As we look ahead to the STAAR 2025 test, it’s essential to understand the various item types that our students will encounter. Knowing what to expect allows us to focus our teaching where it matters most and prepare our students for success. I’ve broken down the STAAR 2024 item types to help you see the trends, patterns, and what’s most important for the upcoming STAAR 2025 test. Let’s dive into the details so that you can feel confident in planning your test prep throughout the school year!
Prefer watching instead? Click here to watch the video!
Multiple Choice: Still King of STAAR
The first big takeaway from my review of the STAAR 2024 test is that multiple-choice questions still reign supreme. Across grades 3 to 10, between 67-75% of all question points were from multiple choice questions. That’s right—most of the questions that our students faced were in this traditional format. This means it’s crucial not to neglect this type of question. It’s easy to get caught up in all the changes, but remember, multiple choice is still the foundation of the test.
Focusing your instruction on how students can effectively eliminate incorrect answers, use context clues, and analyze texts to select the single best answer is going to pay off. Make sure to keep these skills at the forefront of your daily lessons and practice!
Constructed Responses: SCR and ECR are Here to Stay
One key element of STAAR 2024 is the continued emphasis on constructed responses. Every grade level had two Short Constructed Response (SCR) questions: one based on a reading text and another on an editing and revising prompt. Additionally, each grade had an Extended Constructed Response (ECR) question that was based on reading passages or paired passages. These writing components are here to stay, and it’s essential that we teach students how to craft effective and complete responses.
Starting the year with SCR writing practice—specifically focusing on the RAC portion of the RACES strategy (Restate and Answer the Question, Cite text evidence)—sets a strong foundation for later expanding into ECR. As students gain confidence in citing evidence and explaining their answers, we can build towards adding the “Explain” and “Summarize” components to complete a strong ECR response. Grab your FREE ECR planning pages HERE!
Inline Choice and Other Less Frequent Item Types
Another item type we saw in every grade level was the inline choice question. Most grades had one inline choice, while eighth grade had two. These questions ask students to choose the best answer from within a sentence or paragraph, and they require careful reading for context.
For multiselect questions (where more than one answer is correct), the maximum we saw was one per test in some grades, specifically grades 3 through 7 and grade 9.
Highlighted text questions were unique to grades 3 through 5, and they only appeared once per test.
Match Table Grid questions, which ask students to compare and match information in a table format, were only seen in grades 8, 9, and 10, while text entry questions only appeared in grade 6 and grade 9 once. The key takeaway here is that these item types are important but don’t require as much practice as multiple choice and constructed responses.
Guess What Was Missing?
Here’s something interesting: there were no multipart questions in the 2024 STAAR test! While this doesn’t mean you should completely forget about them—after all, they were on the 2023 test and could make a comeback in 2025—it does mean that your focus can be shifted slightly. Be sure to sprinkle multipart questions into your practice, but don’t stress about them being a major portion of your instruction.
Summary and Key Takeaways
So, what’s the best way to prepare your students for the STAAR 2025 test? Here are a few key points:
- Multiple choice is still the most important item type. Make sure students are confident in tackling these questions.
- Constructed responses are critical. Start early in the year with RAC (Restate, Answer, Cite) and gradually build up to RACES for full ECR responses. Grab your FREE ECR planning pages HERE!
- Sprinkle in exposure to other item types, but don’t let them dominate your practice schedule.
Remember, preparation is all about balance. You don’t need to stress yourself (or your students) by overemphasizing less common question types—focus on the core elements and build from there.
How This Translates to Early Test Prep
With these key insights in mind, now is the perfect time to think about your test prep strategy for the entire school year. One mistake we often make is waiting until right before the test to start covering key skills. Instead, imagine how much less stressful test prep could be if you gradually expose students to item types throughout the year.
That’s where my STAAR Test Prep Bundles come in handy.
The materials are designed to help you sprinkle in meaningful practice consistently, using bits and pieces whenever you need. Whether it’s a mystery picture activity, a game, or targeted task cards, these tools are versatile enough to help your students prepare without cramming.
I’ve seen firsthand how effective a consistent, year-long test prep approach can be for students. By slowly building their confidence and familiarity with all the different item types, your students won’t just be ready—they’ll be thriving.
Supporting Your Child at Home with STAAR Prep
Parents, if you’re looking for ways to support your child’s reading comprehension skills at home and help them feel confident for the upcoming STAAR 2025 Test, I have just the resource for you! My Reading Comprehension Workbooks are designed to provide targeted practice that aligns with what students will see on the STAAR test. It includes:
- Engaging passages for kids to enjoy while learning.
- Practice questions similar to those seen on the test.
- Step-by-step strategies to boost comprehension and test-taking skills.
Give your child a head start with focused, at-home practice! Click here to check out the workbook!
Stay Connected and Get More Resources
To keep up with the latest tips, strategies, and STAAR trends, be sure to join the Custom Classroom Community. By signing up, you’ll get free resources, detailed breakdowns, and all the insights you need to help your students succeed. Together, we can make STAAR prep stress-free and effective!
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, as you plan your test prep for the 2025 STAAR, remember that understanding the item types is just the first step. Implementing a strategic, balanced approach throughout the year is what will truly set your students up for success. Multiple-choice questions, constructed responses, and exposure to other item types all play a role in comprehensive preparation. Let’s make sure we’re giving our students the tools they need to succeed—one step at a time. You’ve got this!
