The New Jersey Department of Education recently administered students across the state a field test to try out a new testing platform and new questions for future tests.
Sebastian Spliedt, a fifth-grade student, saw this as an opportunity to practice his test taking skills.
“I feel good because we’re going to do a [field] test, so then we’re going to be ready for the actual test instead of being nervous for it,” Spliedt said.
All students at Patrick M. Villano School took the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment-Adaptive field tests for English Language Arts and Mathematics. There was a Writing test on October 30, a Math test on November 3, and a Reading test on November 5, 2025.
According to the state’s website, “Field test results are not provided to students, educators, or schools because the primary purpose of a field test is to evaluate the quality and performance of test items—not to measure student achievement.”
Principal Jessica Espinoza explained the field tests in her weekly email to families.
“Each student participating in the Fall 2025 Field Test will receive test items aligned to content from the grade level or course completed in the prior school year. For example, a grade 4 student will receive items aligned to grade 3 standards, ensuring that all students are assessed on materials they have had the opportunity to learn,” Espinza said.
In the spring, all students will take an actual state test that is scored. Students who do not meet the target score are then considered for a variety of programs Espinoza explained.
“They may be invited to join an intervention group, attend afterschool ASPIRE, participate in our Orton-Gillingham tutoring program, or receive additional help within the classroom,” she said. “Every year most students show improvement in their test scores from the year prior. This is something I am very proud of.”
