How the assessment works
Our online math assessment is adaptive: it adjusts in real time to your child’s answers. Instead of giving every student the same questions, it zeroes in on exactly where they stand.
- It starts at their grade level. The first questions match your child’s current grade across a range of topics.
- It adapts to every answer. Correct answers lead to harder questions; misses ease it back. Challenged, never overwhelmed.
- It covers the whole grade. Arithmetic, fractions, geometry, word problems and more — not one narrow skill.
- It places your child precisely. After 25 questions we know where your child sits on the grade-level timeline and which class fits best.
Why adaptive matters: a fixed test is too easy for some students and too hard for others. An adaptive test stays at the edge of what your child can do, which gives a far more accurate picture of their real ability.
Understanding your child’s results
The report gives you two numbers that together show where your child stands.
1. Grade Level Equivalent (GLE)
The GLE places your child’s performance on the school-year timeline. The whole number is the grade, the decimal is the month of the school year. A GLE of 3.7 means your child performs like a typical student 7 months into Grade 3.
We compare it with the level expected for the month of the test. In January a Grade 3 student is expected at about 3.4; a result of 3.7 is 3 months ahead, a result of 3.1 is 3 months behind.
Left of the expected arrow means gaps from earlier material; at or right of it means keeping pace or ahead. The further right the marker, the stronger the performance.
2. Weighted Score
The weighted score is a percentage that accounts for question difficulty: a hard question answered correctly counts more than an easy one. It is more accurate than “number correct” because it rewards students who handle challenging material.
The three placement levels
Each level has a class designed for students at that stage.
Advanced · 85% and above Ahead of grade-level expectations. Our Advanced classes add enrichment so strong students keep growing instead of coasting — without the right challenge even strong students plateau.
On-Track · 70–84% At grade level right now. This is a critical window: math builds quickly, and structured practice keeps these students confident and moving ahead before the next grade raises the bar.
Needs Support · below 70% Some gaps that will widen without attention. With focused small-group support, students at this level typically improve significantly within weeks and catch up with confidence.
What results look like: three students
Three Grade 3 students took the same assessment in January, when the expected level is 3.4. Each result tells a different story and leads to a different class.
Liam is performing at the Grade 3, Month 7 level — 3 months ahead of where we’d expect. He has strong mastery of both foundational and current-grade material. Recommended: Advanced class to keep his momentum going with enrichment challenges.
Emma is right at grade level — exactly where we’d expect in January. She has a solid foundation, but math builds quickly from here. Recommended: Grade-level class for the structured practice that keeps her confident and moving ahead before the next grade raises the bar.
Sophia is still building skills from the previous grade. Without attention, these gaps widen as the curriculum moves forward. Recommended: Support class with focused, small-group instruction. Students at this level typically see real improvement within a few weeks.
All three are in Grade 3, yet each needs a different class to make the most progress. That’s why we assess first: the wrong class wastes your child’s time and yours.
Why accurate placement matters
Math is cumulative. A student who hasn’t mastered multiplication struggles with fractions; one who hasn’t mastered fractions struggles with algebra. Small gaps today become big problems tomorrow. So we don’t place by grade alone — we place where your child will learn the most.
Students get bored, disengage and stop growing.
Challenged but not overwhelmed — where the fastest learning happens.
Students feel lost, lose confidence and fall further behind.
The assessment puts every student in the “just right” zone: challenged enough to grow, supported enough to succeed, and confident enough to enjoy math.
What makes our assessment different
🎯 Adaptive
Questions adjust to your child’s level in real time, so no time is wasted on questions that are far too easy or too hard.
📚 Comprehensive
25+ topics per grade level, from arithmetic to geometry to word problems, so nothing is missed.
📈 Standards-aligned
Aligned to Common Core and state standards, whichever curriculum your child’s school uses.
📅 Time-aware
The expected level follows the calendar: a January test expects different skills than a May test.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the assessment take?
Usually 15–25 minutes. There are 25 questions and most students finish in one sitting.
Can my child retake the assessment?
Yes. The question bank is large enough that retakes feel fresh. After a perfect score, for example, your child is welcome to retake it at a higher grade level.
What if my child gets nervous or has a bad day?
The adaptive engine handles this. If a student misses a few early questions, it eases back so they can show what they actually know. One or two “off” answers don’t change the outcome much.
Is the GLE the same as school grades?
No. The GLE measures math skill level, not report-card grades. A student can earn A’s in school and still have a GLE below grade level if the school curriculum is less rigorous. The GLE is an independent, standards-based measurement.
My child scored On-Track. Do they still need help?
On-Track means at grade level right now. Each new concept depends on the last, so this is the best time for structured practice: it stops small gaps from forming before the next grade raises the bar.
Which grades does the assessment cover?
Kindergarten through Algebra 2 (Grade 10). Each grade has its own question bank aligned to that level’s standards.
Ready to find out where your child stands?
The assessment is free, takes about 20 minutes, and gives you a clear picture of your child’s math level.
Take the Free AssessmentOr call us at 515 428 2827