WASL Frequently Asked Questions

What subjects are tested on the WASL?

Reading, writing, math and science.

Who takes the WASL and when is it taken?

The WASL is administered every spring in grades 3-8 and 10. View the 2007 WASL Testing Schedule for a chart of what subjects are tested and at what grade. Students typically spend about two hours a day over the course of five to eight days taking the different sections of the test. It is important to note that the WASL is not a timed test and students can take as long as they need to finish.

Ninth-graders may voluntarily take the high school WASL and bank any passing score they receive. If students choose to take the high school WASL in 9th grade, it will count as one of their five free chances to take and pass the exam before graduation (initial test taking and four retake opportunities).

Note: Students in the classes of 2008 are required to pass the high school reading and writing WASLs for graduation. Math and science will be added in 2013. Students will have four chances to retake all or parts of the test. Retakes will be held in August and during the regular spring testing period.

What do WASL test questions look like?

The WASL includes a blend of multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions. In addition to demonstrating content knowledge, this test requires students to apply their thinking skills to solve problems and explain their answers. Read sample questions from previous high school WASLs.

What is a passing score on the WASL?

Students get two scores: a scale and a level score. The scale score is a raw number (e.g. 410). That score then places a student into one of four levels: Advanced (Level 4), Proficient (Level 3), Basic (Level 2) and Below Basic (Level 1). The State Board of Education determined that Level 3 is a “passing” score.

What does it mean to "meet standard" on the WASL?

To "meet standard," a student must score at Level 3 or higher.

What makes the WASL different from other standardized tests?

The WASL is unlike more familiar standardized tests, which measure students' performance against other students. The WASL measures students' performance against a set of standards, not against their peers. Think of the WASL like the test you take to earn a driver’s license. It doesn’t matter what the average score on the test is or whether some drivers scored above or below you. What matters is whether you can show you have the driving skills and knowledge of traffic laws to “meet the standard” and get a license.

When are WASL results released?

Tests for students in grades 3-8 are scored during the summer, and results are returned in early fall (typically late August or early September). All high school WASL tests are scored in the weeks immediately following the test administration, and results are returned to students and their families in June. This provides students who may have struggled with the exam time to get academic help by taking summer school or making plans to retake the exam in August.

Results for summer retakes of the high school WASL are available in late fall.

How are WASL results used?

WASL results show each student’s academic strengths and weaknesses – as well as identify strengths and weaknesses in a school or classroom’s curriculum and instruction. Decisions can then be made on how to help individual or groups of students. Schools and districts also use this information to target areas where their staff may need additional professional development.

Your child's WASL results should not be the first indication of whether your child's learning is on track or not. Schools often use other tests called “classroom-based” or “formative” assessments to track student’s progress throughout the year. Ask your child’s teacher for regular progress reports on their performance.

Who writes the WASL test questions?

WASL questions are created by some of the same people who wrote Washington’s academic learning standards: Washington educators. A team of Washington educators reviews every question for content quality, cultural bias and whether it tests the state academic standards. Students in select pilot schools also try out the prompts (or questions) before they are used in a “live” testing situation across the state. This process provides a wealth of information about how the prompts work and identifies any anomalies in student responses. Prompts that work best in these pilots are then used in the actual WASL in future years.

Who oversees the WASL?

The WASL is overseen by a national group of measurement and education experts called the Technical Advisory Committee, which works with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Every year these experts certify that the development, administration and scoring procedures of all WASL tests meet high standards for reliability and validity.

Do special education students take the WASL?

Yes. About 95 percent of Washington’s special education students participate in the WASL with the accommodations that are provided for them in their Individualized Education Plans (IEP). These IEPs are customized plans that address special education students’ unique learning objectives. They are created by their parent or guardian, teacher(s) and school principal.

Some special education students just need some type of “accommodation,” such as having the test questions in Braille. In these situations, the actual content of the test is exactly the same. For other students, their IEP team may decide that the WASL at another grade level is more developmentally appropriate (i.e. instead of taking the 8th-grade WASL they should take the 6th-grade WASL).

For students with more severe cognitive difficulties the WASL may not be the best option. These students are eligible for the Washington Alternate Assessment System (WAAS). Under WAAS, students may compile a portfolio of work showing their progress in meeting the state standards.

Do private schools or home school students have to take the WASL?

No, private and home-schooled students are not required to take the WASL. However, some private and home-schooled students do voluntarily take the exam to see if they are on track with the state standards.