Students take WASL exams in a variety of subjects, some of which depend on the grade. Third-graders are the youngest group to take the WASL, and are tested on the basic subjects of reading and math, which are included on the test up through the eighth grade. Children in grades 4 and 7 take additional exams that cover writing, and students in fifth grade and eighth grade are given science questions, as well. High school students in the state of Washington must take the reading, science and mathematics portions of the WASL as part of graduation requirements. Questions on the WASL vary in format, from multiple choice to short answer to illustrating points with graphs and charts. The writing portion of the test requires students to write short essays on a given topic.
All students in grades 3 to 12 in Washington state are required to take the WASL during its spring administration. Exams are scheduled around holidays and school breaks to accommodate the largest percentage of students who will be in attendance, usually between mid-March and the end of April. Special-education teachers can give some of their students WASL exams at other times of the year on what the OSPI calls an "optional, test-by-test basis." The optional WASL testing takes place throughout the year, most notably in November and at the beginning of the school year in August. Three separate weeks of spring testing are scheduled for high school students--reading and writing is given one week, with science and math each administered during subsequent weeks.
Education professionals in the state of Washington score WASL tests using a scale they have developed especially for the WASL. Each level of achievement (1 through 4) is given a numerical range based on the grade level of the student taking the test. The OSPI lists score ranges for each level on their website (see Resources). Students are graded on grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as their answers to multiple-choice questions. Math scores are based on the problem-solving abilities of the students. Parents of public school students are notified of their children's performance on the WASL every autumn, when an official score report is sent home.
Students who have special needs might not be able to take the WASL as it is designed for most students. Accommodations regarding alternative testing formats and extended testing times for the WASL are based on each qualifying student's individualized education program (IEP). In the event that a Washington state public school student is unable to take the WASL even with personalized accommodations, the student's teachers, parents and OSPI representatives will decide together what type of assessment tool is appropriate for measuring the student's academic levels and achievements.
The WASL is slowly being phased out as the assessment tool for Washington's schools. The 2009-2010 school year will see adjustments to the reading passages and fewer test questions. Students will be introduced to computer-based testing in 2010 and 2011. By the spring of 2012, the WASL will have been completely replaced with computer-based testing called the WCAP, or Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program. Two separate tests comprise the WCAP--elementary and middle school students will take the Measurement of Student Progress (MSP) exam, and high school students will take High School Proficiency Exams (HSPE).