Kansas · KAP · grades 3-8
KAP
Practice Tests
Questions aligned to Kansas Standards, grades 3-8. Pick a grade and subject and try them without signing up: Math, Science, English/RLA.
Practice KAP Questions
Pick your child's grade to start. No signup required.
KAP 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.8
Owen picks 48 sunflowers at his family's farm stand. He sells 18 of them. He puts the rest into 5 buckets, with the same number in each bucket. How many sunflowers go in each bucket?
- A.6
- B.7
- C.10
- D.13
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. 6
First subtract: 48 − 18 = 30 sunflowers are left. Then divide them equally: 30 ÷ 5 = 6 in each bucket. Two steps: take away, then share equally.
Question 2 · Grade 4 English · Standard RL.4.2
In a story, Caleb's team loses the county spelling bee. Caleb is sad until his teammate says, "We learned 200 new words. That is still a win." Caleb smiles and starts a new word list for next year. What is the theme of the story?
- A.Spelling bees are too hard
- B.What you learn can matter more than winning
- C.Teammates should always agree
- D.It is important to win every contest
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. What you learn can matter more than winning
Caleb's mood changes when he sees what the team gained by preparing. The theme is a lesson about effort and learning, not about the contest itself.
Question 3 · Grade 6 Math · Standard 6.RP.3
A trail mix recipe uses 3 cups of peanuts for every 2 cups of raisins. How many cups of raisins are needed for 12 cups of peanuts?
- A.6 cups
- B.8 cups
- C.11 cups
- D.18 cups
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. 8 cups
12 cups of peanuts is 4 times 3 cups, so multiply the raisins by 4 too: 2 × 4 = 8 cups. 18 comes from flipping the ratio.
Question 4 · Grade 7 Math · Standard 7.RP.3
A pair of running shoes costs $48. They are on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?
- A.$12
- B.$23
- C.$36
- D.$60
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. $36
25% of $48 = 0.25 × 48 = $12 off. Sale price = 48 − 12 = $36. $12 is the discount, not the price, and $60 adds the discount instead of subtracting it.
Question 5 · Grade 8 English · Standard RL.8.6
In a story, the reader learns in the first scene that Marcus's friends are planning a surprise party for him. In the next scene, Marcus complains that everyone has forgotten his birthday. What effect does this create?
- A.Suspense, because the reader doesn't know what will happen
- B.Dramatic irony, because the reader knows something Marcus does not
- C.Flashback, because it shows an earlier event
- D.Foreshadowing of a sad ending
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Dramatic irony, because the reader knows something Marcus does not
Dramatic irony happens when the audience knows something a character doesn't. Because we know about the party, Marcus's complaint becomes funny instead of sad.
Every grade, every subject
How KAP prep works
- 1
Pick your grade
Select your child's grade level. We show which subjects are available for that grade on the KAP.
- 2
Choose a subject
Pick Math, English/RLA, or Science. Every question is aligned to Kansas Standards at the right difficulty.
- 3
Practice and learn
Answer questions in the real KAP format. Every answer gets a detailed explanation so your child learns from mistakes.
Why Kansas parents choose iMasterly
Kansas Standards-aligned questions
Every question maps to specific Kansas Standards and reporting categories. Not generic — built for KAP.
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
KAP prep is just one feature. iMasterly teaches 15+ subjects with AI-personalized curriculum.
DOK-matched difficulty
Questions match the real KAP's Depth of Knowledge distribution for authentic practice.
Built to the real KAP
Practice tests follow the KAP'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.
Updated October 30, 2026
What Is the KAP Test in Kansas?
The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) is the Kansas State Department of Education's statewide testing program. Every spring, students in grades 3-8 and 10 take the KAP summative tests in English language arts (ELA) and math, and students in grades 5, 8 and 11 take science. The tests are untimed and given online in the Kite Student Portal, which is built by the Achievement and Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas. Each subject has 40-50 questions in two sessions, with multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items. Since 2025, scores are reported on a new 400-700 scale in four performance levels: Limited, Basic, Proficient and Advanced. A scale score of 540 or higher (Level 3 or 4) meets the proficiency expectation in every grade and subject.
When Is the KAP Test in 2026-2027?
KSDE's 2026-2027 Kansas Assessment Calendar opens the general summative window for ELA, math and science on March 22, 2027, and closes the brick-and-mortar window on April 23, 2027. Districts pick their own testing days inside that window. Students who test remotely have a separate, shorter window (two weeks, according to the KAP summative page). Before the spring test, KAP also offers optional interim tests in a fall window (October 5-30, 2026) and a spring window (January 11 - February 5, 2027), plus Instructional Mini Tests that teachers can assign all year.
KAP Subjects by Grade
| Grade | Subjects Tested |
|---|---|
| Grade 3 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 4 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 5 | ELA, Mathematics, and Science |
| Grade 6 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 7 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 8 | ELA, Mathematics, and Science |
KAP Scoring: Understanding Your Child's Results
Kansas uses the following performance levels. Levels 3 and 4 both meet the proficiency expectation for the grade; Levels 1 and 2 are still working toward it. On every KAP test the Level 2 cut is fixed at 510 and the Level 3 cut at 540, so a score of 539 is the top of Basic. Only the Level 4 (Advanced) cut changes by grade and subject. Because KAP moved to a new scale and new cut scores in 2025, scores from before 2025 (which used a 220-380 scale) should not be compared with scores from 2025 or later.
Limited
Shows a limited ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the grade's standards. Level 1 runs from 400 to 509 in every grade and subject.
Basic
Shows a basic ability to demonstrate the grade's standards. This is still below proficiency. Level 2 starts at a fixed 510 in every grade and subject and runs up to 539.
Proficient
Shows a proficient ability to demonstrate the grade's standards, meeting the grade-level expectation. Level 3 starts at a fixed 540 in every grade and subject (for example, grade 5 math Level 3 is 540-598).
Advanced
Shows an advanced ability to demonstrate the grade's standards. The Level 4 cut differs by grade and subject, from 569 (grade 8 science) to 609 (grade 3 ELA), and the scale tops out at 700.
KAP Test Format: What to Expect
Two Sessions, No Time Limit
Each KAP summative test has 40-50 questions split into two sessions. KSDE's 2026-27 overview schedules each session at about 45-60 minutes, but the tests are untimed: a student who is making a serious effort can be given more time, and if a session runs into the end of the school day it can be saved and finished after school or the next day.
Question Types
Every KAP test mixes multiple-choice questions with technology-enhanced items. Depending on the subject, those can ask students to put things in order, match, complete a matrix, or select more than one answer. KSDE says the general summative tests are machine-scored, and some questions are worth more than one point.
ELA: Three Claims
The KAP ELA blueprint (effective spring 2025) reports Writing, Reading: Literary and Reading: Informational. In grade 3, for example, Writing is 20-30% of the test, Reading: Literary 35-45% and Reading: Informational 30-40%. In grades 6 and 7, Reading: Informational grows to 40-50% and Writing is 15-25%.
Math: Domain Weights by Grade
The math blueprint sets a percentage range for each domain. Measurement & Data is the biggest part of grade 3 (35-50%), Number & Operations - Fractions leads grades 4 (35-50%) and 5 (38-48%), The Number System leads grade 6 (30-45%), Statistics & Probability is the largest range in grade 7 (22-37%), and grade 8 is spread across Expressions & Equations (25-38%), Geometry (25-35%) and Functions (22-32%).
Calculator Rules
In the 2025-26 KAP Test Administrator Manual, calculators are not allowed anywhere on the grade 3-5 math tests. In grades 6-8, session 1 starts with a no-calculator section; in grade 6, session 2 also starts with a no-calculator section, while grades 7 and 8 may use a calculator for all of session 2. Once a student passes the break between sections, they cannot go back. A grade-specific math resource sheet is available inside the Kite Student Portal.
Science in Grades 5 and 8
The science blueprint reports Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth & Space Science. Physical Science is the largest part in both grades (35-50%); in grade 8, Life Science is 30-45% and Earth & Space Science 20-30%. The grade 5 online calculator is a basic four-function calculator, and grade 8 gets a scientific calculator.
What's new on KAP for 2026-27
Starting with spring 2025, KAP uses a new 400-700 score scale and new performance-level cut scores, so results from 2024 and earlier can't be compared directly with 2025 and later. KSDE's October 15, 2026 release on the spring 2026 results reported that, across grades 3-8 and 10, the share of students at Levels 3 and 4 rose 1.46 percentage points in ELA and 2.27 points in math from 2025 to 2026, while the share at Level 1 fell 1.0 point in ELA and 1.8 points in math. For 2026-27, the summative window runs March 22 - April 23, 2027. The 2025-26 Test Administrator Manual also added Desmos versions of the scientific and graphing calculators alongside the TI versions.
KAP Cut Scores by Grade (2025-26)
Every KAP test runs from 400 to 700, with Level 2 starting at 510 and Level 3 (proficient) at 540. The only cut that changes is Level 4. These are the Level 4 cuts for grades 3-8 from the KAP Parent Guide to Reports.
| Test | Level 4 (Advanced) starts at | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 ELA / Math | 609 / 570 | |
| Grade 4 ELA / Math | 607 / 579 | |
| Grade 5 ELA / Math / Science | 600 / 599 / 582 | |
| Grade 6 ELA / Math | 593 / 596 | |
| Grade 7 ELA / Math | 600 / 603 | |
| Grade 8 ELA / Math / Science | 594 / 594 / 569 |
Each Individual Student Report also shows how your child did in each reporting category, marked Below, At or Above compared with students who scored proficient.
What Makes the KAP Different From Other State Tests?
- -
Two cut scores never move: Level 2 always starts at 510 and Level 3 (proficient) always starts at 540, in every grade and subject.
- -
KAP is untimed. KSDE's scheduling estimate is two sessions of 45-60 minutes, but students get the time they need.
- -
Science is tested in grades 5, 8 and 11, so grade 5 and grade 8 students take three KAP tests in the spring.
- -
The official Kite Practice Tests can be opened in a web browser at home, with grade-band logins published in the Kite Practice Test Guide.
- -
Optional interim tests in fall and winter and teacher-assigned Instructional Mini Tests use the same Kite platform as the spring test.
What Kansas Parents Should Know About the KAP
Look at the scale score, not just the level. Because Level 3 always starts at 540, a child with a score of 525-539 is close to proficient on any KAP test.
Don't compare a 2025 or later score with an older KAP report. The scale changed in 2025 (from 220-380 to 400-700), and KSDE says the two should not be compared.
The 2027 window is March 22 - April 23, 2027. Ask your school for its exact testing days so your child is rested and present.
Try the official Kite Practice Tests with your child. The Kite Practice Test Guide gives the student portal address (student.kiteaai.org) and logins for grades 3-5 and 6-8, so your child can get used to the tools before test day.
If your child needs accommodations such as text-to-speech, they are set up in the child's Personal Needs Profile by the school. Text-to-speech for reading passages needs an application to KSDE by January 31, 2027, so talk to the school early.
Frequently Asked Questions About the KAP
When is the KAP test in 2027?
KSDE's 2026-2027 Kansas Assessment Calendar opens the general summative window for ELA, math and science on March 22, 2027 and closes the brick-and-mortar window on April 23, 2027. Your child's school chooses its testing days inside that window.
What grades and subjects does KAP test?
ELA and math in grades 3-8 and 10, and science in grades 5, 8 and 11. So in grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 your child takes two KAP tests, and in grades 5 and 8 they take three.
What is a passing score on KAP?
KAP doesn't use pass/fail. Scores run from 400 to 700 in four levels. Level 3 (Proficient) starts at 540 on every test, and Levels 3 and 4 both meet the grade-level expectation. Level 2 (Basic) is 510-539, and Level 1 (Limited) is below 510.
Why are my child's KAP scores so different from last time?
Beginning in 2025, KAP uses a new 400-700 score scale and new cut scores. Older reports used a 220-380 scale. KSDE says scores from before 2025 should not be compared with scores from 2025 or later, so compare performance levels and look at 2025 and later scores together.
Is KAP timed?
No. All KAP assessments are untimed. KSDE estimates two sessions of 45-60 minutes each for scheduling, but a student who is making a serious effort can be given more time, and a session that runs into the end of the school day can be saved and finished after school or the next day.
Is there an official KAP practice test?
Yes. The Kite Practice Tests run in a web browser at student.kiteaai.org, and the Kite Practice Test Guide on ksassessments.org lists the logins by grade band. They show the real tools and question types. Our practice papers add full-length practice built to the KAP blueprints, with every answer explained.
Can my child use a calculator on KAP math?
Not in grades 3-5. In grades 6-8, part of the test does not allow a calculator: session 1 opens with a no-calculator section in grades 6-8, and grade 6 session 2 does too. An online calculator is provided where calculators are allowed, and handheld four-function or scientific calculators are allowed in grades 6-8.
How do I see my child's KAP results?
Schools receive Individual Student Reports showing the scale score, performance level and results by reporting category. If your district uses the Kite Parent Portal, you can also see past reports there. Ask your child's school how it shares reports.
Questions parents ask
What is the KAP test?
The KAP is Kansas's standardized assessment for grades 3-8. Students are tested in Math and English/RLA every year, and Science in grades 5 and 8.
How does iMasterly match the real KAP?
Practice tests are built to the KAP's published blueprint for each grade and subject: the same reporting categories, question types and point values, with questions written to Kansas 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?
KAP 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.
KAP is coming. Start practicing today.
Standards-aligned practice for every grade, with every answer explained.