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Iowa State Assessments · Alternate Assessment

Iowa Alternate Assessment Practice Test

Build confidence with five focused practice sets covering reading, communication, mathematics, science, everyday reasoning, and integrated assessment skills.

Iowa alternate assessment practice sets

This Iowa Alternate Assessment Practice Test page provides five short practice sets with 10 original multiple-choice questions each. The activities use clear language and cover reading, communication, mathematics, science, applied reasoning, and integrated problem solving.

Skills covered

  • Reading main ideas, supporting details, sequences, vocabulary, text features, opinions, summaries, signs, and conversations
  • Counting, place value, addition, subtraction, equal groups, fractions, time, money, shapes, and reading simple charts
  • Living things, plant needs, matter, forces, weather, life cycles, habitats, energy, investigations, and engineering materials
  • Visual schedules, safety decisions, classification, patterns, forecasts, measurement comparisons, predictions, and complete responses
  • Integrated reading, data, math, science, evidence, measurement, categorization, informational text, and time problems

How to use this page

Complete one 10-question set at a time. Read each prompt carefully, use the information or visual cues provided, choose the best response, and review the explanation after every question.

This is supplemental State Test Practice, State Assessment Practice, and Standardized Test Practice. It is not an official DLM assessment, released item set, eligibility decision, accommodation guide, or substitute for Iowa Department of Education guidance.

Iowa identifies Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) as its Alternate Assessment for eligible students. Current official scope and participation information should always be checked on the Iowa Department of Education Assessment & Testing page.

For the broader Iowa assessment hub, visit Iowa State Test Practice or explore Elementary School Tests, Middle School Tests, and High School Tests.

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5. Test

Iowa Alternate Assessment Practice Questions

A 10-question Iowa alternate assessment practice set on integrated alternate assessment review, with answers and explanations.

Read or listen to each prompt carefully, use the words, symbols, visuals, or quantities provided, select one answer, and review the explanation after responding.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

A passage says that a class planted 12 seeds and 9 grew. How many seeds did not grow?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is 3.

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Subtract the seeds that grew from the total: 12 − 9 = 3.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Subtract the seeds that grew from the total: 12 − 9 = 3.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

A student reads the instruction “Circle the animal that lives in water.” Which should be circled?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Fish.

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Fish is an animal that lives in water.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Fish is an animal that lives in water.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

A science chart shows that a plant grew 2 centimeters in week one and 4 centimeters in week two. Which statement is true?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The plant grew more in week two..

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Four centimeters is more than two centimeters.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Four centimeters is more than two centimeters.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

A student has 3 groups of 5 counters. What total is shown?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is 15.

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Three equal groups of five represent 3 × 5 = 15.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Three equal groups of five represent 3 × 5 = 15.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence is the best evidence that a character is tired?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The character yawns and closes their eyes..

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Yawning and closing the eyes are direct signs of tiredness.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Yawning and closing the eyes are direct signs of tiredness.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

A thermometer reads 10 degrees in the morning and 18 degrees in the afternoon. What happened to the temperature?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It increased by 8 degrees..

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Subtract 10 from 18 to find an increase of 8 degrees.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Subtract 10 from 18 to find an increase of 8 degrees.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

A student sorts objects into heavy and light groups. What property is being compared?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Weight.

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Heavy and light describe weight.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Heavy and light describe weight.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

A short article explains how to save water. Which action follows the article's advice?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth..

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Turning off the faucet saves water.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Turning off the faucet saves water.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

A schedule starts at 9:00 and ends at 11:00. How long is the schedule?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is 2 hours.

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: From 9:00 to 11:00 is two hours.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

From 9:00 to 11:00 is two hours.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a useful strategy for an Iowa alternate assessment practice task?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Read the prompt, use the visual or information given, choose an answer, and check it..

  1. Understand the task: Read the prompt, identify the important words or quantities, and use the information that is given.
  2. Choose a response: Careful reading, evidence, selection, and checking support accurate responses.
  3. Check the result: Review the choice and make sure it answers the question in the same context.

Careful reading, evidence, selection, and checking support accurate responses.

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa Alternate Assessment Practice

What is Iowa's alternate assessment?

The Iowa Department of Education identifies Dynamic Learning Maps, or DLM, as Iowa's alternate assessment for eligible students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Current official information lists ELA and mathematics for Grades 3–11 and science for Grades 5, 8, and 11.

Are these official DLM questions?

No. These are original supplemental practice questions designed for general study and review. Use Iowa Department of Education guidance and official DLM materials for current policies, participation information, accessibility supports, and administration procedures.

How should students use these practice sets?

Work through one short set at a time, read or listen to each prompt, use the information provided, choose the best response, and review the explanation. Teachers and support teams should adapt the presentation to the student's communication and accessibility needs.