Benefits of NJSLA and NJGPA Tutoring at SLC

PARCC Tutor

NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment) testing is administered to students in New Jersey in grades 3-9. NJGPA (New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment) is administered to students in grade 11, and passing this test is a requirement for graduation.

Many of the students we prepare for NJSLA and NJGPA at SLC do well in school, but need additional help to be successful on these complex, tech savvy tests. At SLC, we first gain an understanding of students' individual needs for the NJSLA by assessing their skills. Each child is then paired with a certified, experienced teacher who specializes in tutoring for the NJSLA test. Our teachers help students master specific content and improve targeted skills in reading, writing, and math.

Students are also made familiar with the NJSLA/NJGPA format: how to approach objective questions and how to maximize performance on open-ended questions requiring written responses and essays. Students improve keyboarding skills and learn to work with technology tools provided. They also practice taking sample NJSLA/NJGPA tests under timed conditions to gain experience, stamina, and perseverance necessary to succeed.

Armed with the test taking strategies and skills reinforcement received at SLC, your child will approach the NJSLA and NJGPA tests with confidence and optimism and achieve optimal results!

NJSLA and NJGPA Prep: Approach at SLC

Math

For each grade level, students are taught fluency, conceptual understanding and the ability to construct well organized, logical written responses. They learn to use abstract reasoning, precision, and strategic use of tools to solve multi-step problems and to address real-world applications.

Reading

Students learn to analyze complex literary and informational text and to demonstrate full understanding of main ideas, details, and vocabulary. They improve their ability to draw logical inferences and to cite specific textual evidence to support their conclusions.

Writing

Students are taught to address the prompt and to produce clear and coherent writing that has a strong introduction, progression of ideas, and conclusion. They learn to provide an accurate analysis of ideas and to use clear reasoning that is supported by textual evidence. Students also need to show command of grammar and usage skills.

Technology

Students improve keyboarding skills and learn how to work with tech items such as "drag and drop", "multi select" (multiple correct answers among 5-8 options), "highlighting" (choosing the correct answer within the text excerpt), "rulers", "protractors", etc.

Learn More About Our Process

NJSLA and NJGPA Test Dates

NJSLA - Spring 2024

NJSLA ELA and Math: April 29 - May 24
NJSLA Science grades 5, 8, 11: April 29 - May 24

NJGPA - Spring 2024

NJGPA grade 11: March 11-15

About the NJSLA and NJGPA

NJSLA tests are administered to public school students in grades 3-9 and measure how well students meet the NJ Student Learning Standards. NJSLA consists of 2 units of English Language Arts and 2-3 units of Mathematics and are administered entirely on a computer. Although schools have over a month in which to complete testing, most will complete all testing within one or two weeks. Total testing time ranges from 5.5 hours in 3rd grade to 6 hours in grades 4-9.

NJSLA ELA and math results are reported in five separate categories that run from Level 1, "did not yet meeting expectations" to Level 5, "exceeded expectations". Each category has a scaled score, or a cut score, connected to it. The lowest NJSLA score possible is 650, and the highest is 850. Levels 4 and 5 are considered passing scores.

It is possible that some schools will use NJSLA scores to help with course placement (i.e. advanced/honors classes).

NJGPA is administered to all public school 11th grade students. Tests content is aligned to NJ Student Learning Standards for Grade 10 ELA, Algbera 1, and Geometry. NJGPA consists of 2 units of English Language Arts and 2 units of Algebra 1 or Geometry and is administered entirely on a computer. Total testing time is 3 hours for ELA and 3 hours for math.

Completion of NJSLA testing is a component of the state's graduation requirement. Students earning 750 or above on the ELA and math are considered "graduation ready".

NJSLA and NJGPA Format

English Language Arts (ELA)

NJSLA: Grades 3-9
NJGPA: Grade 11

Unit 1 - Literary Analysis Task or Narrative Writing Task
Unit 2 - Research Simulation Task
Units are 75 minutes long for grade 3 and 90 minutes long for grades 4-9 and 11.
For each unit, students read several texts, answer comprehension and vocabulary questions, and write an essay that draws evidence from the text.
Texts range from "accessible" to "very complex" and comprehension is measured through Evidence-Based Selected Responses and Technology Enhanced Constructed Responses.
Essays must demonstrate full understanding of the text, cite specific textual evidence to support conclusions drawn, and demonstrate knowledge of conventions in grammar and usage.
Results Include:
Overall Performance Score (from 650 to 850)
Reading Score with information on Literary text, Informational text, and Vocabulary
Writing Score with information on Writing Expression and Language Conventions

Mathematics

Grades 3-9 and Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2

Grades 3-8: 3 units, each unit 1 hour long
Algebra 1, 2 and Geometry: 2 units, each unit 1.5 hours long
Calculator and non-calculator sections
Tasks are designed to assess concepts/skills/procedures, mathematical reasoning, and modeling/applications.
Format includes innovative, computer-based responses that are machine scored along with open-ended responses that are hand scored.
Students take the NJSLA math test that matches their current course enrollment. For example, a student taking Algebra 1 in 7th grade would take the Algebra 1 assessment that year.
All high school students must take the Algebra 1 assessment when they are enrolled in the course for the first time.
Students in grades 10 , 11, or 12 may not need to take the NJSLA math, depending on their math course enrollment.
Results Include:
Overall Performance Score (from 650 to 850)
Additional Information at each grade level including Performance in Major Content, Supporting Content, Mathematical Reasoning, and Modeling and Application

How did NJ Students perform on the 2016 PARCC tests and how do these results compare to 2015?

In spring 2016, PARCC tests were administered for the second time in New Jersey. Here are highlights of how students across the state performed with a comparison of results from the first year of testing in 2015.

Read this Article

NJSLA & NJGPA Prep