Is Your 6th Grader Ready for the Middle School Math Placement Test?

Many IUSD parents don't know this test exists โ€” but if your child is finishing 6th grade and moving to 7th grade, their score determines which math track they'll be in.

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Apr 11
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๐Ÿ“… Key Dates: Test window: Apr 11โ€“20 ยท Results notification: May 9 (District Office โ†’ Parent Portal) ยท Appeals: May 9โ€“16 ยท Appeal result: May 21

EM1 Entry Criteria โ€” Need 3 out of 4

IUSD Official Rule: 3/4 Required

6th Grade Math Grade

A (93%+)
Maintained through the full year โ€” not just final semester

End of Course Exam

80% overall / 90% on key parts
Administered by classroom teacher near end of year

Basic Skills Test โญ

90%+ โ€” the hardest threshold
Pure computation speed + accuracy: fractions, decimals, percents, whole numbers. This page prepares you for exactly this.

Teacher Recommendation

Positive eval needed
Math reasoning, persistence, class participation โ€” subjective but important
Strategy: Even if your grade is solid, the Basic Skills Test (90% threshold) is the highest bar and the one most students fail. Focus drill time here first.

Basic Skills Test โ€” What's Tested

These are the 4 computation domains. Each question is timed โ€” speed matters as much as accuracy.

Topic What you need to do Exam Format
Fractions
~25% of test		 Add, subtract, multiply, divide fractions and mixed numbers. Simplify to lowest terms. Exam Set โ†’
Decimals
~25% of test		 All 4 operations with decimals (up to hundredths). Watch decimal placement. Exam Set โ†’
Percents
~25% of test		 Convert fractions/decimals โ†” percents. Find percent of a number. Percent change. Exam Set โ†’
Whole Numbers
~25% of test		 Multi-digit multiplication and long division. Speed is key โ€” no calculator. Exam Set โ†’
Full Mixed Drill (5 min) โ†’

Randomized mix of all 4 domains above โ€” simulates the real test format.

๐Ÿ“ Geometry + Statistics: These topics are part of the 6th-grade End of Course Exam (Criteria #2), not the Basic Skills Test. Practice them in your Grade 6 hub.

Self-Check: Where Are You?

Check off what you can do consistently (85%+ accuracy under time pressure)

0/8
skills ready
Keep going!

17-Day Study Plan (until Apr 11)

5โ€“10 minutes/day is enough if consistent. Each day = 1 drill session.

Test Day Tips