Understanding the language proficiency level of students is essential for educators and families to provide appropriate language development support in school and at home. English learners are required to participate in the WIDA ACCESS assessment. WIDA ACCESS is a state-mandated English Language Proficiency Assessment for English learners in grades K-12 in Indiana. The purpose of the assessment is to determine students’ level of English proficiency. English Language Proficiency Levels range from 1.0 to 6.0. A student with an overall proficiency of 4.9 or below is considered an English learner.

• Emerging (1.0-1.9)
• Developing (2.0-2.9)
• Expanding (3.0-3.9)
• Bridging (4.0-4.9)
• Reaching (5.0-6.0)

ACCESS for ELLs

The ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) is an annual assessment that is administered each spring (January through February) to determine a student's current level of English proficiency. The results of the annual assessment are also used for school accountability purposes. The criteria for fluent English proficiency used in Indiana is an Overall Composite Proficiency Level of 5.0 or higher.

Testing Modes 

Kindergarten ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS are administered individually via paper test only. WIDA ACCESS for ELLs for grades 1 through 12 is administered online except the writing portion for grades 1-3 which will be in paper format.

ACCESS test items are written from the model performance indicators of WIDA's five English Language Development (ELD) standards: Social and Instructional Language, Language of Language Arts, Language of Mathematics, Language of Science, and Language of Social Studies. 

Test Sample Items

WIDA has provided some ACCESS for ELLs sample test items to show educators, students, parents/guardians, and the general public the test content and language demands that may be found on the actual ACCESS for ELLs test. Please visit the link below to review the sample test items. A generic username and password will be displayed on the login page for you to use.

ACCESS for ELLs Sample Test Items

Exit Criteria for Annual Testing 

In Indiana, English learners must obtain composite/overall English proficiency of 5.0 or higher to be considered fluent English proficient. English learners who obtained composite/overall English proficiency of 5.0 or higher in the previous year will NOT need to participate in this year's WIDA ACCESS for ELLs. However, the school still must monitor the student’s academic progress for two years.

Learn more about the ACCESS for ELLs >

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is an assessment of English language proficiency (ELP) for students in grades 1-12 who are identified as English learners and have significant cognitive disabilities that prevent their meaningful participation in the ACCESS for ELLs assessment.

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs aligns with the WIDA Alternate English Language Proficiency levels. These levels were designed to expand upon Level P1 - Entering, by increasing the sensitivity of the measure for students who have significant cognitive disabilities.

Learn more >

Testing Accommodations

 The WIDA ACCESS assessment is designed with built-in universal design tools available for all English learners to show what they know at their best through the assessment. In addition, there are special accommodations for English learners with disabilities.

WIDA Screener for K-12 

WIDA Screener is administered only once at the time of enrollment in Indiana. The purpose of the assessment is to determine students' eligibility for receiving English language development services. The Kindergarten test is a paper-based test.

The test items are written from the model performance indicators of WIDA's five English Language Development (ELD) standards: Social and Instructional Language, Language of Language Arts, Language of Mathematics, Language of Science, and Language of Social Studies.

WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/screener/kindergarten

WIDA Screener Online: https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/screener/online