LAS Links Blueprint

What to expect on your test

What is LAS Links?

Every student in the U.S. from Kindergarten through twelfth grade who is identified as an English learner (or multilingual learner) must take a test every year to measure how well they can speak, listen, read, and write in English. In Connecticut, that test is LAS Links.

The test gives a score for each subtest (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) between 1 and 5. In order to be considered proficient in English, and no longer identified as an English learner, a student must score a 4 or higher on reading and writing AND a 4 or higher overall (averaging all four subtests together).

All English learners will have many chances to practice taking the LAS Links test as well as practicing their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills before taking the test in February.

What kinds of questions will be on my test?

Grades 2-3

Grades 9-12

Grades 6-8

Grades 4-5

Click on the box with your grade level to see what kinds of questions, and how many, will be on your LAS Links test.

Kindergarten-

Grade 1

Kindergarten-Grade 1: Speaking and Listening Tests

Listening: 20 questions total

• 16 on listening for information (like a conversation or a school announcement)
• 4 on listening for academic instruction (like a teacher speaking in class)

Speaking: 8-10 questions total

• 1 on making conversation
• 2 on describing and requesting information
• 1 on telling a story, using lots of details to explain what’s going on in a series of pictures
• 2 on using academic words, like vocabulary in science or social studies
• Grade 1: 4 on presenting and explaining information (using a text passage or picture to explain the main idea)
• Kindergarten: 2 on presenting and explaining information (using a text passage or picture to explain the main idea)

Kindergarten-Grade 1: Reading and Writing Tests

Reading: 26-30 multiple choice questions total

• 12 on reading words, including finding common letter sounds or rhymes
• 10 on reading school texts (like announcements or assignment directions)
• 4 on reading academic texts
• (Grade 1 only) 4 more on school texts–assignments/directions within social studies or science

Writing: 14-18 questions

• 7 on “start writing,” forming words or phrases
• 6 multiple choice questions on grammar, including capitalization and punctuation
• 1 on writing to express ideas
• (Grade 1 only) 4 on writing academic texts, like taking notes on a text or explaining the main idea of a text

Grades 2-3 Blueprint: Listening and Speaking tests

Listening: 20 questions total

• 14 on listening for information (like a conversation or a school announcement)
• 6 on listening for academic instruction (like a teacher speaking in class)

Speaking: 12 questions total

• 1 on making conversation
• 2 on describing and requesting information
• 1 on telling a story, using lots of details to explain what’s going on in a series of pictures
• 2 on using academic words, like vocabulary in science or social studies
• 6 on presenting and explaining information (using a text passage or picture to explain the main idea)

Grades 2-3 Blueprint: Reading and Writing tests

Reading: 30 multiple choice questions total

• 6 on reading words
• 14 on reading school texts, like announcements or assignment directions
• 10 on reading academic texts, like stories, textbooks or articles on science, social studies, or math

Writing: 17 questions total

• 10 multiple choice on using grammar and conventions (capitalization, spelling, punctuation)
• 6 on writing academic texts, like taking notes on a text or explaining the main idea of a text
• 1 on writing to express ideas, like writing a letter using lots of details.

Grades 4-5 Blueprint: Listening and Speaking tests

Listening: 20 questions total:

• 14 on listening for information (like a school announcement)
• 6 on listening for academic instruction (like a teacher speaking in class)

Speaking: 12 questions total:

• 1 on making conversation
• 2 on describing and requesting information
• 1 on telling a story, using lots of details
• 2 on using academic words, like in science or social studies
• 6 on presenting and explaining information (using a text passage or picture to explain the main idea)

Grades 4-5 Blueprint: Reading and Writing tests

Reading: 30 multiple choice questions total

• 18 on reading school texts, like announcements or assignment directions
• 12 on reading academic texts, like stories, textbooks, or articles on science, social studies, or math

Writing: 17 questions total

• 10 multiple choice on using grammar and conventions (capitalization, spelling, punctuation)
• 6 on writing academic texts, like taking notes on a text or explaining the main idea of a text
• 1 on writing to express ideas, like writing a letter using lots of details.

Grades 6-8 Blueprint: Listening and Speaking tests

Listening: 23 questions total:

• 17 on listening for information (like a school announcement)
• 6 on listening for academic instruction (like a teacher speaking in class)

Speaking: 12 questions total:

• 1 on making conversation
• 2 on describing and requesting information
• 1 on telling a story, using lots of details
• 2 on using academic words, like in science or social studies
• 6 on presenting and explaining information (using a text passage or picture to explain the main idea)

Grades 6-8 Blueprint: Reading and Writing tests

Reading: 30 multiple choice questions total

• 18 on reading school texts, like announcements or assignment directions
• 12 on reading academic texts, like stories, textbooks, or articles on science, social studies, or math

Writing: 17 questions total

• 10 multiple choice on using grammar and conventions (capitalization, spelling, punctuation)
• 6 on writing academic texts, like taking notes on a text or explaining the main idea of a text
• 1 on writing to express ideas, like writing a letter using lots of details.

Grades 9-12 Blueprint: Listening and Speaking tests

Listening: 23 questions total:

• 17 on listening for information (like a school announcement)
• 6 on listening for academic instruction (like a teacher speaking in class)

Speaking: 12 questions total:

• 1 on making conversation
• 2 on describing and requesting information
• 1 on telling a story, using lots of details
• 2 on using academic words, like in science or social studies
• 6 on presenting and explaining information (using a text passage or picture to explain the main idea)

Grades 9-12 Blueprint: Reading and Writing tests

Reading: 30 multiple choice questions total

• 18 on reading school texts, like announcements or assignment directions
• 12 on reading academic texts, like stories, textbooks, or articles on science, social studies, or math

Writing: 17 questions total

• 10 multiple choice on using grammar and conventions (capitalization, spelling, punctuation)
• 6 on writing academic texts, like taking notes on a text or explaining the main idea of a text
• 1 on writing to express ideas, like writing a letter using lots of details.