Our Assessment Methodology
A smarter way to find exactly where your child stands!
How the Assessment Works
Our online math assessment is adaptive — it adjusts in real time to your child's ability. Instead of giving every student the same questions, it gets smarter as your child answers, zeroing in on exactly where they stand.
- It starts at their grade level. Your child begins with questions appropriate for their current grade, covering a range of math topics.
- It adapts to their answers. When your child answers correctly, the questions get a little harder. When they struggle, it eases back. This way, every student is challenged but never overwhelmed.
- It covers a range of topics. The assessment samples across arithmetic, fractions, geometry, word problems, and more — not just one narrow skill. This gives us a complete picture.
- It calculates a precise placement. After 25 questions, we know exactly where your child stands on the grade-level timeline and which class will help them the most.
Why adaptive matters: A fixed test can be too easy for some students and too hard for others. Our adaptive engine ensures every child's assessment is appropriately challenging, which gives a far more accurate picture of their actual ability.
Understanding Your Child's Results
After the assessment, you'll receive two key metrics that together tell you exactly where your child stands:
Grade Level Equivalent (GLE)
The GLE is the most intuitive number on the report. It maps your child's performance onto the school-year timeline. For example, a GLE of 3.7 means your child is performing at the level of a typical student 7 months into Grade 3.
A GLE below the student's grade means there are gaps from earlier material. A GLE at or above their grade means they're keeping pace or ahead. The further right the marker, the stronger the performance.
Weighted Score
The weighted score is a percentage that accounts for question difficulty. Getting a hard question right counts more than getting an easy one right. This is more accurate than a simple "number correct" because it rewards students who tackle challenging material successfully.
Score Placement Bar
Your results page also shows a colored bar that indicates which placement level your child falls into:
The Three Placement Levels
Based on the assessment, your child is placed into one of three levels. Each level has a class designed specifically for students at that stage:
A Advanced (85%+)
Your child shows strong ability and is ahead of grade-level expectations. Our Advanced classes
challenge these students with enrichment material so they keep growing instead of coasting. Without
the right challenge, even strong students can plateau.
B On-Track (70–84%)
Your child is at grade level right now. This is a critical window — math builds quickly, and
students at this stage benefit the most from structured practice to stay confident and move ahead
before the next grade raises the bar. Our grade-level classes provide exactly that structure.
C Needs Support (below 70%)
Your child has some gaps that will widen without attention. The good news: with focused, small-group
support, students at this level typically see significant improvement within weeks. Our support
classes close gaps quickly with individual attention so your child catches up with confidence.
What Results Look Like: Three Students
Here's how three Grade 3 students performed on the same assessment in January. Each student's results tell a different story — and lead to a different class recommendation.
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 to give her the structured practice she needs to stay confident and move ahead before the next grade raises the bar.
Sophia is still building skills from the previous grade. Without intervention, these gaps will widen as the curriculum moves forward. Recommended: Support class with focused, small-group instruction. Students at this level typically see significant improvement within just a few weeks.
All three are in Grade 3, but each one needs a different class to make the most progress. That's why we assess first — putting a student in the wrong class wastes their time and yours.
Why Accurate Placement Matters
Math is cumulative. Every concept builds on the one before it. A student who hasn't mastered multiplication will struggle with fractions. A student who hasn't mastered fractions will struggle with algebra. Small gaps today become big problems tomorrow.
That's why we don't just ask parents "what grade is your child in?" and put them in a class. The assessment tells us exactly where your child stands, so we can place them where they'll learn the most:
Students get bored, disengage, and stop growing. Talent without challenge leads to plateau.
Students are challenged but not overwhelmed. This is where the fastest learning happens.
Students feel lost, lose confidence, and fall further behind. Gaps compound quickly.
Our assessment ensures every student lands in the "just right" zone — where they're 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. No wasted time on questions that are too easy or too hard.
📚 Comprehensive
Covers 25+ math topics per grade level — from arithmetic to geometry to word problems — so nothing is missed.
📈 Standards-Aligned
Questions are aligned to Common Core and state standards, regardless of which school curriculum your child follows.
🕑 Time-Aware
Our system knows what month it is and adjusts expectations accordingly. A January test expects different skills than a May test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the assessment take?
Typically 15–25 minutes. The assessment has 25 questions, and most students complete it in one sitting.
Can my child retake the assessment?
Yes. The question bank is large enough that retakes feel fresh. If you'd like your child to retake the assessment at a different grade level (for example, after a perfect score), you're welcome to.
What if my child gets nervous or has a bad day?
The adaptive engine is designed to handle this. If a student misses a few questions early on, the system adjusts and gives easier questions so they can show what they actually know. One or two "off" answers don't dramatically change the outcome.
Is the GLE the same as school grades?
No. The GLE measures math skill level, not classroom grades. A student could get A's in school but have a GLE below grade level if their school's curriculum is less rigorous. The GLE is an independent, standards-based measurement.
My child scored On-Track. Does that mean they don't need help?
On-Track means your child is at grade level right now. But math builds quickly — each new concept depends on the last. Students at this level benefit the most from structured practice because it prevents small gaps from forming before the next grade raises the bar. This is actually the most important time to build strong habits.
What grades does the assessment cover?
Kindergarten through Algebra 2 (Grade 10). Each grade has its own tailored 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 515-4-AVATAR (515-428-2827)