FAST ELA Reading Grade 6 exam-day guide
FAST ELA Reading Grade 6 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
School-issued testing device, fully charged
Most Florida students test on a school-provided computer or tablet. Bring the device your school assigns, charged the night before, and confirm with your teacher whether you use a personal or school device.
Know your student ID / login credentials
You will sign in to the testing platform. Memorize or write down your student number and any password your school provides, and confirm the exact sign-in steps with your teacher beforehand.
Photo or student ID card
Many schools do not require ID for a student's own classroom test, but some do. Confirm with the provider (your school's test coordinator) whether you need to bring an ID card.
Two or more sharpened No. 2 pencils
Useful for scratch notes and any planning; scratch paper is normally supplied by the test administrator rather than brought from home.
Headphones or earbuds if your school permits them
Some reading passages or directions may include audio, and some students use headphones for focus. Confirm with your teacher whether headphones are allowed on test day.
Eyeglasses or contacts if you use them
You will read long passages on screen. Bring whatever you normally use for close screen reading.
Leave phone, smartwatch, and fitness band at home or stored away
Any device that can connect to the internet, text, or take pictures must be powered off and stored out of reach as directed. Having one accessible during testing can invalidate your score.
Confirm your testing accommodations in advance
If you have an IEP, 504 plan, or ESOL plan, verify with your teacher or coordinator which supports (extra time, separate setting, text-to-speech, breaks) will be in place so you can ask if something is missing.
Practice the online tools at least once
Know how to use the highlighter, answer eliminator, line reader, zoom, flag-for-review, and calculator-free navigation before test day so the interface does not slow you down.
Arrive on time and know your testing room
Late arrivals may have to test in a make-up session. Confirm the start time and room the day before.
Eat breakfast and bring a water bottle if your school allows it
Drinks and snacks at the computer are often restricted; ask your teacher what is permitted in the testing room.
A positive, calm plan for yourself
Decide ahead of time how you will handle a hard question: flag it, move on, and come back rather than losing minutes.
Plan the day
Review the question types you will see: multiple-choice, multi-select, two-part evidence questions, drag-and-drop or table items, and select-the-best-text-evidence items. Practice explaining why one answer is better than another using evidence from the passage.
Take one short practice set in the online format and time yourself roughly. Note which tools you used and which you forgot.
Confirm your testing date, room, device, and any approved accommodations with your teacher. Do not leave this to the morning of the test.
Protect your sleep schedule. Two normal nights of sleep beat one long cram session.
Do light review only: reread a short story or article and practice finding the main idea, the author's purpose, and the sentence that best supports a claim.
Charge your device and pack your pencils, glasses, and any permitted headphones. Lay everything by the door.
Check the start time and how you are getting to school. Set an alarm.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, and turn your phone fully off and store it as instructed before entering the testing room.
Listen carefully to the test administrator's directions, including how to sign in and what to do if the device freezes or you need help. Ask questions during directions, before testing begins.
Start with the directions and any sample item, then work at a steady pace. If the test is untimed, you still want to finish within the session, so do not spend too long on one question.
Read the question before or right after the passage so you know what to look for. Highlight the sentence or paragraph that supports your answer, especially on evidence questions.
Use elimination: cross out answers that are too broad, too narrow, contradicted by the passage, or true but not supported by the text.
Flag uncertain questions and return to them. Before you finish, check that every question is answered and no flagged items remain, then submit only when you are ready.
Rules to check
Electronic devices: phones, smartwatches, and any device that can communicate or take photos must be off and stored as directed. Having one accessible during testing may invalidate your score.
Test security: do not photograph, copy, record, or discuss test questions or passages with anyone. Test content is confidential, and sharing it is a serious violation.
Independent work: keep your eyes on your own screen, do not talk or signal to other students, and do not share or accept answers.
Breaks: raise your hand and wait for permission. Break policies and whether the clock stops vary, so confirm the specific procedure with your test administrator before you begin.
Materials: use only the scratch paper, pencils, and tools your test administrator provides, and do not remove any testing materials from the room.
Accommodations: you may use only the supports listed in your IEP, 504 plan, or ESOL plan. Tell your teacher in advance if an approved support is missing on test day.
Scoring: results are reported by achievement level, with Level 3 and above considered satisfactory. Your school or district will tell you when and how scores are released.
Identification and eligibility: confirm with the provider (your school's test coordinator) whether any ID is required and what to do if you arrive late or your device fails.