New Jersey · NJSLA · grades 3-8
NJSLA
Practice Tests
Questions aligned to NJSLS standards, grades 3-8. Pick a grade and subject and try them without signing up: Math, Science, English/RLA.
Practice NJSLA Questions
Pick your child's grade to start. No signup required.
NJSLA 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.A.3
There are 6 rows of desks in a classroom. Each row has 4 desks. How many desks are there in all?
- A.10
- B.18
- C.24
- D.28
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. 24
6 rows × 4 desks = 24 desks total. This is a multiplication problem using equal groups.
Question 2 · Grade 4 English · Standard RL.4.2
In a story, a boy in Newark works hard to grow a garden in a vacant lot. Neighbors who used to ignore each other start bringing seeds and tools. By fall, the lot is a community garden and everyone knows each other. What is the theme?
- A.Gardening is hard work
- B.One person's effort can bring a community together
- C.Vacant lots should stay empty
- D.Neighbors should ignore each other
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. One person's effort can bring a community together
The boy's initiative transforms both the lot and the neighborhood relationships. The theme is about how individual action can spark community connection.
Question 3 · Grade 6 Math · Standard 6.RP.A.3
A food truck at the Jersey Shore sells 5 lobster rolls in 15 minutes. At this rate, how many lobster rolls will it sell in 1 hour?
- A.15
- B.20
- C.25
- D.30
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. 20
Rate: 5 rolls / 15 min = 1 roll / 3 min. 1 hour = 60 min. 60 ÷ 3 = 20 lobster rolls.
Question 4 · Grade 7 Math · Standard 7.RP.A.2
A train from Newark to New York Penn Station takes 18 minutes for 9 miles. At this rate, how long would a 15-mile trip take?
- A.24 min
- B.27 min
- C.30 min
- D.36 min
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. 30 min
Rate: 18 min / 9 miles = 2 min per mile. For 15 miles: 15 × 2 = 30 minutes.
Question 5 · Grade 8 English · Standard RL.8.6
A story is told entirely through diary entries written by the main character. This narrative point of view is —
- A.Third person omniscient
- B.Third person limited
- C.First person
- D.Second person
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. First person
Diary entries use 'I' and 'me' — the narrator IS the character. This is first person point of view.
Every grade, every subject
How NJSLA prep works
- 1
Pick your grade
Select your child's grade level. We show which subjects are available for that grade on the NJSLA.
- 2
Choose a subject
Pick Math, English/RLA, or Science. Every question is aligned to NJSLS standards at the right difficulty.
- 3
Practice and learn
Answer questions in the real NJSLA format. Every answer gets a detailed explanation so your child learns from mistakes.
Why New Jersey parents choose iMasterly
NJSLS-aligned questions
Every question maps to specific NJSLS standards and reporting categories. Not generic — built for NJSLA.
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
NJSLA prep is just one feature. iMasterly teaches 15+ subjects with AI-personalized curriculum.
DOK-matched difficulty
Questions match the real NJSLA's Depth of Knowledge distribution for authentic practice.
Built to the real NJSLA
Practice tests follow the NJSLA'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.
New score scale · 2026 reports
What does a 4-digit NJSLA score mean?
NJSLA-A ELA and math scores are no longer on the old 650-850 scale. The State Board approved new cut scores on September 9, 2026, and the score needed to reach "Met Expectations" now depends on the grade and subject.
NJSLA scores explained: every cut score by grade →Updated October 22, 2026
What Is the NJSLA Test in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) is New Jersey's statewide test for students in grades 3-8. NJSLA evolved from the PARCC assessment and measures mastery of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS), updated in 2023. In Spring 2026 NJSLA went computer-adaptive for the first time (called NJSLA-A), meaning the test changes difficulty based on each student's answers to groups of questions. Spring 2026 was also the first NJSLA administration aligned to the 2023 standards, and it brought a new score scale. Spring 2027 is the second NJSLA-A year — practice tests written for older NJSLAs are partially obsolete.
When Is the NJSLA Test in 2027?
Spring 2027: NJSLA-Adaptive (ELA grades 3-9; math grades 3-8, Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II) and NJSLA-Science (grades 5, 8 and 11) run April 19 - May 21, 2027. The NJGPA-Adaptive for grade 11 runs March 1-19, 2027. NJDOE expects spring 2027 NJSLA-A results to reach districts by June 30, 2027.
NJSLA Subjects by Grade
| Grade | Subjects Tested |
|---|---|
| Grade 3 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 4 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 5 | ELA, Mathematics, and Science (NJSLA-S) |
| Grade 6 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 7 | ELA and Mathematics |
| Grade 8 | ELA, Mathematics, and Science (NJSLA-S) |
NJSLA Practice by Grade & Subject
NJSLA Scoring: Understanding Your Child's Results
New Jersey uses the following performance levels. Level 4 ('Met Expectations') is the proficiency target — NOT Level 3. New Jersey uses 5 levels, and Level 3 ('Approaching') is still below proficient. On the new NJSLA-A scale the Level 4 score depends on grade and subject: for example 1446 in grade 3 ELA, 1525 in grade 8 ELA, 1399 in grade 3 math and 1577 in grade 8 math (NJDOE, September 9, 2026).
Level 1 — Did Not Yet Meet Expectations
Student needs significant support to reach grade-level standards.
Level 2 — Partially Met Expectations
Student demonstrates limited understanding of NJSLS standards.
Level 3 — Approaching Expectations
Student is close to proficiency but has notable gaps.
Level 4 — Met Expectations
Student demonstrates grade-level mastery of NJSLS standards.
Level 5 — Exceeded Expectations
Student demonstrates advanced mastery beyond grade level.
NJSLA Test Format: What to Expect
Computer-Adaptive Testing (since Spring 2026)
NJSLA went computer-adaptive for the first time in Spring 2026. The test starts with questions of medium difficulty and adjusts after each group of questions, not after every single one: it gets harder when your child does well and easier when they struggle. Two children in the same classroom will see different questions. Harder questions = good sign.
Writing: One Extended Task
ELA has two units, Reading and Writing. The Writing unit is a single extended-response task taken in one session — an opinion/argumentative, informative/explanatory or narrative piece, depending on grade. Because it is one task, the writing unit is not adaptive.
Science Stays Fixed-Form
NJSLA-Science (grades 5, 8, 11) is NOT adaptive — it stays as a fixed-form NGSS-aligned test. Same questions for every student. The adaptive switch only affects ELA and Math.
How Writing Is Scored
NJDOE scores the writing task with a holistic rubric that has two dimensions: Conventions and Composition. Math has only machine-scorable question types and no extended responses, and calculators are not allowed in grades 3-5.
What's New on the NJSLA
Three changes converged in Spring 2026 — and most parents don't know about them yet. (1) NJSLA went computer-adaptive for the first time. (2) Tests align to the 2023 NJSLS, not the older 2016 standards. (3) ELA and math moved to a new score scale: the State Board approved new cut scores on September 9, 2026, so 2026 score reports show 4-digit scores instead of the old 650-850 range. NJDOE released year-over-year comparability via Student Growth Percentiles, but independent journalists at NJ Education Report filed an OPRA request for the technical equating study and were told the records 'are not made or maintained' by the department. Year-over-year score comparisons after Spring 2026 should be read carefully.
New Jersey NJSLA Score Trends
These are the 2025 results, the last from the old fixed-form NJSLA on the 650-850 scale. Spring 2026 was the first NJSLA-A (adaptive) test, with a new 4-digit score scale and new cut scores the State Board approved on September 9, 2026 (NJDOE memo of that date; the cut score for every grade is on our NJSLA scores page, linked at the top of this page). NJDOE sent 2026 results to districts on September 18, 2026, but has not posted 2026 statewide percentages yet, and 2026 numbers should not be compared directly with the table below. In 2025, released August 27, 2025, both ELA and math improved year-over-year, but neither subject is back to pre-pandemic levels. The full per-grade table below comes from the New Jersey Department of Education via NJ Education Report — the only outlet that published the grade-level breakdown in readable form. Percentages reflect students at Level 4 ('Met') or Level 5 ('Exceeded') on the 650-850 scale.
| Grade / Subject | % Meeting or Exceeding | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 ELA | 45% | Lowest ELA grade in 3-8 |
| Grade 3 Math | 50% | Highest math proficiency in 3-8 |
| Grade 4 ELA | 54% | |
| Grade 4 Math | 47% | |
| Grade 5 ELA | 53% | |
| Grade 5 Math | 44% | Largest math gain (+4 ppt YoY) |
| Grade 5 Science (NJSLA-S) | 30% | NGSS-aligned |
| Grade 6 ELA | 56% | |
| Grade 6 Math | 40% | |
| Grade 7 ELA | 57% | |
| Grade 7 Math | 39% | |
| Grade 8 ELA | 57% | Highest ELA grade in 3-8 |
| Grade 8 Math | 21% | Massive drop — strong G8 students take Algebra 1 EOC |
| Grade 8 Science (NJSLA-S) | 19% | Lowest M+E in 3-8 |
The bottom of the table is the story. Grade 8 Math (21%) and Grade 8 Science (19%) look catastrophic until you realize many strong 8th-graders take Algebra 1 EOC instead of grade-level math — they're not counted in the 8th-grade math number. ELA grew at every grade level. Pre-pandemic ELA peaked at 57% in 2019 and math at 45.6% in 2018; New Jersey is close on ELA, still behind on math. Treat this as the final baseline from the old test: 2026 NJSLA-A scores use a different scale and different cut scores.
Who Runs the NJSLA — New Jersey Education Leadership
Dr. Lily Laux became Acting Commissioner of the NJ Department of Education on February 4, 2026, appointed by Governor Mikie Sherrill (D, who took office January 2026). Before NJ, Laux was Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency, where she led school-finance reform and statewide literacy. She passed her NJ Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing on February 19, 2026. Her stated priorities: K-12 literacy outcomes, high-impact tutoring expansion, the teacher shortage, and modernizing the school-funding formula. Laux replaced Kevin Dehmer, who left to become NJ's Chief Technology Officer under the new Sherrill administration. Note: many other sources still reference Dehmer — they're stale.
Recent decisions affecting the NJSLA
- 2026-09
State Board of Education approved the NJSLA-A ELA and math cut scores on September 9, 2026. Districts must give paper score reports to families within 30 days of receiving them (by November 9, 2026).
- 2026-04
First-ever NJSLA-Adaptive administration began April 27, 2026. Window ran through May 29, 2026 for ELA + Math. Science (grades 5, 8, 11) remains fixed-form.
- 2026-02
Acting Commissioner Laux sworn in. Passed Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing Feb 19, 2026. Senate full-floor vote followed.
NJSLA Performance by District — A New Jersey Snapshot
New Jersey has one of the widest district-level inequalities in the country. The 31 former Abbott districts (now called SDA districts) receive state-funded facilities under the Abbott v. Burke school-funding decisions, but the spread between them and wealthy suburbs is dramatic. Numbers below reflect 2025 NJSLA performance from NJDOE or, where 2025 district-level breakdowns aren't yet published, the most recent year released.
Millburn Township
4,737 students · 8 schools · top suburban84% ELA / 65% Math · 2025Among NJ's top 3 wealthy suburbs alongside Princeton and Tenafly. Economically Disadvantaged: 1.4% — one of the lowest in the state. Algebra 1: 83% M+E. Source: nj21st.com 7-district preliminary dashboard.
Princeton Public Schools
3,827 students · 6 schools · top suburban78% reading / 70% math · 2024Princeton High feeds heavily into selective colleges. Economically Disadvantaged: 10.5%. District publishes its 2024-25 NJSLA breakdown only via internal Google Slides; the 2024 numbers are the most recent public figures.
Cherry Hill Public Schools
10,772 students · 19 schools · mixed suburban64% reading / 53% math · 2024Median-affluent NJ suburb. Demographics: 51% White, 17% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 9% Black. Economically Disadvantaged: 14%. Close to the state average — a useful anchor for parents from Camden County or Burlington County.
Newark Public Schools
42,791 students · 64 schools · Abbott / SDA · urban34% ELA / 21% Math · 2025Largest district in NJ. 58% Hispanic, 34% Black, 100% minority enrollment. ~54% Economically Disadvantaged (district-only). Grade 3 ELA hit 27.7% in 2025, up from 23.4% in 2024 — Newark's most-watched grade since its literacy push. Top Newark elementary (Michelle Obama Elementary): 79.4% Grade 3 ELA proficiency proves the ceiling within the district.
Camden City School District
7,117 students · 16 schools · Abbott / state-takeover~10% ELA / ~8% Math · 2025 (elem tier)Under NJDOE state-takeover authority since 2013 — among the longest interventions in NJ. Elementary tier ~9% ELA / ~7% Math. Camden charter students are 71% more likely to read at grade level than district peers (NJ Urban News). Camden's officially reported Economically Disadvantaged % (34.6%) appears under-counted versus community estimates in the 60-80% range.
Headline equity spread: Millburn 84% ELA versus Camden City ~10% ELA = roughly 74 percentage points. The widest single-state gap of any state we've researched in our top 10 — larger than Massachusetts's 61-point Lexington-Lawrence gap on Grade 5 Math.
The NJSLA Equity Gap — What the Data Shows
New Jersey has among the strongest aggregate scores of any state nationally, and the widest district-level inequality in the country. The 74-percentage-point Millburn-versus-Camden gap is real and verified. Newark's district-only Grade 3 ELA scores rose from 23.4% in 2024 to 27.7% in 2025, but Newark charters (a separate sector) post double-digit higher rates and read at grade level 71% more often than their district peers (per NJ Urban News). Pre-pandemic, statewide ELA peaked at 57% in 2019 and math at 45.6% in 2018 — both still unreached. For families: the gap is real, but it's tied to district wealth more than to the test itself. Steady at-home practice, especially on NJSLA's three writing task types, moves performance bands inside one school year regardless of zip code.
New Jersey Laws & Decisions Shaping the NJSLA
Three policy moves reshaped NJSLA in 2026, and most parents have not heard about them.
State Board adopted the 2023 NJSLS for both ELA and Math in October 2023 — first standards revision since 2016. ELA implementation deadline was September 2024. Math was originally September 2024, then extended to September 2025. Spring 2026 NJSLA-A is the first administration on the new standards for both subjects. Old practice content aligned to the 2016 standards is partially obsolete.
After a Fall 2025 field test (October 27 - November 14), NJSLA-Adaptive became operational on April 27, 2026 for grades 3-9 ELA, grades 3-8 Math, and Algebra I/Geometry/Algebra II. NJDOE has not publicly released the technical equating study that would prove Spring 2026 scaled scores are comparable to past years — NJ Education Report filed an OPRA request and received a response that the records 'are not made or maintained' by the DOE.
On September 9, 2026 the State Board of Education approved new performance-level cut scores for NJSLA-A ELA and math. Scores are now 4-digit scale scores, and the 'Met Expectations' score differs by grade and subject — for example 1446 in grade 3 ELA and 1577 in grade 8 math. Results came later than usual in 2026 because the new test needed new cut scores.
What Makes the NJSLA Different From Other State Tests?
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NJSLA-Adaptive launched Spring 2026 — first time computer-adaptive in NJ history. ELA, Math, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II are all adaptive. Science stays fixed-form.
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Writing is its own ELA unit: one extended writing task, scored on a holistic rubric for Conventions and Composition.
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NJSLA uses 5 proficiency levels (most states use 4). Level 4 is proficient, not Level 3 — this confuses parents who assume the middle level is 'passing.'
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Spring 2026 is the first administration on the 2023 NJSLS standards. Old practice content built on the 2016 standards is partially obsolete.
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New score scale from 2026: the 'Met Expectations' score now differs by grade and subject (1446 for grade 3 ELA up to 2500 for Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II).
What New Jersey Parents Should Know About the NJSLA
The format changed dramatically in Spring 2026. Tell your child the test will get harder when they answer correctly and easier when they struggle — harder questions are a good sign, not a punishment.
Level 4 is proficient, NOT Level 3. With 5 levels, it's easy to assume the middle (Level 3) is 'passing' — it's not. Since 2026 the Level 4 score depends on grade and subject, so compare your child's score with the cut for their own grade.
Writing is one extended task inside the ELA test. Practice opinion/argumentative, informative/explanatory and narrative writing with clear topic sentences, text evidence and clean conventions.
NJSLA scores are NOT used for grade promotion in New Jersey. The test informs school accountability and federal compliance, not whether your child moves up a grade.
Science (NJSLA-S) is fixed-form, not adaptive, in grades 5 and 8. Don't let the buzz around adaptive testing make you skip science prep — it's a separate test with its own format.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NJSLA
What is NJSLA-Adaptive and when did it launch?
NJSLA-Adaptive (NJSLA-A) is the computer-adaptive version of New Jersey's grades 3-8 state assessment. It launched April 27, 2026. The test starts with medium-difficulty questions and adjusts after each group of questions: harder when your child does well, easier when they struggle. Two students in the same classroom see different questions, but final scaled scores are intended to be comparable. NJSLA-Science remains fixed-form (not adaptive).
When is the NJSLA test in 2027?
NJSLA-Adaptive (ELA grades 3-9; math grades 3-8, Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II) and NJSLA-Science (grades 5, 8, 11) run April 19 - May 21, 2027. NJGPA-Adaptive (the grade 11 graduation test) runs March 1-19, 2027. Your school picks its testing days inside that window. NJDOE expects spring 2027 NJSLA-A results to reach districts by June 30, 2027.
Is NJSLA required for grade promotion or graduation?
No — NJSLA grades 3-8 scores are NOT used for grade promotion in New Jersey. They inform school accountability and federal compliance, not whether your child moves up. For graduation, students take the NJGPA in grade 11, which is a separate assessment with its own pathway.
What is a passing score on NJSLA?
NJSLA uses 5 levels: 1 (Did Not Yet Meet), 2 (Partially Met), 3 (Approaching), 4 (Met), and 5 (Exceeded). Level 4 is the proficiency bar — NOT Level 3, despite Level 3 being the middle. On the new NJSLA-A scale the Level 4 score depends on grade and subject: for example 1446 in grade 3 ELA, 1399 in grade 3 math and 2500 for Algebra I. Many parents misread Level 3 as 'passing' — it is not.
Why is my child's NJSLA score 4 digits now?
NJSLA-A, the adaptive test first given in spring 2026, uses a new score scale. ELA and math scores used to fall between 650 and 850; now they are 4-digit scale scores, and the State Board approved new cut scores for each grade and subject on September 9, 2026. Districts must give families the paper score report within 30 days of receiving it (by November 9, 2026), and the report has an access code for NJDOE's online Family Portal.
Will my child's 2026 NJSLA score be comparable to past years?
NJDOE says yes — Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs) measure each student's growth relative to academic peers, not absolute scores. However, NJ Education Report filed an OPRA request asking for the technical equating study that would link Spring 2026 scores to past years, and NJDOE responded that the records 'are not made or maintained' by the department. Year-over-year comparisons after Spring 2026 should be read carefully.
Is there a separate Writing test on NJSLA?
Writing is part of NJSLA ELA, given as its own Writing unit in a single session. It is one extended-response task — opinion/argumentative, informative/explanatory or narrative, depending on grade — scored with a holistic rubric on two dimensions, Conventions and Composition. The Writing unit is not adaptive.
Can I opt my child out of the NJSLA?
New Jersey has no formal opt-out process. Districts may permit 'refusal' arrangements where the student is supervised during testing, but the student is counted as 'not proficient' for accountability purposes. There is no academic penalty to the child personally.
What grades take NJSLA-Science?
NJSLA-Science (NJSLA-S) is administered in grades 5, 8, and 11 — and remains fixed-form (not adaptive) in 2026. It is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The 2025 statewide M+E rates were 30% (grade 5), 19% (grade 8), and 31% (grade 11).
What changed in the 2023 NJSLS standards?
The 2023 NJSLS (adopted October 2023) was the first standards revision since 2016. ELA Companion Standards were integrated into Reading: Informational Text. Math K-5 split 'Measurement and Data' into separate 'Measurement' and 'Data Literacy' domains. Climate-change education was added across both subjects, making NJ one of the only states with K-12 climate-change context embedded in core standards.
Why did Grade 8 Math drop to 21% in 2025?
Grade 8 Math proficiency looks alarmingly low (21% M+E in 2025), but the number is partially a measurement artifact. Many strong 8th-graders take the Algebra 1 End-of-Course test instead of grade-level math, so they are NOT counted in the 8th-grade math figure. Algebra 1 EOC proficiency was 38% in 2025.
What is the difference between NJSLA and NJGPA?
NJSLA is the grades 3-8 (and 9 ELA) annual assessment of NJSLS standards. NJGPA (New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment) is a separate grade-11 test used for the high-school graduation pathway. Both went adaptive in Spring 2026. NJSLA does not affect promotion; NJGPA does affect a graduation pathway.
Questions parents ask
What is the NJSLA test?
The NJSLA is New Jersey'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 NJSLA?
Practice tests are built to the NJSLA's published blueprint for each grade and subject: the same reporting categories, question types and point values, with questions written to NJSLS 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?
iMasterly is in beta and pricing has not been announced. NJSLA practice is not sold separately: it comes with the AI tutoring and personalized curriculum.
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.
NJSLA is coming. Start practicing today.
Standards-aligned practice for every grade, with every answer explained.