NJSLA & NJGPA Prep

Benefits of NJSLA and NJGPA Tutoring at SLC

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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.

NJSLA and NJGPA Test Dates

NJSLA - Spring 2026


NJSLA ELA and Math:   April 27 - May 22

NJGPA - Spring 2026


NJGPA grade 11:   March 16-20



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 sessions of English Language Arts (ELA) - Reading, 1 session of ELA - Writing, and 2 sessions 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 for ELA and math is 6.5 hours.

New in 2026, the ELA and math tests will adapt to each student’s ability level in real time. As the student answers each question, their responses are used to determine the difficulty of future questions. Students are still assessed on grade level content.

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, Algebra 1, and Geometry.  NJGPA consists of 2 sessions of ELA - Reading, 1 session of ELA - Writing, and 2 sessions of Mathematics.  Total testing time is 6.5 hours.

New in 2026, NJGPA is computer adaptive.

Completion of NJSLA testing is a component of the state's graduation requirement.  Students earning 725 or above on the ELA and math are considered "graduation ready".

NJSLA and NJGPA Format

English Language Arts (ELA) - Reading

NJSLA & NJGPA

  • 2 sessions, 75 minutes each
  • Students read 2 literary texts and 2 informational texts
  • Students answer a total of 32 to 36 comprehension questions that are computer adaptive.
  • Texts range from "accessible" to "very complex" and comprehension is measured through Evidence-Based Selected Responses and Technology Enhanced Constructed Responses.

English Language Arts (ELA) - Writing

  • 1 session, 90 minutes long
  • 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.

Mathematics

NJSLA & NJGPA

  • 2 Sessions, 75 minutes each
  • Students answer a total of 41 to 46 questions that are computer adaptive. Questions are designed to assess concepts/skills/procedures, mathematical reasoning, and modeling/applications.
  • NJSLA administered to grades 3-8 and Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2
  • 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.
  • NJSLA content for grades 3-5: Number & Operations in Base Ten and Fractions; Operations and Algebraic Thinking & Measurement; Geometry and Data Literacy
  • NJSLA content for grades 6-8: Ratios % Proportional Relationships; Number System; Expressions and Equations; Geometry, Statistics & Probability
  • NJSLA content for Algebra 1: Number & Quantity & Algebra; Functions; Statistics & Probability
  • NJGPA is administered to grade 11 and consists of Algebra 1 and Geometry
  • Students in grades 10 , 11, or 12 may not need to take the NJSLA math, depending on their math course enrollment.  

All About NJSLA/NJGPA in 2026 and results from 2025

As most NJ students will be taking the NJSLA or NJGPA tests this spring, here is some information about these tests. Read on to learn what's new in 2026 and to see results from last year's testing.

 

New in 2026: Computer Adaptive
 
New this year, the ELA and math tests will adapt to each student’s ability level in real time. As the student answers each question, their responses are used to determine the difficulty of future questions. Students are still assessed on grade level content.
 
Science will remain unchanged as a non-adaptive test.

 

Read this Article

 

 

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