i-Ready Sample Questions

Use these free i-Ready sample questions to understand the kinds of skills students may need for i-Ready Reading and i-Ready Math. These examples are designed for parents and students who want to see the question style before moving to full practice.

The i-Ready Diagnostic is a computer-adaptive assessment used by schools to measure student performance and growth in Reading and Mathematics. Because the assessment is adaptive, students may see easier or harder questions depending on their answers.

Important:
The sample questions on this page are i-Ready-style practice questions. They are not official Curriculum Associates questions, and they are not a full computer-adaptive simulation. Use them for preparation and familiarisation only.

Need the full i-Ready guide?
For test format, scores, reports, i-Ready Inform updates, and preparation strategy, read our complete i-Ready Diagnostic Test guide.

Looking for full i-Ready practice?
Use the free samples below to understand the format. For complete grade-level practice packs, visit the TestPrep-Online i-Ready practice shop. For a broader overview, visit TestPrep-Online i-Ready Test.

i-Ready Sample Questions Overview

Students may take i-Ready Reading, i-Ready Math, or both, depending on their school’s assessment plan. The sample questions below are organized by subject.

Parent note:
Your school decides which i-Ready assessment your child takes. If you are unsure, ask whether your child will take i-Ready Reading, i-Ready Math, or both.

i-Ready Reading Sample Questions

i-Ready Reading questions may measure vocabulary, phonics, comprehension, inference, main idea, supporting details, author’s purpose, and the ability to understand literary or informational text.

i-Ready Reading Sample 1: Vocabulary in Context

Read the sentence.

The hikers were cautious as they crossed the wet rocks near the river.

What does cautious mean in the sentence?

1. Careful
2. Angry
3. Noisy
4. Fast

i-Ready Reading Sample 2: Main Idea

Read the passage.

Plants need sunlight, water, and air to grow. Sunlight helps plants make food. Water keeps the plant healthy, and air gives the plant what it needs to survive. Without these things, most plants cannot grow well.

What is the main idea of the passage?

1. Plants grow only in summer.
2. Plants need sunlight, water, and air to grow.
3. Water is more important than sunlight.
4. Plants do not need air.

i-Ready Reading Sample 3: Inference

Read the passage.

Lena packed her notebook, sharpened two pencils, and placed her homework folder carefully into her backpack. Before leaving the house, she checked the clock and hurried to the bus stop.

What can you infer?

1. Lena is getting ready for school.
2. Lena is going to the beach.
3. Lena forgot her homework.
4. Lena does not like writing.

i-Ready Reading Sample 4: Supporting Detail

Read the passage.

Penguins are birds, but they do not fly. Instead, they use their wings like flippers to swim through the water. Penguins can dive to catch fish, squid, and krill.

Which detail tells how penguins use their wings?

1. Penguins are birds.
2. Penguins do not fly.
3. Penguins use their wings like flippers.
4. Penguins eat fish.

i-Ready Reading Sample 5: Author’s Purpose

Read the passage.

Washing your hands can help keep germs from spreading. You should wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after coughing or sneezing. Clean hands help keep you and others healthy.

What is the author’s purpose?

1. To persuade readers to wash their hands
2. To tell a story about a doctor
3. To explain how soap is made
4. To describe different bathrooms

i-Ready Reading Sample 6: Text Evidence

Read the passage.

Jamal wanted to learn the piano, but the first few lessons were difficult. He practised for twenty minutes every day. After several weeks, he could play a short song without stopping.

Which sentence best shows that Jamal improved?

1. Jamal wanted to learn the piano.
2. The first few lessons were difficult.
3. He practised for twenty minutes every day.
4. He could play a short song without stopping.

Practise i-Ready Reading

i-Ready Math Sample Questions

i-Ready Math questions may measure number sense, operations, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, data interpretation, algebraic thinking, and word problem reasoning.

i-Ready Math Sample 1: Addition and Subtraction

A library has 72 books on a shelf. 28 books are checked out.

How many books are still on the shelf?

1. 34
2. 44
3. 54
4. 100

i-Ready Math Sample 2: Multiplication

There are 7 boxes. Each box has 6 markers.

How many markers are there in all?

1. 13
2. 36
3. 42
4. 48

i-Ready Math Sample 3: Fractions

Which fraction is greater than 1/2?

1. 1/4
2. 2/5
3. 3/4
4. 1/3

i-Ready Math Sample 4: Geometry

A square has side lengths of 5 centimeters.

What is the perimeter of the square?

1. 10 cm
2. 15 cm
3. 20 cm
4. 25 cm

i-Ready Math Sample 5: Data Interpretation

The table shows the number of points four players scored.

How many more points did Noah score than Sam?

1. 6
2. 9
3. 12
4. 27

i-Ready Math Sample 6: Algebraic Thinking

Find the missing number.

6 × ___ = 54

1. 6
2. 7
3. 8
4. 9

i-Ready Math Sample 7: Multi-Step Word Problem

A school buys 4 packs of notebooks. Each pack has 25 notebooks. The school gives away 36 notebooks.

How many notebooks are left?

1. 64
2. 74
3. 89
4. 100

Practise i-Ready Math

How to Use i-Ready Sample Questions

Free sample questions are useful for understanding the format, but they are only the first step. The best preparation depends on the subject your child is taking and the skills they need to strengthen.

Use the sample questions this way:

1. Start with the correct subject: choose Reading, Math, or both based on your school’s instructions.
2. Let the student try independently: avoid helping before they choose an answer.
3. Review the explanation: focus on why the correct answer works.
4. Identify weak areas: vocabulary, inference, fractions, geometry, or word problems may need extra practice.
5. Practise gradually: move from easier questions to more challenging ones.
6. Avoid memorising answers: adaptive tests measure skills, not copied responses.

Adaptive test reminder:
On a real i-Ready Diagnostic, students may see some difficult questions. This does not mean they are failing. The test adjusts difficulty to estimate the student’s level.

i-Ready Practice Packs

Full practice packs can help students prepare more effectively than a few sample questions alone. They are especially useful when students need grade-level practice, more explanations, or subject-specific preparation.

A good i-Ready practice pack should include:

• grade-level questions: practice that matches the student’s likely level;
• subject-specific practice: Reading, Math, or both;
• answer explanations: so students can learn from mistakes;
• mixed question types: to build flexibility and confidence;
• progress review: so parents can see which skills need work.

Recommended next step:
If you know your child’s grade and subject, go directly to the i-Ready practice shop. If you are still learning about the test, start with the i-Ready test overview.

i-Ready Sample Questions FAQs