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Overview of WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT)
The WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT) is an English language proficiency "screener" test given to incoming students in grades 1-12 who may be identified as English learners. This test assesses the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. By law, all students who have a Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) other than English must be given an English Language proficiency screener. Results from this test help determine eligibility for EL services. The W-APT is an indicator of a student's language proficiency level (1 through 6) on the WIDA continuum and helps determine appropriate levels and amounts of instructional services. The W-APT is one component of WIDA's comprehensive assessment system.
Visit the WIDA Website for more infomration about the WIDA W-APT
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Kindergarten WAPT
The Kindergarten W-APT is administered to K, and first semester 1st grade students*. It is organized as a single, individually-administered test with a combined Speaking/Listening component. The Reading and Writing tests make up a separate test which is optional, and only for students with some literacy skills.The Kindergarten W-APT is not able to assign scores across the full range of WIDA ELP levels 1-6. Instead, scores for Speaking and Listening are marked as showing low, mid, high, or exceptional proficiency.
* First grade students are also given the K-WAPT in the first semester.
For more infomration about the Kindergarten W-APT visit the WIDA Website.
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Features
W-APT test items are written from the model performance indicators of WIDA's five English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards:
- Social & Instructional Language
- Language of Language Arts
- Language of Mathematics
- Language of Science
- Language of Social Studies
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Purpose and Use
The W-APT is designed to be used as:
- One of several criteria to determine eligibility for language support services
- An indicator of a student's language proficiency level (1 through 6) on the WIDA continuum
- An aid for determining appropriate levels and amounts of instructional services
- A guide for tier placement on the ACCESS for ELLs annual assessment