New Jersey has administered statewide assessments since the 1970s, and over the years the testing program has evolved. It began as a measure of basic skills, and after 1996 it has assessed the state's academic standards. In 2002, after the federal government enacted the No Child Left Behind Act, every state was required to test students in mathematics and English language arts (ELA) in grades 3 through 8 and at least once in high school. That mandate is still in effect under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.

The current NJ Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) are computer based and aligned to the NJ Student Learning Standards. 

The English language arts assessments focus on reading critically across a range of texts; writing effectively when analyzing text; and building and presenting knowledge through research and the integration of ideas. 

The mathematics assessments focus on conceptual understanding and application of math content, expressing mathematical reasoning and modeling real-world problems. While the English language arts assessments are grade-level specific, the mathematics assessments include grade-level and subject-specific assessments. Some students may take Math-7 or Math-8 where others may take the Algebra I or Geometry assessments depending on the course in which they are currently enrolled.

NJ Department of Education - NJSLA

• The New Jersey Department of Education resource page for NJ Student Learning Assessments.  

https://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/

Tutorials

The purpose of these tutorials is to demonstrate the navigation and tools available for Computer-Based Assessments. The items in these tutorials are samples used to allow students to gain familiarity with the technology platform.

Practice Tests

English Language Arts Practice Tests

Mathematics Practice Tests

Science Practice Tests

The New Jersey Parent Portal provides parents and guardians online access to how their child performed on the New Jersey assessments. It offers a secure and convenient way to access the results for your students(s). 

What subjects are tested and who will be tested? 

English Language Arts - Grades 3 - 9 

Mathematics - Grades 3 - 9 Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2

Science - Grades 5, 8 and 11 

Are 11th graders required to take the NJSLA? 

Students in 11th grade are not required to take the ELA and Math sections of the NJSLA. They are required to take the Science assessment.  

What are the testing graduation requirements for the current high school students? 

The New Jersey Department of Education has published the testing graduation requirements for current high school students here. 

What happens if I am absent during the day I am scheduled to take a test?

Students who miss a portion of the NJSLA will be required to make-up the parts of the test they missed either in the afternoon on the day they return to school, or the first day they are in school after testing ends.

Fully charged Chromebook (student responsibility):

The NJSLA assessments are entirely computer-based.  Students will therefore complete the tasks online using their school-issued Chromebooks. It will be critical that each student come to school prepared with his or her Chromebook fully charged and ready to go each day during the week of testing.  

Pencils/Paper (provided by the school):

All students will receive a pencil and scratch paper for use during the tests.  Students may use pencil and scratch paper for brainstorming, drafting, note-taking, or calculations, but all final answers must be recorded online via the Chromebook.

Calculator (provided/ available within the test/ if required):

Students will be permitted to use specific types of calculators on some sections of the math assessment. Where appropriate, students will have access to a calculator as one of the online tools built into the NJSLA.  This ensures that all students will have access to the calculator features that will be appropriate to their grade level and assessment (i.e., basic function calculator, scientific calculator, or graphing calculator).  

Reading Material (highly recommended):

Students who finish early and have logged-out of the test are only permitted to have access to a school- appropriate book to read while others in the room are still testing.  No electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, tablets, e-readers) are permitted to be in use by anyone in the classroom while testing is in session.

On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, Governor Murphy signed P.L.2022, c.60 (ACS for A-3196/S-2349), which requires the State Board of Education to administer the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) as a field test for the class of 2023. This law also prohibits the results of the NJGPA field test (First Pathway), a substitute competency test (Second Pathway), or portfolio appeal (Third Pathway) from being used as a prerequisite for graduation for students expected to graduate in the class of 2023. There is no graduation assessment requirement for any student who is expected to graduate with the class of 2023.The graduation assessment requirements for the classes of 2024 and 2025 remain in place and are available for districts on the Graduation Assessment Requirements webpage.