Testing Information: 3rd-5th SOL Tests

During the school year, statewide and district testing is scheduled for students.

Beginning May 15, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will take their Standards Of Learning tests in various subjects. Each test is administered online using student iPads within one school day beginning at 9AM. You can help with test preparations by making sure that your child has a good night sleep, arrives to school on time each morning, and is prepared for the test. Encourage your child to work hard and try his/her best. The testing schedule by grade is below. Please make every effort to avoid scheduling any appointments during the testing period.

  • Third Grade
    • May 18 – Reading
    • May 26 – Math
  • Fourth Grade
    • May 19 – Reading
    • May 25 – Math
    • June 1 – Virginia Studies
  • Fifth Grade
    • May 17 – Reading
    • May 22 – Science
    • May 24 – Math

Beginning in 2021-22, the Virginia General Assembly enacted new testing requirements for all students in grades 3-8. The legislation calls for the administration of a fall and mid-year assessment and a spring assessment (SOL) in grades 3-8 in reading and mathematics to measure growth. These assessments will serve as a baseline and not be considered “high stakes” tests. The Growth Assessments will not report a performance level showing whether a student “passed or failed” the assessment. Instead, the data will report how the student performed on each of the items included on the test.

During the last week of January, our 3-5 graders will take their mid-year Growth Assessments in Math and Reading.

In mid-November, our second grade students and new to APS third, fourth, and fifth graders will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The CogAT provides a snapshot of your child’s reasoning and problem-solving abilities in the following three areas:

  • Verbal: assesses a student’s abilities to use search, retrieval and comparison processes that are essential for verbal reasoning.
  • Quantitative: assesses a student’s ability to reason about patterns and relationships using concepts that are essential in quantitative thinking.
  • Nonverbal: assesses student’s abilities to reason with somewhat more novel questions that use special and figural content.

On November 9, our first-grade students will be taking the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3). The NNAT3 test is given to all Arlington Public Schools students in grade 1 in the fall. The timed test is given online and takes 30 minutes. Items on the test are presented as figures that require spatial analysis, but no verbal knowledge or skills are required. The NNAT3 fosters a normative understanding of general ability without reliance on language, culture, or institutionalized curriculum.