Science behind the Diagnostic: How It Works and What It Means
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that measures key content domains in Mathematics and Reading in Grades K–12. It is designed to provide accurate and actionable data to help educators guide students toward continued growth.
!["i-Ready Diagnostic: What it Measures" brochure cover.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/review-site-card-default-icon/what-the-diagnostic-measures.png)
What the Diagnostic Measures
The i-Ready Diagnostic for Reading and for Mathematics measures the concepts critical to preparing a student for grade-level success.
!["i-Ready Diagnostic: How it Works" brochure cover.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/review-site-card-default-icon/how-the-diagnostic-works.png)
How the Diagnostic Works
The computer-adaptive i-Ready Diagnostic assessment has specific test flows, stopping rules, and other characteristics that make it an efficient and rigorous measure of student learning.
![i-Ready Reading Test Flow FAQs.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/iready-faq-reading-test-flow_genericcards.png)
FAQ: What is the test flow of the i-Ready Diagnostic for Reading?
Test flow is the order in which students receive test items from each domain on the
![i-Ready Mathematics Test Flow FAQs.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/iready-faq-mathematics-test-flow_genericcards.png)
FAQ: What is the test flow of the i-Ready Diagnostic for Mathematics?
Test flow is the order in which students receive test items from each domain on the
![An FAQ about test duration and i-Ready Diagnostic.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/review-site-card-default-icon/i-ready-diagnostics-assessment-duration.png)
i-Ready Diagnostic’s Assessment Duration
The amount of time it takes a student to complete the Diagnostic can vary by grade, subject, and other factors.
![i-Ready Diagnostic difficulty brochure.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/understanding-the-difficulty-and-duration-of-the-i-ready-diagnostic_280x280.png)
Understanding the Difficulty and the Duration of the i-Ready Diagnostic
This document explains the level of difficulty of the i-Ready Diagnostic, the time it takes to complete the assessment, and how these elements help precisely determine what a student knows and can do.
![Brochure cover, i-Ready and the Science of Reading.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/review-site-card-default-icon/i-ready-aligned-with-the-science-of-reading.png)
i-Ready: Aligned with the Science of Reading
i-Ready Assessments and i-Ready Personalized Instruction are aligned with the Science of Reading in a number of ways.
![A child reading a book.](/-/media/mainsite/images/district-review-sites/cards/pitfalls-of-assessing-phonological-awareness-beyond-grade-1/assessing-phonological-awareness-beyond-grade.png)
Get the Facts: Assessing Phonological Awareness beyond Grade 1
Improper interpretation of screening data can lead to the misidentification of students in need of reading intervention. The link below offers information about why Phonological Awareness should not be the preliminary screening measure for students in Grades 2 and up.