The Illinois standard achievement Test (ISAT) was designed to measure individual student achievement in line with the Illinois learning standards. The results are used by parents, teachers and schools to measure the level of learning and the success of the educational system. The state also uses the result to report the achievement of the students to the public.

ISAT was developed by Illinois teachers and district curriculum and assessment directors together with MetriTech, a champion-based testing company. The ISAT test is based on Illinois learning standards which were adopted in 1997. These standards were developed by parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, employers and citizens, with the goal of setting uniform high standard of performance for students. Illinois Goal Assessment Program (IGAP) is incorporated into ISAT to measure the Illinois learning standards.

The exam is usually administered between March and April of every year.  The grade levels tested each year are grade 3, 5, 6, and 8 for writing, grades 4 and 7 for reading and math and grades 3-8 for reading and math.

To pass the test, students should be able to solve each problem, usually story problems, and explain how the problems were solved. Third graders should be able to solve problems relating to fraction and decimals, weigh objects with scale in grams and kilograms and also be able to calculate dollar amounts. Sixth graders should be able to use rulers. Protractors and scales understand the perfect squares, powers and square roots as well as understand and use data, tables and graph, coordinating grids and plotting points.

The scores from the exam are included in student’s permanent record. These scores are also used to determine if a student should repeat a grade. There are individual improvement programs to be implemented for any student who tests two or more grades below the normal grade level.
 The scoring levels are categorized as, exceed standards, meet standards, do not meet standards, and substantially below standards.

Illinois teachers and curriculum experts developed the ISAT tests in cooperation with the State Board of Education (ISBE).  All the Schools and districts receive a summary report and student roster for each grade tested, Individual Student Reports for each student, and a student data disk. The Districts also receive a District Summary, including all results for schools in the district. Results are not reported for fine arts or physical development and health.

Tips and Strategies

Reading Comprehension. Here are some tips for answering the Reading Comprehension section.

Mathematics. Taking complex problems and breaking them down into smaller pieces is a valuable skill. Here are some practice questions.

Multiple Choice. Some sections of this test are multiple choice. Click here for info and tips on increasing your score on multiple choice questions.


Illinois Standard achievement Test (ISAT) Practice Test Questions


Practice Reading Comprehension Questions - (includes Main Idea and Making Inferences)
Practice Math Questions (General)
Basic Math (Very Basic - Long & Short Division, Multiplication, Decimals, Fractions, Percent etc.)
Basic Math II (Percentage, Fractions Decimals exponents, simple algebra, parentheses removal etc.)
Basic Algebra (Word Problems using basic algebra)
Exponents (Adding, subtracting and multiplying exponents and exponent fractions)

Everything you Need to Pass the Illinois Standard achievement Test (ISAT)

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ISAT Study Guide