High School Assessment

DOE
Student Learning and Pathways
Assessment
Current: High School Assessment

High School Assessments

Indiana provides a variety of assessments intended to support high school students and measure student progress. Some assessments may impact graduation requirements. More information regarding graduation requirements may be found on the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE’s) Graduation Pathways webpage.

High School Assessment Timeline

ILEARN or I AM Biology is federally required to be completed in the semester or trimester that the student completes the biology course of biology content connectors. This usually occurs in grade nine. Out-of-state transfer students who have not yet taken their previous state’s high school science accountability assessment must complete ILEARN Biology. The I AM alternate assessment is federally required to be completed in grade 10. The Indiana SAT is used as Indiana’s federal high school accountability assessment for students in grade 11 that fall within their junior year cohort. The Naturalization Examination is required under state law for public schools in the semester or trimester that the student completes the U.S. government course. This legislation also requires that results be shared and posted. The ILEARN U.S. Government is an option assessment offered in the spring after the student completes the U.S. government course. The PSAT/NMSQT is another optional assessment for grade 10 and 11 students.

Indiana SAT

Indiana will use College Board’s SAT to fulfill requirements pursuant to Indiana Code 20-32-5.1-7(d) for high school accountability. Students may also use scores to fulfill some high school graduation requirements. SAT assesses high school Mathematics, Reading, and Writing standards in grade 11. The SAT replaced the ISTEP+ assessment beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

Frequently Asked Questions
When is the SAT held?
The SAT is administered in the spring of each school year, which began in spring 2022. The primary testing window for the SAT occurs in March. A makeup testing window is also available in April for students and schools that are unable to test during the primary testing window. View this year’s assessment windows on the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Assessment webpage.
What is the test design for the SAT?
The SAT School Day is a timed, online assessment consisting of the following:
- Reading and Writing Test: 65 minutes for 55 questions
  - Four-option multiple choice
  - No essay portion
- Mathematics Test: 70 minutes for 44 questions
  - Four-option multiple choice (approximately 75%)
  - Student-produced numeric responses (approximately 25%)
  - Calculators allowed on all items
Certain students may receive additional time per their formal plan’s allowable accommodations.
Additional test design details can be found in the Assessment Framework for the Digital SAT and The Digital SAT Suite of Assessments Specifications Overview documents.
Who participates in the SAT?
Grade 11 (junior cohort) students will participate in the SAT School Day per the federal accountability requirement. Students with a valid attempt from the primary window may not choose to retest during the alternate window.
How can students prepare for the SAT?
- Be Data-Driven As You Prepare for the Indiana SAT
- SAT College Board Student Webpage
- Official SAT Practice via Khan Academy
- SAT Practice and Khan Academy Video: English│Spanish
How will students receive scores?
Students will access their scores through their student College Board account, with educators receiving access to scores after. Scores will include standard SAT scores as well as Indiana-specific proficiency levels. Students may elect to send their SAT score reports to up to four colleges/universities at no charge.
Additional SAT Resources and Guidance
- SAT 2023-2024 Milestones
- SAT School Day Performance Cut Scores
- SAT Indiana Academic Standards Priorities: Mathematics
- SAT Indiana Academic Standards Priorities: English/Language Arts
- Digital SAT Sample Questions and Answer Explanations
- College Board Indiana Resources
- SAT Assessment and Graduation Requirements Video English│Spanish
- SAT as Indiana’s High School Accountability Assessment Video: English│Spanish
- SAT State-Allowed Accommodation (SAA) Questionnaire

PSAT/NMSQT

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized assessment administered by College Board and co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the United States. The State of Indiana provides funds (as appropriated in HEA 1001 [2021]) to measure students’ college- and career-readiness, indicate student academic strengths and challenges, and provide additional support to students (I.C. 20-32-9-3). PSAT/NMSQT may be administered to students in grade 10 and/or grade 11 for this purpose.

ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) & Optional U.S. Government ECA

Information regarding the ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) and U.S. Government ECA for high school students can be found on IDOE’s ILEARN webpage.

Naturalization Examination

Indiana Code 20-30-5-7 requires public Indiana high schools to administer the naturalization examination, provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to each student enrolled in a U.S. Government course where credit is awarded for General, Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors, or Core 40 with Technical Honors designation. Further information regarding administering and reporting this naturalization examination is available in this memo.

For general assistance regarding statewide assessments, please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment via email at INassessments@doe.in.gov or phone at (317) 232-9050.