Differentiated ELL Assessment Builder for Secondary Students
Create tiered ELL assessments aligned to ACTFL/WIDA proficiency levels in minutes
What You Can Do
Build three assessment variants from a single learning objective or content topic. Each tier adjusts linguistic complexity, visual supports, and cognitive demand to match student proficiency levels—so your Intermediate learners answer the same content questions as Advanced students, but with simplified syntax and sentence frames. You'll generate legally defensible differentiated assessments in 20 minutes instead of hours, yielding accurate data on what students understand versus what language barriers obscure.
Features
automatically adjusts question type, vocabulary, syntax, and cognitive demand to match ACTFL Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced levels
ensures assessments target appropriate English language development standards alongside content objectives
includes image prompts, word banks, sentence frames, and graphic organizers for lower proficiency tiers
all three assessment tiers assess the same learning objective so you can compare understanding across proficiency levels
generate quick formative checks (5–10 minute checks) alongside summative assessment variants
produces proficiency-level-appropriate rubrics so grading reflects language development, not penalizes grammar
flags questions that reveal when students are ready to move to higher proficiency tier
Example Output
Example Assessment Output: Topic — Photosynthesis (Science Unit)
Novice-Level Variant:
- Picture matching: "Plants make food. Which picture shows this? (A) sun, (B) plant with sun, (C) animal"
- Fill-in-the-blank with word bank: "Plants need [sun / water / light] to make food."
- True/False with visual: "Plants need sunlight. ☀️ True or False?"
Intermediate-Level Variant:
- Short-answer with frame: "What do plants need to make food? Use: 'Plants need _____ and _____ to make food.'"
- Diagram labeling: "Label the parts of the plant and write what each part does in making food."
- Explanation: "How does sunlight help plants? Write 2–3 sentences."
Advanced-Level Variant:
- Open-ended analysis: "Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy. Explain this process in your own words and describe why it matters to humans."
- Application: "If a plant has plenty of water and carbon dioxide but no sunlight for 3 weeks, predict what will happen and explain why."
- Evidence synthesis: "Some plants grow in low-light environments (shade plants). How might their photosynthesis differ from sun plants? What evidence supports your hypothesis?"
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with usage guidelines:
- Tiered Assessment Template: editable Google Doc/Word format with Novice, Intermediate, Advanced columns
- WIDA Standard Quick-Ref Chart: maps proficiency descriptors to question types and language features
- Scaffolding Framework Checklist: ensures visual supports, sentence frames, and vocabulary modifications are consistent across tiers
- Rubric Builder for Differentiated Grading: adjusts expectations by proficiency level so you assess content, not penalize language development
Who It's For
- Secondary ESL/ELL teachers managing mixed-proficiency classes (grades 6–12)
- Content teachers working with ELL co-teachers on unit assessment design
- ESL specialists creating progress-monitoring assessments for individual students
- Special education teachers supporting ELL students with language-based learning differences
- Instructional coaches supporting teachers in differentiating high-stakes assessments
Best For
- Unit or chapter assessments in mixed-proficiency ELL classes
- Mid-unit formative comprehension checks that reveal actual student understanding
- Proficiency-level placement and re-classification decisions
- Progress monitoring for students transitioning between proficiency tiers
- Defensible differentiation documentation for IEPs, 504 plans, or accountability audits
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