Spring 2026 SC READY

The South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessment (SC READY) program is a statewide assessment in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics administered to students in grades 3-8, while the SC READY science assessment is administered to students in grades 4 and 6. All students are required to participate in SC READY at the applicable grades, except for students who qualify to participate in Alternate Assessments

When and Where

All testing will be conducted at each school’s physical location. Per the SC Department of Education (SCDE), remote testing is unavailable. Schools will schedule students for testing within the district’s testing window, April 20-May 22. Testing schedules will be posted to your school’s website. Students enrolled in Greenville County Schools Virtual Program (GCSVP) will test at their school of enrollment on the dates identified on the district’s testing calendar. Each school will share additional scheduling details. Please ensure your student arrives on time and avoid early dismissals or appointments on test days.

Test Details

The SC READY tests are untimed. Students are expected to complete the test during a single day unless the student has an IEP or 504 Accommodations Plan specifying administration of a single test over multiple days.

Items on SC READY will include selected response, multi-select (select a number of correct answers), evidence-based selected response, and text-dependent writing. Evidence-based selected responses will require students to read a piece of text or a passage and choose the best answer from four available answer options. Text-dependent writing will require students to read a piece of text or a passage(s) and respond to a prompt or task while drawing upon the text(s) for their written responses. SC READY online tests may also include technology-enhanced items (e.g., drag or drop, keypad entry, drop down list, constructed-response). 

To learn more about the SC READY assessments, please visit the SC Department of Education’s SC READY Information for Parents - South Carolina Department of Education and Parent Resources pages. Among other resources, the SC READY Assessment Brochure is available on these sites in multiple languages and formats.

What to Bring on Test Day

Tests will be administered via the online testing format unless the student has an IEP, 504 Accommodations Plan, or Individualized Language Acquisition Plan specifying the paper format is needed. Students will need to bring their charged district-issued device (e.g., Chromebook) to school each day. Students may not use their testing device for any purpose other than testing, even after they have finished the test. Additionally, students are expected to follow the district’s personal electronic devices policy and must refrain from bringing any electronic device that can be used as an advantage or for communicating, timing, or imaging (e.g., cell phone, smartwatch) into the testing location. If students have electronic devices, they must turn them off and put them in their backpacks. Students may not access their devices until after the test session is complete. In accordance with the SCDE Test Administration Manual, GCS Board Policy JCDA, GCS Administrative Rule JCDA, and GCS Administrative Rule EFE, if a student is in possession of and/or uses a personal electronic device during an active test session or utilizes their district-issued testing device for any purpose other than testing, penalties may include the following: disciplinary action up to and including expulsion and/or not receiving a test score/test invalidation. Additionally, the SCDE could pursue criminal investigation and possible criminal charges or civil or legal sanctions. Students will be provided with scratch paper, so they should not bring in any papers or notes to use during the test. 

Practice Tools

To prepare students for online testing, a public version of the Online Tools Training (OTT) is available so students can interact with the testing software and tools before the “real” administration of the assessment. While the OTT simulates the test experience, correct answers and scores are not provided. The OTT includes audio for oral administration/Text-to-Speech (TTS) and video for sign language (ASL). For best results, use Google Chrome to access the OTT.

Testing Tips

Students and parents can work together to make sure they are well prepared by following these suggestions:  

Students should:

• Rest on the nights before these tests.  
• Eat a nourishing breakfast on the morning of each test.
• Be in school and on time, except in cases of illness.
• Listen attentively to the teacher’s directions so he/she will know exactly what to do. 
• Read each test question and each response carefully before marking an answer choice.
• Stay calm if there are questions that seem difficult. 
• Mark his/her best answer.
• Refrain from bringing any electronic device that can be used for communicating, timing, or imaging into the testing location. If students have electronic devices, they must follow the teacher’s directions to turn them off and put them in their backpacks. 
• Check their Chromebook to ensure there are no papers or other information in the cover or on the device.

Parents/Guardians should:

• Meet with your student’s teachers as often as necessary to discuss his/her progress.  
• Check or review your student’s homework, projects, or other school work.
• Ask teachers to suggest activities for you and your student to do at home to help prepare for tests and to improve your student’s understanding of schoolwork. 
• Talk with your student about school.
• Provide positive feedback by praising your student for what he/she does well.

Help us help your child perform to the best of his or her ability. For more information about testing or your child’s progress, please call your child’s school.