The New York State Tests,
grades 3 to 8.

What they are

Every student in a New York public school sits two state assessments each spring, in English Language Arts and mathematics, from grade 3 through grade 8. They are set by the New York State Education Department and are the same across the state.

When

Spring. Exact dates are set each year by the state and vary by district, so check with your school — but the season is stable.

The change that matters this year

From spring 2026 these assessments are computer-based for most students, with limited exceptions and accommodations. That is a significant practical change for a child who has only ever practiced on paper — see what computer-based testing changes.

Are they timed?

Not in the way most parents assume. New York's grades 3–8 assessments are untimed: a student who needs longer within the school day is given it. That is a real difference from an admissions exam and it changes what practice is for.

Our State Test practice exams reflect this rather than imposing an artificial clock — practicing under a countdown that will not exist on the day teaches the wrong lesson.

What they are used for

These are not admissions tests, and for most families nothing hinges directly on a single result. They are used for school and district accountability, for identifying students who need support, and in some districts as one input into placement or screened middle school admission.

That last use is why they matter more in New York City than in much of the state, and worth asking your school about directly.

How results are reported

Not as a percentage, but as one of four performance levels — see how New York State Test scores are reported.

Should a child practice for them?

A moderate amount, for two reasons that have nothing to do with the score. Familiarity with the question types removes surprise, and with the assessments now computer-based, practicing on a screen removes a second surprise. Beyond that, ordinary schoolwork is the preparation.

We publish two full-length forms for each grade. ten free questions include state test questions.