Grade 5 Placement Test

Next, let's get go over some instructions so you know what to do!

This assessment consists of three parts: (1) vocabulary, (2) reading, and (3) writing. You will have 10 minutes to complete each section, so we'll have you prepare a timer in just a minute.

First, however, let's preview what each section will look like.

Vocabulary: The vocabulary assessment will contain 20 questions total. For each question, please select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the given word. You can change your answer simply by selecting a different choice.

Please take a quick look at the example below:

As we can see, the word "look" is closest in meaning to the third choice provided, "watch," so please click the button next to "watch" to select that as your answer.

Reading: The reading assessment will contain 2 reading passages (non-fiction and fiction) and 10 questions total. You should read the passages and answer the questions that follow. You can change your answer simply by selecting a different choice.

Please take a look at the example below:

(Example) Rainbows are a natural phenomenon that occurs when light is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by water droplets in the air. They appear as colorful arcs in the sky, with red on the outer edge and violet on the inner edge. Rainbows are often associated with hope and promise, and have been the subject of myth and legend throughout history.

Writing: The writing assessment consists of writing ONE essay on ONE of the prompts given to you. This essay will be written with a pencil and paper, so we'll take a moment soon to get those prepared.

Your aim is to write seven sentences or more.

When you are finished, your parents will help you take a photo of your writing and upload it to this form before you submit it.

Please take a look at the checklist below and make sure you have everything ready to take your test! Once you've got through the list and checked every item, please click "Next" to begin your assessment.

Great! It seems like you are ready to go.

Remember to set your timer for 10 minutes and get ready for your the first part of your assessment.

You should start your timer as soon as you hit "Next." Please do your best. If you run out of time and don't have time to answer all of the questions, that's okay. When the timer runs out, please reset it and hit "Next" to move on to the following assessment. If you finish before the timer runs out, please use that time to check your answers.

Good luck!

Reading 1 (fiction)

     Jim was far from excited about visiting the zoo with his parents. He had been to Westerson Zoo a few times before on school trips and found it rather dull. He had seen ducks there, and a few squirrels and other wildlife that could be found at the local park. But his local zoo hardly ever had any exotic animals, like the kind you find in biology books. Still, his parents insisted.
     "Come on, Jim," his mother said, "You'll have fun, I promise."
     "I don't know," Jim grumbled as he munched on his breakfast cereal. "I've seen all the animals before."
     "But there's going to be an elephant there today," his father said. "You've always wanted to see one, remember?"
     Jim peered up at his father who was sitting across the table from him with an expectant look on his face. It was indeed true that Jim had always been mildly curious to see an elephant in person. "I guess that's better than a squirrel," he said.
     His mom set her cup of coffee down and frowned. "Oh, Jim. Always a cynic. You could try to at least pretend to be interested. We're doing this for you, you know? It's not as if your father and I sit around all week waiting for a chance to see elephants!"
     "Now, now ..." said Jim's father. "Take it easy."
     "Geez. Sorry, Mom." Jim felt a pang of guilt. He realized that he was being selfish. Again. "I'll go. It will be cool to see an elephant in person."
     "That's all I want to hear," his mother said. Then she picked up her coffee and took a sip as if nothing had happened.
     At the zoo, Jim's parents seemed determined to take the long way around to the elephant exhibit. He saw lots of other animals on the way—pigs, chickens, and, yes, squirrels—but nothing really captured his interest. He kept on bugging his parents to go straight to the elephant house. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" he kept asking.
     Finally, they arrived at the elephant exhibit, a huge gated garden. Jim's eyes lit up as he first saw the majestic animals moving about among the rocks and pool. He gazed at them for a while, taking in their size and grace. A guide soon came by and began speaking. "Did you know that elephants can communicate with each other using infrasonic sounds?" the guide said. "And that they have a highly developed social structure?"
     Jim was fascinated. What did the guide mean by a 'highly developed social structure'? He had never thought about the intelligence and social lives of elephants before, but he was eager to learn more. He spent the next ten minutes asking the guide question after question about the lives of elephants and taking notes down on his phone.
     On the way home, Jim reviewed his notes and decided to write an extra credit report for his science class about elephants. His parents were glad to see him so excited and interested in something.
     "Thanks, Mom, Dad," Jim said, "I had a great time at the zoo today."
     "We're glad you enjoyed it, Jim," his mother said. "Maybe next time you'll be more excited in the first place."

Reading 2 (non-fiction)

     Elephants have a complex social structure that is based on a matriarchal system, where females are dominant and lead the herd. The herd is typically composed of females and their offspring, with males leaving the herd at maturity and either living alone or in small bachelor groups. The matriarch is typically the oldest and most experienced female in the herd and is responsible for leading the group to food and water sources, as well as protecting the herd from predators.
     The social bonds within the herd are strong, with female elephants forming close relationships with one another and their offspring. They communicate with one another through a variety of vocalizations and physical gestures, such as touching trunks or entwining them. Elephants also have a strong sense of empathy and have been observed comforting one another in times of distress.
     Males, on the other hand, have a more solitary lifestyle and tend to live alone or in small bachelor groups once they reach maturity. However, they will occasionally return to the herd for brief periods to mate.
     In general, elephants are very social animals, and their social bonds play a crucial role in their survival and reproduction. They demonstrate deep emotional connections and show remarkable empathy towards others of their kind.

Option 1: Write an essay in which you describe a meaningful encounter you had with an animal or something from nature. In your essay, you should include details about the setting, your emotions and thoughts during the encounter, and what you learned from the experience.

Option 2: What is your favorite animal? Why do you like it so much?

Once you've uploaded the file above, click the green "Submit" button to finish this assessment, and make sure you take a rest. You deserve it!