Idaho · ISAT · grades 3-8
ISAT
Practice Tests
Questions aligned to Idaho Content Standards, grades 3-8. Pick a grade and subject and try them without signing up: Math and English/RLA.
Practice ISAT Questions
Pick your child's grade to start. No signup required.
ISAT sample questions with answers
One question from each of several grades, with the answer and a step-by-step explanation. Open a question's answer when your child has tried it.
Question 1 · Grade 3 Math · Standard 3.OA.C.7
What is 54 ÷ 6?
- A.7
- B.8
- C.9
- D.10
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. 9
54 ÷ 6 = 9. Think: 6 × 9 = 54. Division is the inverse of multiplication.
Question 2 · Grade 4 English · Standard RL.4.3
In a story, Mia is nervous about her first day at a new school in Boise. She notices a boy sitting alone at lunch, sits down next to him and asks about his book. By the end of the day, they are planning to meet at recess. Which word BEST describes Mia?
- A.Careless
- B.Kind
- C.Bossy
- D.Shy the whole day
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Kind
Even though she is nervous, Mia reaches out to someone sitting alone. That action shows kindness. D doesn't fit because she starts the conversation.
Question 3 · Grade 6 Math · Standard 6.RP.A.3
A car travels 150 miles in 3 hours. At this rate, how far will it travel in 7 hours?
- A.300 miles
- B.350 miles
- C.450 miles
- D.1,050 miles
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. 350 miles
Unit rate: 150 ÷ 3 = 50 miles per hour. In 7 hours: 50 × 7 = 350 miles.
Question 4 · Grade 7 Math · Standard 7.RP.A.3
A sports store sells a backpack for $50. It is on sale for 30% off. What is the sale price?
- A.$15
- B.$20
- C.$35
- D.$45
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. $35
30% of $50 = 0.30 × 50 = $15 off. Sale price: $50 − $15 = $35. $15 is the discount, not the price.
Question 5 · Grade 8 English · Standard RL.8.4
In a poem, the speaker says: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul." The poet uses this metaphor to suggest that hope —
- A.Is fragile and easily broken
- B.Lives inside us like a bird, always ready to sing
- C.Belongs only to people with birds
- D.Is the same as a pet
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Lives inside us like a bird, always ready to sing
Emily Dickinson's metaphor compares hope to a bird — it 'perches in the soul,' suggesting hope lives within us and, like a bird, can take flight or sing even in dark times.
Every grade, every subject
How ISAT prep works
- 1
Pick your grade
Select your child's grade level. We show which subjects are available for that grade on the ISAT.
- 2
Choose a subject
Pick Math, English/RLA, or Science. Every question is aligned to Idaho Content Standards at the right difficulty.
- 3
Practice and learn
Answer questions in the real ISAT format. Every answer gets a detailed explanation so your child learns from mistakes.
Why Idaho parents choose iMasterly
Idaho Content Standards-aligned questions
Every question maps to specific Idaho Content Standards and reporting categories. Not generic — built for ISAT.
Verified accuracy
Every question is checked and verified against the answer key. No wrong answers to trip your child up.
Misconception-based distractors
Wrong answers target the exact mistakes students make. Your child learns WHY they got it wrong.
Beyond test prep
ISAT prep is just one feature. iMasterly teaches 15+ subjects with AI-personalized curriculum.
DOK-matched difficulty
Questions match the real ISAT's Depth of Knowledge distribution for authentic practice.
Built to the real ISAT
Practice tests follow the ISAT's published blueprint for each grade and subject: the same standards, question types and points as test day, with original questions and every answer explained.
Idaho's 2026-27 ISAT windows
The Idaho Department of Education sets one statewide spring window. Your school schedules its own testing days inside it, so ask your child's school for the exact dates.
Source: Idaho Department of Education, Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), 2026-2027 key dates.
Idaho's four ISAT achievement levels
Your child's ISAT score report shows a scale score and where it falls on four achievement levels. Students at Level 3 or Level 4 are considered proficient. These names are Idaho's; other Smarter Balanced states use their own.
- The report compares your child's scale score with students in their school, district and across Idaho.
- Math results are broken into Concepts and Procedures; Problem Solving and Modeling & Data Analysis; and Communicating Reasoning.
- ELA results cover reading, listening, writing and research, plus a description of how your child did on the essay.
- Each area is marked Below Standard, At/Near Standard or Above Standard, which shows what to practice next.
- A chart shows your child's scale scores over the years (some districts give a simpler report without it).
Sources: SDE ISAT page · SDE, Understanding Your Student's Scores (ELA and math) · SDE, ISAT ELA and Mathematics 2024-25 Technical Report.
How long the ISAT takes
The ISAT is not timed; schools set session lengths, and students should get extra time if they need it. These were the average total times in Idaho in 2024-25, for both parts of each test together:
| Grade | ELA (average) | Math (average) |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 2 h 45 min | 1 h 27 min |
| Grade 4 | 2 h 57 min | 1 h 32 min |
| Grade 5 | 2 h 57 min | 1 h 44 min |
| Grade 6 | 2 h 51 min | 1 h 32 min |
| Grade 7 | 2 h 35 min | 1 h 12 min |
| Grade 8 | 2 h 29 min | 1 h 13 min |
Source: SDE, ISAT ELA and Mathematics 2024-25 Technical Report, testing time tables. Many students take longer or shorter than the average.
Smarter Balanced practice by grade
Idaho's ISAT in ELA and math is the Smarter Balanced test, so our grade pages for the Smarter Balanced test apply here too. They were written with California's version (called CAASPP) in mind, so the score names and statistics on them are California's; the skills and question types are the same.
Idaho also posts official practice: the ISAT Practice Tests and the Smarter Balanced sample items, both linked from the SDE's ISAT page.
Updated October 30, 2026
What Is the ISAT Test in Idaho?
The Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) is Idaho's state test. Students in grades 3-8 and 11 take the ISAT in English language arts (ELA) and math every spring, and students in grades 5, 8 and 11 also take an ISAT science test. The ISAT in ELA and math is the Smarter Balanced assessment, measuring the Idaho Content Standards; Idaho was one of the states that led its development and first gave it in spring 2015. Each test has two parts: a computer-adaptive part, where questions adjust to how your child is doing, and a performance task, a set of connected questions built around one real-world scenario. Scores fall into four levels: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced.
When Is the ISAT Test in 2026-27?
The Idaho Department of Education's 2026-2027 key dates set the spring ISAT summative window at March 8 - May 7, 2027, with a makeup window May 10 - May 28, 2027. Math and ELA are required in grades 3-8 and 11; science is required in grades 5, 8 and 11. Optional interim tests run August 17, 2026 - March 5, 2027, and a summer interim window runs June 1 - July 23, 2027. Your school schedules its own testing days inside the spring window.
ISAT Subjects by Grade
| Grade | Subjects Tested |
|---|---|
| Grade 3 | ELA and math |
| Grade 4 | ELA and math |
| Grade 5 | ELA and math + ISAT science |
| Grade 6 | ELA and math |
| Grade 7 | ELA and math |
| Grade 8 | ELA and math + ISAT science |
| Grade 11 | ELA, math and science |
ISAT Scoring: Understanding Your Child's Results
Idaho uses the following performance levels. Level 3 (Proficient) is the target: the SDE says students at Level 3 or Level 4 are considered proficient. Level 2, Basic, means your child has nearly met the standard. Each area of the test is also marked Below, At/Near or Above Standard, which shows where to focus.
Level 4: Advanced
Your student has exceeded achievement standards.
Level 3: Proficient
Your student has met achievement standards.
Level 2: Basic
Your student has nearly met achievement standards.
Level 1: Below Basic
Your student has not met achievement standards.
ISAT Test Format: What to Expect
Computer-adaptive part
The first part of each ISAT ELA and math test is computer-adaptive: it gives each student an individualized test, with questions that adjust to how they are doing.
Performance task
The second part is a performance task: a group of questions and activities tied to one theme or scenario, which asks students to apply what they know to real-world problems. Most performance task answers are scored by people rather than by computer.
Untimed
The ISAT is not timed. Schools set session lengths, and students should be given extra time as needed.
Formats
The ISAT is given mainly online. Braille versions are available, a Spanish version is available for math, and paper forms (regular and large print) were offered for students who need them.
Science is separate
ISAT science, given in grades 5, 8 and 11, is a separate test from the Smarter Balanced ELA and math tests.
What's new: 2026 results and the 2027 dates
The test itself has not changed: Idaho has used the Smarter Balanced adjusted blueprint for grades 3-8 and 11 since 2023-24. In August 2026 the SDE reported that ISAT proficiency rose in every subject, with ELA and math each up 0.8 points statewide. For 2026-27, the spring window is March 8 - May 7, 2027, with makeups May 10-28.
Idaho ISAT Score Trends
The Idaho Department of Education released spring 2026 ISAT results on August 19, 2026, the third year in a row with more students scoring at grade level. Statewide:
| Grade / Subject | Change in % proficient | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ELA proficiency | +0.8 points | |
| Math proficiency | +0.8 points | |
| Science proficiency | +1 point | |
| High school ELA | +2.2 points | Reversed a two-year decline |
| High school math | +1.7 points |
The SDE release gave changes rather than statewide percentages. Full spring 2026 ISAT results for every school and district are on the Idaho Report Card (idahoreportcard.org).
What Makes the ISAT Different From Other State Tests?
- -
The ISAT in ELA and math is the Smarter Balanced test, so the official Smarter Balanced sample items apply directly.
- -
Idaho names its levels Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced.
- -
Idaho has given the Smarter Balanced adjusted blueprint for grades 3-8 and 11 since the 2023-24 school year.
- -
The SDE says the spring ISAT in ELA and math is not meant to affect your child's report card or moving on to the next grade.
- -
Idaho offers optional interim tests in a fall-to-spring window and again in summer.
What Idaho Parents Should Know About the ISAT
Ask your school for its testing days. The statewide spring window is March 8 - May 7, 2027, and makeup testing runs May 10-28.
Try the official ISAT Practice Tests (idpt.cambiumtds.com) and Smarter Balanced sample items, both linked from the SDE's ISAT page, so the screens and question types are familiar.
The SDE says the spring ISAT in ELA and math is not meant to affect your child's report card or promotion to the next grade. It is used to help families, schools and the state understand and improve achievement.
On the score report, look past the level to the area ratings (Below, At/Near, Above Standard): they show which skills to practice.
School and district results are public on the Idaho Report Card, and the SDE points families to idahoschools.org to compare schools.
English learners who enrolled in a U.S. school within 12 months before testing have a one-time exemption from the ELA test, but not from math.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ISAT
What is the ISAT test in Idaho?
The Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) is Idaho's state test. Students in grades 3-8 and 11 take ELA and math, and students in grades 5, 8 and 11 also take science. The ISAT in ELA and math is the Smarter Balanced assessment, aligned to the Idaho Content Standards.
Is the ISAT the same as Smarter Balanced (SBAC)?
For ELA and math, yes. The SDE's technical report describes the ISAT ELA and math tests as Idaho's administration of the Smarter Balanced summative assessments. ISAT science is a separate Idaho test.
When is the ISAT in 2027?
The spring 2027 ISAT summative window is March 8 - May 7, 2027, with a makeup window May 10 - May 28, 2027. Your school schedules the exact days.
What are the ISAT score levels?
Level 1: Below Basic (not met), Level 2: Basic (nearly met), Level 3: Proficient (met) and Level 4: Advanced (exceeded achievement standards). Levels 3 and 4 count as proficient.
What does Basic mean on the ISAT?
Basic is Level 2 of 4. The SDE's score guide says Level 2 means your student has nearly met achievement standards. The next level up, Proficient, means the standard is met.
How long is the ISAT?
It is untimed. In 2024-25, Idaho students in grades 3-8 averaged about 2.5 to 3 hours on ELA and about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes on math, counting both parts of each test.
Does the ISAT affect my child's grades or promotion?
The SDE says the spring ISAT in ELA and math is not intended to affect your student's report card or ability to move on to the next grade level.
Is there an official ISAT practice test?
Yes. The SDE's ISAT page links to the ISAT Practice Tests (idpt.cambiumtds.com) and the Smarter Balanced sample items (sampleitems.smarterbalanced.org). Our practice adds graded questions by grade, with every answer explained.
Where can I see ISAT results?
Your school gives you your child's score report. Results for every Idaho public school and district are on the Idaho Report Card (idahoreportcard.org).
Who is exempt from the ISAT?
The SDE lists foreign exchange students; English learners who enrolled in a U.S. school within 12 months before testing (a one-time exemption from ELA only, not math); and students with significant cognitive disabilities who take the Idaho Alternate Assessment instead.
Questions parents ask
What is the ISAT test?
The ISAT is Idaho's standardized assessment for grades 3-8. Students are tested in Math and English/RLA every year.
How does iMasterly match the real ISAT?
Practice tests are built to the ISAT's published blueprint for each grade and subject: the same reporting categories, question types and point values, with questions written to Idaho Content Standards. Before a question goes into the bank it is checked independently: a separate check solves it from scratch without seeing the answer key, and on math questions code checks the arithmetic. Questions that fail are reworked and checked again; any that still fail are held back and never shown to your child.
What does it cost?
ISAT practice is not sold separately: it comes with the AI tutoring and personalized curriculum. Current plans are on the pricing page.
How many practice questions are available?
iMasterly has a deep bank of standards-aligned practice questions for every grade and subject, so your child can keep practicing without running out.
ISAT is coming. Start practicing today.
Standards-aligned practice for every grade, with every answer explained.