General Information
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.
Test Prep/Practice Tests
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
Parent Resources
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).
NJSLA Testing Schedule
English Language Arts | |||
Unit | Test Date | Grade | Unit Testing Time |
1 | 5/16 | Students w/ accom | |
1 | 5/16 | 3rd Grade ELA | 75 minutes |
1 | 5/16 | 4th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/16 | 5th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/16 | 6th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/16 | 7th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/16 | 8th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/16 | 9th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | Students w/ accom | |
2 | 5/17 | 3rd Grade ELA | 75 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | 4th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | 5th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | 6th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | 7th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | 8th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/17 | 9th Grade ELA | 90 minutes |
Science | |||
Unit | Test Date | Grade | Unit Testing Time |
1 | 5/31 | Students w/ Accom | |
1 | 5/31 | 5th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
1 | 5/31 | 8th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
1 | 5/31 | 11th Grade Science | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/31 | Students w/ Accom | |
2 | 5/31 | 5th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
2 | 5/31 | 8th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
2 | 5/31 | 11th Grade Science | 60 minutes |
3 | 6/1 | Students w/ Accom | |
3 | 6/1 | 5th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
3 | 6/1 | 8th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
3 | 6/1 | 11th Grade Science | 60 minutes |
4 | 6/1 | Students w/ Accom | |
4 | 6/1 | 5th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
4 | 6/1 | 8th Grade Science | 45 minutes |
4 | 6/1 | 11th Grade Science | 60 minutes |
Math | |||
Unit | Test Date | Grade | Unit Testing Time |
1 | 5/18 | Students w/ accom | |
1 | 5/18 | 3rd Grade Math | 60 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 4th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 5th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 6th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 7th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 7th Algebra I | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 8th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 8th Algebra I | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 8th Geometry | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 9th Algebra I | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 9th Algebra II | 90 minutes |
1 | 5/18 | 9th Geometry | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | Students w/ accom | |
2 | 5/19 | 3rd Grade Math | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 4th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 5th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 6th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 7th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 7th Algebra I | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 8th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 8th Algebra I | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 8th Geometry | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 9th Algebra I | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 9th Algebra II | 90 minutes |
2 | 5/19 | 9th Geometry | 90 minutes |
3 | 5/20 | Students w/ accom | |
3 | 5/20 | 3rd Grade Math | 60 minutes |
3 | 5/20 | 4th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
3 | 5/20 | 5th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
3 | 5/20 | 6th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
3 | 5/20 | 7th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
3 | 5/20 | 8th Grade Math | 60 minutes |
NJSLA Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Supplies for Testing
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.
New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) - Spring 2022
Per the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), students in the class of 2023 must take the NJGPA in grade 11 to meet the state graduation assessment requirement, regardless of whether or not a student has met a cut score for graduation from an alternate assessment (per state statute N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-1 et seq).
This computer-based assessment is aligned to New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) for grade 10 ELA, Algebra I, and Geometry. It's designed to determine a student’s ability to think critically, solve problems, and use information from what they read and write to develop essays and to solve mathematical problems. The assessment includes two 90-minute units, with a total time of 180 minutes per subject.
The NJGPA will be administered in-person from March 14 through March 18, 2022. Make-up testing will be administered in-person from March 21 through March 25, 2022.