ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In Oregon, what entity has the authority to revoke a police officer's DPSST certification for misconduct?

The officer's direct supervisor
The Oregon legislature by majority vote
The city council where the officer works
The DPSST Board after a formal hearing process (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The DPSST Board after a formal hearing process

Only the DPSST Board, following a formal due-process hearing, has statutory authority to revoke a public safety officer's certification.

Question 2: What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Academic Vocabulary?

To increase salary automatically
To validate competency and knowledge in the field (Correct answer)
To replace practical experience
To meet legal requirements only

Correct answer: To validate competency and knowledge in the field

Certification validates that a professional has met established standards of knowledge and competency in Academic Vocabulary.

Question 3: What accommodations are NOT permitted during the ACCESS Speaking test for ELL students?

Having another student model the response for them (Correct answer)
Extended response time
Bilingual word-to-word dictionaries
Familiar test administrator

Correct answer: Having another student model the response for them

Allowing another student to model responses would compromise the validity of the speaking assessment by providing unfair scaffolding.

Question 4: On the ACCESS Writing test, which element most clearly shows a student is moving from Level 3 to Level 4 proficiency?

Writing a single paragraph about a familiar topic
Connecting ideas with a variety of transitional phrases (Correct answer)
Copying vocabulary from a word bank
Using simple sentences with correct basic punctuation

Correct answer: Connecting ideas with a variety of transitional phrases

At Level 4, students demonstrate emerging control over cohesive devices like transitional phrases to link ideas across sentences.

Question 5: In an American context, the phrase 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps' reflects which cultural value?

Relying on government programs to improve one's life
Wearing sturdy footwear as a sign of hard work
Achieving success through personal effort and self-reliance (Correct answer)
Asking community members for financial assistance

Correct answer: Achieving success through personal effort and self-reliance

This idiom encapsulates the American cultural ideal of self-reliance and achieving success through one's own hard work.

Question 6: A student consistently writes in present tense but switches to past tense mid-paragraph. What writing skill needs improvement?

Verb tense consistency (Correct answer)
Paragraph indentation
Capitalization
Spelling

Correct answer: Verb tense consistency

Maintaining a consistent verb tense throughout a piece is a key writing convention assessed on ACCESS.

Question 7: Which word could replace 'show' in an academic essay to sound more formal?

Look
Tell
Demonstrate (Correct answer)
Say

Correct answer: Demonstrate

'Demonstrate' is the formal academic word meaning to show or prove something clearly.

Question 8: Which ACCESS score is most commonly used by states to determine if an English Language Learner is ready for reclassification as English Proficient?

Speaking score only
Overall composite score (Correct answer)
Reading raw score
Listening score only

Correct answer: Overall composite score

States typically use the ACCESS overall composite score (often set at 4.5 or above) as the primary threshold for ELL reclassification.

Question 9: A student reads: 'The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.' The word 'tombs' most likely means:

Schools for royal children
Palaces for living kings
Temples for religious ceremonies
Burial places for the dead (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Burial places for the dead

Context about pharaohs and ancient burial practices helps the reader infer that tombs are burial places.

Question 10: On the ACCESS test, what does a 'literary text' typically include?

News articles and reports
Stories, poems, and plays (Correct answer)
Science textbooks
Bus schedules and menus

Correct answer: Stories, poems, and plays

Literary texts include creative works such as stories, poems, and plays.

Question 11: Which ACCESS domain assesses a student's ability to understand spoken English in academic contexts?

Speaking
Writing
Listening (Correct answer)
Reading

Correct answer: Listening

The Listening domain measures a student's ability to understand spoken academic English, including lectures and conversations.

Question 12: Which grade-band cluster does ACCESS for ELLs use for Grades 6–8?

Upper Middle (Correct answer)
Lower Middle
Secondary
Elementary

Correct answer: Upper Middle

ACCESS for ELLs organizes testing into grade-band clusters, and Grades 6–8 fall in the 'Middle' (specifically Upper Middle) cluster.

Question 13: The word 'migrate' appears in this sentence: 'Every autumn, monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to warmer climates.' What does 'migrate' mean?

Hibernate underground
Eat large amounts of food
Travel seasonally to another place (Correct answer)
Build a new home

Correct answer: Travel seasonally to another place

Context clues—'every autumn,' 'thousands of miles,' and 'warmer climates'—indicate migrate means to travel seasonally.

Question 14: A passage includes a sidebar box with additional facts about the main topic. What is the purpose of this text feature?

To replace the main text
To show the author's opinion
To provide supplementary information related to the topic (Correct answer)
To list sources used in the article

Correct answer: To provide supplementary information related to the topic

Sidebar boxes offer extra details or context that complement the main text without interrupting its flow.

Question 15: A teacher says: 'Please respond to the prompt in a concise way.' What does 'concise' mean?

Long and detailed
Short and clear, without unnecessary words (Correct answer)
Colorful and creative
Written in a list format

Correct answer: Short and clear, without unnecessary words

'Concise' means expressing information clearly using few words.

Question 16: Which sentence demonstrates the language function of hypothesizing?

If plants had no sunlight, they would not survive. (Correct answer)
Scientists discovered a new species last year.
The experiment was conducted in three steps.
The water cycle involves evaporation and condensation.

Correct answer: If plants had no sunlight, they would not survive.

A hypothesis uses conditional language ('if...would') to explore a possible or imaginary scenario.

Question 17: Which question requires a student to make an inference rather than find a direct answer in the text?

What is the title of the passage?
Why did the character feel nervous, based on clues in the story? (Correct answer)
What year is listed in the first paragraph?
How many characters are mentioned?

Correct answer: Why did the character feel nervous, based on clues in the story?

Inference questions require combining textual clues with reasoning, not just locating stated facts.

Question 18: A student reads two articles. Article 1 says wolves help ecosystems. Article 2 says wolves are dangerous to livestock. What is the BEST way to use both articles?

Only use Article 2 because it is more recent
Use both to understand different perspectives on wolves (Correct answer)
Accept Article 1 because it was written first
Ignore one article and only use the other

Correct answer: Use both to understand different perspectives on wolves

Reading multiple sources with different viewpoints helps build a fuller, more balanced understanding of a topic.

Question 19: Which word means 'to put things into groups based on shared features'?

Amplify
Justify
Rectify
Classify (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Classify

'Classify' means to arrange items into categories based on common characteristics.

Question 20: In ACCESS Speaking, a student who uses mostly memorized chunks of language with little flexibility is demonstrating which proficiency level?

Level 5 – Bridging
Level 1 – Entering (Correct answer)
Level 4 – Expanding
Level 3 – Developing

Correct answer: Level 1 – Entering

Level 1 (Entering) speakers rely heavily on memorized phrases and formulaic language with minimal productive flexibility.

Question 21: Which of the following best describes a 'complex sentence' that a Level 5 ACCESS student might produce?

A series of nouns listed without a verb
Two independent clauses joined by 'and'
An independent clause joined with a dependent clause using a subordinating conjunction (Correct answer)
A sentence fragment with a noun and adjective only

Correct answer: An independent clause joined with a dependent clause using a subordinating conjunction

A complex sentence combines an independent clause with a dependent clause using subordinators like 'because,' 'although,' or 'when,' a structure expected at higher ACCESS levels.

Question 22: Read this sign: <br> "Warning: Wet Floor. Walk Carefully." <br> What should you do?

Run quickly.
Ignore the sign.
Walk carefully. (Correct answer)
Clean the floor.

Correct answer: Walk carefully.

The sign clearly states 'Warning: Wet Floor. Walk Carefully.' This is a direct instruction to ensure safety in the presence of a hazard. Therefore, the appropriate action is to walk carefully to avoid slipping.

Question 23: Read this paragraph: <br> "Tom enjoys hiking in the mountains every weekend. He always takes a map, water, and snacks with him. His favorite trail is the Blue Ridge Trail because of its beautiful views." <br> What does Tom always bring with him?

Water, snacks, and a map. (Correct answer)
A camera, a map, and a hat.
Snacks, sunscreen, and shoes.
A book, water, and snacks.

Correct answer: Water, snacks, and a map.

The passage explicitly lists the items Tom always brings: 'He always takes a map, water, and snacks with him.' This sentence directly answers the question about what he carries. The other options include items not mentioned or omit essential ones.

Question 24: Which of the following best describes the role of 'phonological accuracy' in ACCESS Speaking scoring?

It is the primary factor determining a student's score
It is one of several dimensions considered alongside vocabulary, grammar, and discourse (Correct answer)
It only applies to students in Grades 9–12
It is not considered in any tier of the rubric

Correct answer: It is one of several dimensions considered alongside vocabulary, grammar, and discourse

Phonological accuracy is part of the holistic scoring rubric but is weighed alongside vocabulary range, grammatical control, and discourse organization.

Question 25: Which sentence is written in the past tense?

"I walk to school every day."
"We will go to the movies tomorrow."
"She baked a cake for her mom." (Correct answer)
"They are playing in the yard."

Correct answer: "She baked a cake for her mom."

The verb 'baked' is the past tense form of 'bake,' indicating an action that has already occurred. The other sentences use verbs in the present tense ('walk'), present continuous tense ('are playing'), or future tense ('will go'), not the past tense.

Question 26: A student reads a flyer: 'Join our after-school program! Free snacks, homework help, and fun activities.' What is the flyer's main purpose?

To describe the school calendar
To explain homework rules
To recruit students to join a program (Correct answer)
To inform about school lunch prices

Correct answer: To recruit students to join a program

The flyer uses appealing features to attract students, so its main purpose is persuasive recruitment.

Question 27: A student reads a story where a character feels proud to display the American flag. This cultural symbol primarily represents:

Protest against the government
Allegiance to the military only
National identity, patriotism, and unity (Correct answer)
Membership in a political party

Correct answer: National identity, patriotism, and unity

The American flag is a symbol of national identity and pride, representing the country as a whole.

Question 28: You hear a conversation: 'Did you bring your permission slip?' 'No, I forgot it at home.' 'Then you won't be able to go on the field trip.' Why can't the student go?

The student arrived late
The field trip was cancelled
The student doesn't have money
The student forgot the permission slip (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The student forgot the permission slip

The student explicitly says they forgot the permission slip, which is required to attend the field trip.

Question 29: On ACCESS writing rubrics, what does the criterion 'development and organization' primarily assess?

Whether the student used correct spelling throughout
Whether all vocabulary is grade-level appropriate
How well the student structures ideas logically with a clear beginning, middle, and end (Correct answer)
The total number of sentences in the response

Correct answer: How well the student structures ideas logically with a clear beginning, middle, and end

Development and organization on ACCESS rubrics evaluate whether the student presents ideas in a logical, coherent structure with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

Question 30: A student reads: 'First, add the flour. Next, stir in the eggs. Finally, bake for 30 minutes.' What type of text is this?

A biography
A poem
A set of instructions (Correct answer)
An opinion essay

Correct answer: A set of instructions

Sequential signal words like 'first,' 'next,' and 'finally' indicate step-by-step instructions.

Question 31: A student reads a poem that does not rhyme and has no fixed line length. This type of poem is called:

A sonnet
A haiku
A limerick
Free verse (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Free verse

Free verse poetry has no required rhyme scheme or meter, giving the poet flexible structure.

Question 32: In an ACCESS writing task, a student wants to support their argument with evidence. Which sentence best fulfills this language function?

According to the article, test scores improved by 20% after the program. (Correct answer)
I really like this topic.
Everyone has a different opinion about this.
This is a very interesting issue for many people.

Correct answer: According to the article, test scores improved by 20% after the program.

Citing a specific statistic from a source to back up a claim is the language function of providing evidence.

ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners)

The ACCESS for ELLs is an annual English language proficiency assessment administered by WIDA to K-12 English Language Learners, measuring proficiency across Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing domains on a 1–6 scale. It is used to determine ELL program placement and exit eligibility.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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