ESL

1. WIDAScreener &
WIDAACCESS
WIDA Screener is the first test that English Language
Learners take. WIDA ACCESS is the test that all ELL
students take in January. Both of these tests help the EL
department identify each student’s abilities in speaking,
listening, reading, and writing.

2. WIDA
Screener
Overview
 The WIDA Screener is for new students
 All ELL students take WIDA ACCESS in January.
 Your English Learner Plan (covered in more detail later)
is based off the scores earned on the WIDA Screener
andWIDA ACCESS.
 TheWIDA Screener andWIDA ACCESS tests are in the
following order:
1. Listening
2. Reading
3. Speaking
4. Writing

3. The Listening and ReadingTests
 The ListeningTest and ReadingTests both contain multiple-choice questions
organized by theme
 As you answer questions correctly, it gives you more advanced questions and tasks
 If you answer multiple questions incorrectly, then it gives less difficult questions
and tasks
 The EL department uses this information and your scores to determine how
easily you understand what you listen to and read in English, so it is important
to do your best on these tests to show your real skills.

4. TheSpeaking andWritingTests
 In the Speaking andWriting test, students have to demonstrate their speaking and
writing ability.
 During the SpeakingTest, students speak into a microphone and the responses are
recorded by the computer.
 During theWritingTest, students type their responses and these responses are
recorded by the computer.
 Your responses are then scored by a person in the EL department.
 The tasks you will see for both Speaking andWriting are determined by how well
you do on the Listening and Reading tests.

5. Scores range
between 1 and 6.
Six is the highest
score available.

6. Aboveisanexampleofhowastudentisscoredwhenusingacademic
languageandtermsrelatedtoweather. ToscorewellonELtests,itis
importanttoprovidedetailedanswerswithsophisticatedvocabulary.

7. Your objective is to
raise your score
each year you are
withGOAL High
School. Eventually,
you want to test
out of the EL
program by
becoming fluent in
English and your
native language.
 The Bilingual Resource course is designed to help you raise your
scores on all EL tests.
 You can also come into the site closest to you to practice speaking
and listening in groups with your peers. Most GOAL students are
great at social English, but many struggle when talking about
ideas using academic language.
 It is also important to practice reading and writing academic
language.
 Your pod leaders and EL teacher can help you gain confidence in
your English speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities.