The state tests explained for Minnesota parents
Each spring, Minnesota students take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA): reading and math in grades 3 to 8, and science in grades 5 and 8. The tests check the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards taught in class. They are separate from the report card and from class grades.
The state tests at a glance
- Who takes them
- Reading and math: every grade from 3 to 8, then reading in grade 10 and math in grade 11. Science: grade 5, grade 8 and once in high school, usually in the year a student takes biology. Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities may take the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) instead.
- What they cover
- The MCA follow Minnesota's academic standards. Students read passages and answer questions about them, solve math problems and explain science ideas, mostly on a computer.
- When and how
- Students test online in the spring, within a window MDE sets each year. Your school chooses its own days within it. Most students finish each test within a few class periods.
- How results are described
- Scores are reported in four achievement levels: Does Not Meet the Standards, Partially Meets the Standards, Meets the Standards and Exceeds the Standards. Families get an individual report that shows how their child did.
- English learners
- Students learning English also take a yearly English language proficiency test, ACCESS for ELLs.
- Taking part
- Minnesota law lets parents and guardians refuse their child's participation in state tests. MDE publishes a guide and a refusal form each year; ask your school for it if you are thinking about it.
- Report card link
- MCA scores don't change your child's report card. The report card describes learning in class through the year, using the marks your district chooses.
Dates and details change from year to year. Your school and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) have the current information.
How to help your child feel ready
- Keep routines simple: regular sleep, a good breakfast and a calm morning.
- Read together often, then ask your child to retell what happened and point to the words that show it.
- Practice math with real problems (shopping, cooking, travel times) as well as math facts.
- Try MDE's item samplers together, so the computer screens feel familiar.
- Tell your child the tests show what they know. They are not something to fail.
Practice the grade-level skills with Gradelings: 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade and 8th grade.
Common questions
Reading and math every year from 3rd to 8th grade, and science in 5th and 8th grade. In high school, students take reading in 10th grade, math in 11th grade and science once.
In the spring, but the dates change each year. MDE posts the testing window on its statewide testing pages, and your school sets its own days within it.
No. They are separate. Your child's report card describes learning in class through the year, so the two can tell different parts of the story.
Meets the Standards means your child is where the standards expect for their grade, and Exceeds means they are beyond it. Partially Meets and Does Not Meet mean they are still building those skills. Talk with your child's teacher about what the score means for your child.
Yes. Minnesota law lets parents and guardians refuse participation. MDE's yearly parent guide includes the refusal form, and your school can give you a copy and explain what it means for your child.
Gradelings practices the math, English language arts and science skills in Minnesota's academic standards with kind feedback and no timers unless you want them. It isn't a copy of the MCA and doesn't predict a score.
Also see: Minnesota report cards explained and Social emotional learning.
Ready to try Gradelings?
Curriculum-matched practice for Kindergarten to Grade 9 in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut, and in Washington, Oregon, California, New York, Texas, Maine, Minnesota, Alaska, Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas, with kind hints, learning games and no ads. Subscribe now, or try everything free for 30 days with no card.