Welcome to 4th Grade: a much bigger deal than it needS TO BE

Students take a suite of New York State Tests once a year from third grade to eighth grade. But it's the fourth grade scores that are often used by competitive middle schools to screen and select candidates. Kids receive their acceptances in fifth grade, before the fifth grade state tests are even administered, so the fourth grade tests carry all the clout.

The two big tests are the New York State ELA (English-Language Arts) Test and the New York State Math Test. There is also the New York State Science Test given in grades 4 and 8 (more on this below) but it's kind of a B-list test compared to the other two.

Here is a sample fourth grade math test.

Here is a sample fourth grade ELA test.

Here are sample tests from all grades (3-8)

The New York State ELA 2022 Test Dates (grades 3-8):

March 29-31, 2022 (paper); March 29-April 5, 2022 (computer)

The New York State Math 2022 Test Dates (grades 3-8):

April 26-28, 2022 (paper); April 26-May 4, 2022 (computer)

There used to be! But there's no longer a time limit. You have unlimited time to take the exam. Within reason. You can't lollygag for the entire week. 

Here's the policy on calculators:

Grade 3 to 5: No calculator.

Grade 6: You can use a calculator but only a basic four-function calculator (no graphing!) and only for Session 2.
Grade 7 & 8: Calculators allowed (even graphing) for both sessions

You sure can! The best resources are free.

• New York State Tests Released Questions 2021
• New York State Tests Released Questions 2019
• New York State Tests Released Questions 2018
• New York State Tests Released Questions 2017

Scroll to the end of each document for the answers!

Here is a sample ELA score report for a sixth grader. 

Here is sample math score report for a sixth grader. 

The grade doesn't matter because all score reports look the same. Strong students are in the 3-4 range for performance levels. 

Note: You'll also see a three-digit number. These are the score ranges for the four performance standards. This is helpful if you want to see how close your child was to being on the cusp of a 4, for example. 

They're given twice to check up on everyone's science literacy. 

Here are 17(!) free sample New York State Science Tests (Grade 4)

Here are 20(!) free sample New York State Science Tests (Grade 8)

The science test has two parts: A laboratory component and a written component. The dates:

Laboratory Exam:

May 24 - June 3

Written Exam: 

June 6