Part of Ohio’s education system includes achievement tests to determine how well students are progressing toward meeting Ohio's academic content standards. Ohio’s system of aligning academic content standards and assessments is intended to promote better teaching and learning for all students.  

Academic content standards became state law in June 2001, following recommendations of the 1999 Governor’s Commission for Student Success. In 2001, the federal No Child Left Behind Act became law. It requires that states have standards and tests to determine if students are meeting these standards.  Ohio’s standards are clear statements describing the knowledge and skills that students should know and be able to do from kindergarten through high school graduation. Hundreds of Ohio teachers, parents, families, business leaders and community members throughout the state worked to develop content standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, technology, foreign languages and the arts. 

State law requires that Ohio Achievement Tests be administered annually to all students in grades three through eight and the Ohio Graduation Test given to high school students beginning in their sophomore year.  Ohio Achievement Tests are given in May and the Ohio Graduation Tests is administered in March.

Elementary Ohio Achievement Tests
The Achievement tests given to elementary students are used to measure a child’s mastery of basic skills.  The state tests include:

• Third Grade – Reading* and Mathematics

• Fourth Grade – Reading, Mathematics and Writing

• Fifth Grade – Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

*Students are allowed to take the third-grade reading test twice during the school year—in October and again in May.

Junior High Ohio Achievement Tests
The Achievement tests given to junior high students are used to measure a student’s mastery of basic skills. The state tests include:

• Sixth Grade – Reading and Mathematics

• Seventh Grade – Reading, Mathematics and Writing

• Eighth Grade – Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

Secondary
High School students must take and pass all five parts of the Ohio Graduation Test.  By law, even students who have earned all required class units will not receive a diploma until all five areas (Reading, Mathematics, Writing, Science, Social Studies) of the tests are passed. Ohio Graduation Tests are given in March of students’ sophomore year and again the following October for students who do not pass in March of the previous school year. Students may take the Ohio Graduation Test annually beginning in their sophomore year until they pass.

District Testing Schedule
Ohio Achievement Test and Ohio Graduation Test dates are set at the state level; therefore, they cannot be changed. Scores are usually returned to the school district within 60 days of the last make-up testing date.

Take the Test
Are you curious about the state tests that students take?  Visit the ODE Web site to see sample questions (and answers) from the third grade reading achievement test and math and reading questions from the Ohio Graduation Test. This booklet is in .pdf format.

Web sites to Help with Test Practice and Preparation

Practice for the Ohio Achievement tests, grade level indicator, how tests are scored

On-line practice for the Ohio Graduation Test

Release of past Ohio Achievement tests by grade level

Ohio Achievement and Ohio Graduation Practice Tests

Grade level interactive word puzzles

Activities that meet Sylvania’s academic content standards

Tips for test preparation

Resources and test prep assistance for parents