic and want some help, ask your teacher. Your teacher should be more than happy to help you.
- Other Resources: If you still require additional help, check out the NJ Department of Education website for some additional resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades take the NJSLA exam?
Students located in the state of New Jersey between the grades of 3 and 9 will take the NJSLA exam.
What is the difference between the NJSLA and NJGPA exams?
The content of the two exams are very similar. The main difference between the two of them is that the NJSLA is just to measure grade-to-grade achievement while the NJGPA is to measure graduation readiness.
Do I have to take the NJSLA exam?
Yes, the NJSLA is required by the New Jersey Department of Education.
