Free Practice Questions for AK STAR ELA Grade 9
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Key Facts: AK STAR ELA Grade 9 Exam
AK STAR ELA is administered by Alaska DEED in partnership with NWEA for grades 3–9.
Grade 9 online adaptive ELA has about 70 total items and ~180 minutes estimated time.
Results use four levels: Needs Support, Approaching Proficient, Proficient, Advanced.
Fall and winter MAP Growth connect to the spring AK STAR summative.
Official ELA includes a constructed-response writing task in addition to selected-response items.
There is no family testing fee for eligible Alaska public school students.
AK STAR Grade 9 ELA is Alaska's spring adaptive statewide reading, language, and writing assessment for grade 9 (~70 items, ~180 minutes estimated), with results reported as Needs Support through Advanced.
Sample AK STAR ELA Grade 9 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the AK STAR ELA Grade 9 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the passage. "Lena stacked the last crate of salmon on the dock, then paused to watch the seaplane lift off the channel. The roar faded, and for a moment the only sound was water slapping pilings. She wiped her hands on her rain jacket and thought of the scholarship letter folded in her pocket." What is the main focus of this passage?
2In a short story, a character says one thing but clearly means the opposite for a sarcastic effect. What literary device is this?
3Read the lines. "The mountain wore a white crown of fresh snow." What figure of speech gives the mountain human-like clothing?
4A story’s theme is best described as
5Read the passage. "Jamal kept volunteering answers even after two wrong ones. By the third try he corrected his mistake and the class moved on." Which trait does Jamal’s behavior best support?
6When a narrator uses "I" and "my" to tell events, the point of view is
7Read the passage. "Before the assembly, Priya’s notes were color-coded and stacked. Afterward, she stuffed them into her bag without looking." What do these details most strongly suggest?
8A poem’s speaker is
9Read the passage. "Alaska’s long summer daylight can disrupt sleep for newcomers. Specialists recommend blackout curtains, a consistent bedtime routine, and limiting late-night screens." What is the central idea?
10Which sentence best states a claim that needs evidence?
About the AK STAR ELA Grade 9 Exam
AK STAR Grade 9 English Language Arts is Alaska's spring statewide summative ELA assessment for students in grade 9, administered by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development with NWEA. It measures Alaska English Language Arts Standards through an item-adaptive design that yields both an on-grade summative achievement level and MAP Growth RIT scores. Official item types include selected-response, technology-enhanced, and a constructed-response writing task. Practice questions on OpenExamPrep are free English-language multiple-choice study aids covering topics from reading, language, and writing standards; they do not replace authentic passage analysis, official platform practice tests, or the constructed-response writing experience.
Exam sponsor: Alaska DEED in partnership with NWEA (MAP Growth connected spring summative). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
70 questions
Time Limit
About 180 minutes estimated; not strictly timed; may be administered in multiple school-day sessions.
Passing Score
Reported in four achievement levels: Needs Support, Approaching Proficient, Proficient, and Advanced (Alaska DEED AK STAR / Science score reports).
Exam / Certification Fees
Free for eligible Alaska public school students; AK STAR and the Alaska Science Assessment are state-required summative assessments administered by districts at no cost to families.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Reading Literature & Informational
Key details, central ideas, inferences, text structure, craft, and evidence across literary and informational passages.
Language
Grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary in context.
Writing Judgment
Thesis and evidence selection, organization, revision choices, purpose and audience, and style—adapted from the official constructed-response writing focus.
Preparing for the AK STAR ELA Grade 9 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Reported in four achievement levels: Needs Support, Approaching Proficient, Proficient, and Advanced (Alaska DEED AK STAR / Science score reports).
- Exam length: 70 questions
- Time limit: About 180 minutes estimated; not strictly timed; may be administered in multiple school-day sessions.
- Exam / certification fees: Free for eligible Alaska public school students; AK STAR and the Alaska Science Assessment are state-required summative assessments administered by districts at no cost to families. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
AK STAR ELA Grade 9: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AK STAR Grade 9 ELA assessment?
It is Alaska's required spring English language arts summative for grade 9 students, part of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) run by DEED with NWEA.
Is the official test all multiple choice?
No. Official AK STAR ELA uses multiple item types plus a constructed-response writing task. This site offers English MCQ study adaptations only.
How long is the Grade 9 ELA test?
DEED estimates about 180 minutes total for the online adaptive form; schools may split testing across sessions and assessments are not strictly timed.
How many questions are on the official test?
About 70 total ELA items for Grade 9 on the online adaptive form per DEED Test Administration Directions (summative and growth components combined).
What do scores mean?
Students receive achievement levels (Needs Support, Approaching Proficient, Proficient, Advanced) plus MAP Growth RIT information connected to fall/winter interims.
Is there a testing fee?
No family fee for eligible public school students; districts administer the required state assessment.