Understanding i-Ready Scores

Your Elementary i-Ready Scores

i-Ready assessments for Reading and Math are designed to give useful information for teachers. Teachers can use the information planning lessons for individuals, groups or the whole class. Click here to learn more about i-Ready.

ISD has been working to make the i-Ready results more accessible to families so you can see how your student scored in comparison to the expectation at the time the test was given.

When you open your scores in Family Access you will see three types of scores:

An overall Scale Score.
This is actual score your student received on the test between 200 and 800. See below if you want to see the scale scores for each level for each test.
The Detail Level Scores for the overall test score and for each topic that was assessed.
This is the score that tells you the most information! The detail level converts the scale score to a 4-point scale (see below and to the right). Scores of 3.00 and above mean the student scored at or above the score expected of a student on track to meet standard. This score is based on the expectation at the time the test was taken, not in comparison to the end-of-year expectation.
Lexile Level. i-Ready Reading provides a reading level that can be used to help find independent reading levels, like the F&P A-Z scale. This is one of the most common measures of reading level. See the panel below to learn how to use the Lexile Level to help your student find good-fit books.

Please see important topics below including how to help your student in areas where they scored approaching or below expectation.

The 4-point scale

	4 4.00-4.99 Exceeding Expectation
	3 3.00-3.99 Meeting Expectation
	2 2.00-2.99 Approaching Expectation
	1 1.00-1.99 Below Expectation

Missing scores in Phonological Awareness, High Frequency Words and Phonics mean the student is no longer being assessed in this area.

Click here to learn more about this scale here.

Understanding the 4-Point Scale

This 4-point scale is used with i-Ready and the state assessment, the SBA. We can now provide scores with decimal points so you can see how close your student was to the next or previous level. Remember: Scores are based on the expectation at the time the test was taken, not in comparison to the end-of-year expectation.

	4 Exceeding Expectation Scores of 4.00 - 4.99 mean the student scored at advanced levels on the assessment, on track to be well above standard by the end of the year
	3 Meeting Expectation Scores of 3.00-3.99 mean the student scored at a level at the level expected for a student on track to meet standard by the end of the year.
	2 Approaching Expectation Scores of 2.00-2.99 mean the student was approaching the score expected for a student on track to meet standard by the end of the year. Students at this level show some strengths and some gaps or difficulties with grade level content. IMPORTANT NOTE: i-Ready tends to be somewhat more challenging than the state assessment, meaning that students at this level may meet standard on state assessments as they continue to build their skills.
	1 Below Expectation Scores of 1.00-1.99 mean the student scored below the level expected of a student on track to meet standard by the end of the year.

What if there is no score for one of the topics assessed?

For Phonological Awareness, Phonics and High Frequency words, a missing score indicates that i-Ready determined your student no longer needs to be assessed in that area or topic.

Using the Detail Level

Using the Detail Level, you can quickly understand where your student scored in comparison to expectation on this test for the overall areas of Reading and Math, and for the topics assessed. For example:

If a student scores a 3.12 on a test or topic, that means the student scored just above expectation and is on track to meet standard.
If a student scores 2.75 on a test or topic, that means the student scored 75% of the way between a 2.00 and a 3.00.

Seeing the detail level for each topic tested allows you, like the teacher, to see areas of relative strength and areas for improvement for your student.

How can I use these scores to help my student?

If your student scored significantly below 3.00, that may mean that your student has a skill gap needing support. Here are ways you can support your student. You can learn more about the score for each topic assessed in the panel below.

Communicate with your student's teacher

Your student's teacher uses i-Ready AND classroom tests, assignments, and observations to get a clear understanding of your student's skills. Your teacher will have insights and ideas for how you can help your student at home, if it is needed.

Use i-Ready at home

i-Ready creates a custom learning experience for your student called MyPath. The i-Ready system uses your student's answers to the test questions to identify next steps for learning and automatically assign lessons. When your student logs into i-Ready through Clever, at school or at home, there is a next-step lesson for Reading and Math ready to go.

Click here to learn more about using i-Ready at home.

See the panel below on Understanding the topics tested and how to support learning in each topic or visit our Helping your student at home page for more ideas on supporting your student in areas tested by i-Ready.

Using i-Ready at Home

Your teacher may suggest your student complete i-Ready lessons at school or at home or both. Here are some tips for using i-Ready.

1. access i-Ready through Clever.

IMPORTANT for iPad users: if using an iPad at home, download both the Clever app and the i-Ready app THEN access i-Ready through the Clever app.

2. Review your student's i-Ready Dashboard with your students to see their progress and what they are working on.

Directions:

CLICK HERE to view a video for directions for accessing the dashboard. Or visit the i-Ready Family Center for more information.

This video for directions is available in the following languages: Click on the language to access the video. Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Yupik

3. If your student isn't already completing 30-49 minutes per week of i-Ready MyPath lessons at school, you may want to have your student complete i-Ready lessons at home.

Your student will learn how to access lessons at school in the fall. MyPath provides lessons that are assigned to students based on how they answered questions on the i-Ready assessments. Then i-Ready assigned lessons it determined to be most important in developing their skills in reading and math. Their next lesson is always ready for them.

Please note: Our focus is for students to complete MyPath lessons IF we identify a skill gap. We don't expect all students to complete MyPath lessons, though some may find it beneficial or even a fun way to extend learning even in areas of strength. Keep in mind, your student may already be doing the suggested amount of i-Ready lessons at school (30-49 minutes per week in each subject where there is need.) We want to be careful not to exhaust our students on i-Ready by spending too much time in it.

Finally, students should complete i-Ready lessons independently. If a student doesn't pass the lesson the first time, that is when they should ask for help from an adult on the learning portion of the lesson, then complete the practice independently.

Understanding the topics tested and how to support learning in each topic.

i-Ready tests 3-6 domains, or topics, in reading and 4 topics in math. Teachers can use scores by topic to further understand your student's learning needs. The tables below is designed to help you understand each topic and suggest ways could support your student at home.

Math Topics

Please see our Elementary Learning page to see what specific content is taught at each grade.

Numbers & Operations	Number and Operations in K-5 includes the following: how well students read and understand numbers - as students get older they progress through... Single digit numbers Multi-digit numbers Large numbers (with place value) Decimals & Percents Fractions adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers according to their grade level standards	You can help your student in numbers and operation by... Using numbers at home. Practice counting, estimating and using doing operations like they are doing in class. Playing games such as card and dice games that involve numbers. Click here for more.
Algebra & Algebraic Thinking	Algebra and Algebraic Thinking in Grades K–5 includes the following: seeing number patterns understanding the meaning of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (in words, pictures, models) using symbols to write and solve equations solving word problems	You can support your student in algebraic thinking by... Find uses for math at home. Create story problems using real situations. Write equations. Click here for more.
Measurement and Data	Measurement and Data in Grades K–5 includes the following: telling time using a ruler to measure the length of an object using formulas to find area or volume understanding tables and graphs	You can support measurement and data by... Measuring things at home together! Compare and estimate measures. Click here for more.
Geometry	Geometry in Grades K–5 includes to the following: naming and classifying shapes using characteristics of shapes such as symmetry, number of sides, and angle measures using congruence and similarity	You can support your student in geometry by... talking about, noticing and comparing shapes in real life. Click here for more.

Numbers & Operations

Number and Operations in K-5 includes the following:

how well students read and understand numbers - as students get older they progress through...
- Single digit numbers
- Multi-digit numbers
- Large numbers (with place value)
- Decimals & Percents
- Fractions
adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers according to their grade level standards

You can help your student in numbers and operation by...

Using numbers at home. Practice counting, estimating and using doing operations like they are doing in class.
Playing games such as card and dice games that involve numbers.

Click here for more.

Algebra & Algebraic Thinking

Algebra and Algebraic Thinking in Grades K–5 includes the following:

seeing number patterns
understanding the meaning of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (in words, pictures, models)
using symbols to write and solve equations
solving word problems

You can support your student in algebraic thinking by...

Find uses for math at home.
Create story problems using real situations.
Write equations.

Click here for more.

Measurement and Data

Measurement and Data in Grades K–5 includes the following:

telling time
using a ruler to measure the length of an object
using formulas to find area or volume
understanding tables and graphs

You can support measurement and data by...

Measuring things at home together!
Compare and estimate measures.

Click here for more.

Geometry

Geometry in Grades K–5 includes to the following:

naming and classifying shapes
using characteristics of shapes such as symmetry, number of sides, and angle measures
using congruence and similarity

You can support your student in geometry by...

talking about, noticing and comparing shapes in real life.

Click here for more.

Reading Topics

Please see our Elementary Learning page to see what specific content is taught at each grade.

Reading Foundational Skills: Phonological Awareness Phonics High Frequency Words	These topics test how well students understand and can decode words. Please see this page to learn more about helping your student with Reading Foundational Skills. You can learn more about grade-specific reading foundational skills here. Phonological Awareness is the understanding of sounds that make up words. This building block of language includes standards for Kindergarten and 1st grade. Phonics is the connection between the sounds of a word and the letters in the written word. There are phonics standards in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. High Frequency Words test the ability to quickly identify words that appear most often in what children read. High frequency words include standards for Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Vocabulary	Vocabulary assess the words a student knows. The more words students know, the easier it is to understand what they read. You can help your student build vocabulary by... Having conversations. Adult-student conversations promote vocabulary building. Reading together or independently. Encourage your student to find a word in their reading that they are not sure of the meaning. Discuss the meaning of that word. Ask if they know what ___ means? When encountering a word in conversation, on signs, in life or in reading, check to see if they can describe the meaning. If not, discuss the meaning.
Comprehension of Literary or Informational Text	Comprehension tests whether students understand what they read - for both stories and informational text. The following are comprehension ideas and skills, and questions you can use to talk with your student about what they are reading. Character & Setting: Who is in this book? How did the character change in this book or what did the character learn? What is the book about? Where does it take place? What is the place like? Retelling: What did that page / chapter, say? Summarizing: Tell me about that chapter in a few sentences? What happened first? What is the problem in the story? What was the solution? Inferring: What do you think ____ means? What do you think the character is thinking at that moment? Predicting: What do you think will happen next? How do you think this story will end? Connecting: How is that (idea, experience, story line...) like something in your life, your personal experience or something you already know?

Reading Foundational Skills:

Phonological Awareness

Phonics

High Frequency Words

These topics test how well students understand and can decode words. Please see this page to learn more about helping your student with Reading Foundational Skills. You can learn more about grade-specific reading foundational skills here.

Phonological Awareness is the understanding of sounds that make up words. This building block of language includes standards for Kindergarten and 1st grade.

Phonics is the connection between the sounds of a word and the letters in the written word. There are phonics standards in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

High Frequency Words test the ability to quickly identify words that appear most often in what children read. High frequency words include standards for Kindergarten through 2nd grade.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary assess the words a student knows. The more words students know, the easier it is to understand what they read.

You can help your student build vocabulary by...

Having conversations. Adult-student conversations promote vocabulary building.
Reading together or independently. Encourage your student to find a word in their reading that they are not sure of the meaning. Discuss the meaning of that word.
Ask if they know what ___ means? When encountering a word in conversation, on signs, in life or in reading, check to see if they can describe the meaning. If not, discuss the meaning.

Comprehension of Literary or Informational Text

Comprehension tests whether students understand what they read - for both stories and informational text. The following are comprehension ideas and skills, and questions you can use to talk with your student about what they are reading.

Character & Setting: Who is in this book? How did the character change in this book or what did the character learn? What is the book about? Where does it take place? What is the place like?

Retelling: What did that page / chapter, say?

Summarizing: Tell me about that chapter in a few sentences? What happened first? What is the problem in the story? What was the solution?

Inferring: What do you think ____ means? What do you think the character is thinking at that moment?

Predicting: What do you think will happen next? How do you think this story will end?

Connecting: How is that (idea, experience, story line...) like something in your life, your personal experience or something you already know?

How do I access i-Ready Scores?

Directions for Accessing i-Ready Scores

Note: If using a smart phone, please use a web browser on your phone and follow the instructions, as test scores are not available through the app.

1. Log into Family Access. Click here to learn how to use Family Access.

2. Scores are found under Test Scores.

3. Look for the test date for the most recent score, and under test name, look for i-Ready Reading or i-Ready Math

Talking to your student about their score.

We recommend talking to your student about a few subjects connected to scores:

1. Celebrate achievement and growth! Looking at scale scores; some will have jumps from Fall to Winter, others from Fall to Spring. Focus on the increases. Remember that students who started at a level and ended at the same level had to grow in order to stay at that level over the course of the year!

2. Ask about their experience. How students are engaging with i-Ready can impact scores and how well it supports learning. Some students have shared that they like the lessons and learning games, while others report getting tired of doing i-Ready over time. You can ask your student whether they felt they were able to show their best effort on the last i-Ready assessment.

In the How do I support my student's learning? panel, you will find there are options for using i-Ready at home, even into the summer. It is important, though, to hear from our students as to whether they need an i-Ready break or whether doing a little more here and there would help them achieve their learning goals.

i-Ready does not test all aspects of reading and math, so please remember that the report cards from your classroom teacher are more comprehensive. They will use observations, tests, and daily work to determine how students are growing and achieving in reading and math. It is possible for a student to meet expectation on i-Ready, and have growth needs. It is also possible for a student to be at score below a 3.00 in i-Ready while showing stronger reading and math skills in class. That is why your teacher provides a report on overall achievement with teacher-parent conferences and the report card.

How to use the Lexile Score to find a good-fit book for your student.

Your student's teacher may have already shared a reading level using F&P's letter scale (A-Z). Below is how you can use the Lexile score provided by i-Ready to select books for independent reading.

Always keep in mind that every student has a reading RANGE, not a single level. When reading text that is of high interest, students can read at the high end of their range or even above their range. It is also okay for students to sometimes choose books toward the low end of the range when they want and easier reader or because they have interest in the book. All reading provides benefits.

So how do I use the Lexile Score?

Step 1. Note your student's Lexile Score

You can access your student's Lexile Score in Family Access. In family access, under test scores, open your students most recent i-Ready Reading assessment results and take note of the Lexile Score on the far right.

NOTE: Scores that start with BR indicate a "beginning reader score". BR400 is a lower reading level than BR100.

Step 2. Calculate the Lexile RANGE.

The Lexile RANGE is the Lexile score + or - 75. So if a student receives a Lexile score of 500, the student's Lexile range is 425 - 575.

Books have a Lexile Level, so books with levels that fall in this range, are books that match to your student's reading level. Remember, student may want to read books above or below this range based on interest. That is okay too!

Step 3. Use the book finder.

Book Finder is an online tool to help parent find books. CLICK HERE to find books by Lexile, Lexile Range or Grade Level.

Other ways to use Lexile:

Your local librarian likely understands Lexile and can help you find books using Lexile.

You can match your student's Lexile Range to an A-Z reading range by using the chart below to estimate F&P reading range from your Lexile range.

Note: Lexile and F&P are two different ways to match a student's reading level to a book. Both are guides, not perfect measures, meaning any given book may match to a higher Lexile and lower A-Z level or lower Lexile and higher A-Z level.

If the Lexile Score is in this range...	My F&P Reading Level range is likely to be...	Which is at this Grade Level range.
BR400 - BR151	Pre-A	Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten
BR150 - BR1 & 0 - 99	A-D	Kindergarten - 1st grade
100-199	D-G	1st grade
200-299	G-I	1st grade - 2nd grade
300-499	I-M	2nd grade
500-699	M-Q	2nd - 3rd grade
700-849	P-S	3rd - 4th grade
850-999	S-U	4th - 5th grade
1000+	W-Y	5th grade & beyond

i-Ready Scale Score Charts

Below are the i-Ready Scale Score charts that show the scale score of a student who is on track to meet standard, based on when the test is given. i-Ready tests are given as follows:

Fall: September (1st-8th Reading, 1st-5th Math)
Winter: January-February (K-5th Reading and Math)
Spring: April (K-2nd Reading)
End-of-Year: late May/June (K-2 Math)

Overall Reading Expected Scale Scores

	Fall	Winter	Spring	End-of-Year
Kindergarten	346	366	384	396
1st grade	396	421	443	458
2nd grade	458	480	500	513
3rd grade	513	526	537	545
4th grade	545	559	571	579
5th grade	579	591	602	609
6th grade	609	612	615	616
7th grade	616	622	628	632
8th grade	632	636	640	642
9th grade	642	650	657	661

Overall Math Expected Scale Scores

	Fall	Winter	Spring	End-of-Year
Kindergarten	346	357	367	373
1st grade	373	389	403	413
2nd grade	413	424	434	441
3rd grade	441	450	459	464
4th grade	464	471	478	482
5th grade	482	488	494	498
6th grade	498	504	510	514
7th grade	514	521	527	531
8th grade	531	535	539	541
9th grade	541	547	553	556

Understanding i-Ready Scores

Your Elementary i-Ready Scores

The 4-point scale

4

4.00-4.99 Exceeding Expectation

3

3.00-3.99 Meeting Expectation

2

2.00-2.99 Approaching Expectation

1

1.00-1.99 Below Expectation

4.00-4.99
Exceeding Expectation

3.00-3.99
Meeting Expectation

2.00-2.99
Approaching Expectation

1.00-1.99
Below Expectation