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100+ Free OSAS ELA Grade 5 Practice Questions

Prepare for the Oregon Statewide Assessment System — English Language Arts, Grade 5 exam with instant access — no signup required.

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Not applicable — no pass/fail mark; ODE reports achievement levels rather than a pass rate. Pass Rate
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: OSAS ELA Grade 5 Exam

ODE

Administering agency

Oregon Department of Education

Smarter Balanced

Assessment system

ODE ELA Assessment page

Reading/Writing/Listening/Research

ELA claims

OSAS ELA Claims, Targets, and Standards Alignment

Reading 11-12 / Writing 9 / Listening 4 / Research 4

Official item counts

2025-26 OSAS ELA Summative Test Blueprint

Levels 1-4; 3-4 proficient

Performance levels

ODE Achievement Standards

Practise for the OSAS Grade 5 ELA test with 100 free questions spread across the four official claims — Reading, Writing, Listening and Research. The real test uses a CAT and a Performance Task; this English-language MCQ bank is a study aid, not an official form.

Sample OSAS ELA Grade 5 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your OSAS ELA Grade 5 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read the passage below before answering the question. The Tide Pool Discovery (1) Lena crouched on the slippery rocks at Yaquina Bay and peered into a shallow pool. Sunlight sparkled on the water, and tiny green anemones waved their soft tentacles like fingers reaching for food. (2) A purple sea star clung to the far wall of the pool, its arms slowly curling around a mussel. Lena held her breath and watched. She had read that sea stars can pull open shells with their tube feet, but she had never seen it happen. (3) 'Don't touch it,' her older brother Marco warned from behind her. 'They're more fragile than they look.' Which sentence from the passage best shows that Lena is seeing something new to her?
A.Sunlight sparkled on the water, and tiny green anemones waved their soft tentacles like fingers reaching for food.
B.A purple sea star clung to the far wall of the pool, its arms slowly curling around a mussel.
C.She had read that sea stars can pull open shells with their tube feet, but she had never seen it happen.
D.'Don't touch it,' her older brother Marco warned from behind her.
Explanation: The sentence in paragraph 2 states that Lena 'had read' about sea stars but 'had never seen it happen,' which directly shows the tide pool sighting is a first-time experience for her.
2Refer to the passage 'The Tide Pool Discovery' from Question 1. What can the reader infer about Marco based on his warning?
A.He is bored and wants to leave the tide pools.
B.He cares about protecting the sea creatures in the pool.
C.He thinks Lena is too young to explore the bay.
D.He has never visited Yaquina Bay before today.
Explanation: Marco's warning, 'They're more fragile than they look,' shows he understands the sea star can be harmed and wants Lena to avoid hurting it, which signals care for the creatures.
3Read the passage below before answering the question. The Garden Project (1) Every Saturday, Devon helped his grandmother tend the community garden in their Salem neighborhood. One morning, he noticed the tomato plants in Plot 4 were drooping and yellow while the ones in Plot 9 stood tall and green. (2) 'Why are those sad?' Devon asked, pointing. (3) His grandmother knelt beside him. 'Soil, water, and sunlight, Devon. Every plant needs the right balance. We've been giving Plot 4 too much water and not enough sun.' (4) Together they transplanted the tomatoes to a sunnier spot and cut back the watering schedule. Within two weeks, the plants stood tall and green, and Devon grinned every time he walked past. Which statement best expresses the theme of the passage?
A.Community gardens are difficult to maintain without help.
B.Patience and the right care can help living things thrive.
C.Tomatoes grow best in Oregon's summer weather.
D.Grandparents enjoy teaching grandchildren how to cook.
Explanation: The drooping tomatoes recover once Devon and his grandmother adjust the water and sunlight, showing that thoughtful, patient care helps living things flourish. This lesson applies beyond tomatoes, making it the theme.
4Refer to the passage 'The Garden Project' from Question 3. Which sentence is the best summary of the story?
A.Devon plants tomatoes in his grandmother's garden and waits for them to grow.
B.Devon and his grandmother fix the care for struggling tomato plants, and the plants recover.
C.Devon visits the community garden every Saturday because he likes being outdoors.
D.Devon learns that tomatoes need sunlight more than they need water.
Explanation: A summary should capture the main problem and its resolution. Devon notices drooping tomatoes, he and his grandmother adjust the water and sunlight, and the plants recover, which covers the key events without extra detail.
5Read the passage below before answering the question. The Science Fair Partners (1) Priya liked to plan everything weeks ahead. Her partner, Jonah, preferred to build first and worry about the display board later. (2) When their teacher assigned a project on beaver dams, Priya made a checklist and labeled each step with a due date. Jonah grabbed popsicle sticks and glue and started building a model dam before reading the directions. (3) By the third day, Jonah's model kept collapsing. Priya's checklist sat untouched. Their teacher sat them down and said, 'You each have a strength. Use them together.' (4) Priya reorganized the steps into a clear plan, and Jonah followed her plan while building. On fair day, their model stood strong, and their board was neat and complete. How are Priya and Jonah most alike in the passage?
A.They both want the project to succeed.
B.They both prefer to follow a checklist.
C.They both ignore their teacher's advice.
D.They both build models before planning.
Explanation: Although Priya and Jonah work differently, both want a strong project and a complete display. By the end, they combine their strengths, showing a shared goal of success.
6Refer to the passage 'The Science Fair Partners' from Question 5. How does the classroom setting most affect the story?
A.It gives the partners a place to compete against each other.
B.It creates the project deadline and the teacher's guidance that push them to cooperate.
C.It allows Jonah to build alone without any help.
D.It prevents Priya from finishing her checklist on time.
Explanation: The classroom setting provides the assignment, the deadline, and the teacher who guides Priya and Jonah to combine their strengths. Without this school context, the conflict and resolution would not happen.
7Read the passage below before answering the question. The Long Hike (1) I pulled my jacket tighter as the wind swept across the Cascade Mountain trail. My friend Tomas hurried ahead, his boots crunching on the gravel path. (2) 'Come on, slowpoke!' he called over his shoulder. (3) I wanted to complain that my legs were shorter, but I swallowed my words and picked up my pace. The view from the top would be worth it, I told myself. From which point of view is this story told?
A.First person, with the narrator using 'I' to tell the story
B.Second person, with the narrator speaking directly to the reader
C.Third person limited, focusing on Tomas's thoughts
D.Third person omniscient, showing both hikers' thoughts
Explanation: The narrator uses 'I,' 'my,' and 'myself' to describe personal thoughts and feelings, which is the hallmark of first-person point of view.
8Refer to the passage 'The Tide Pool Discovery' from Question 1. Which sentence from the passage contains a simile?
A.Lena crouched on the slippery rocks at Yaquina Bay and peered into a shallow pool.
B.Sunlight sparkled on the water, and tiny green anemones waved their soft tentacles like fingers reaching for food.
C.A purple sea star clung to the far wall of the pool, its arms slowly curling around a mussel.
D.Lena held her breath and watched.
Explanation: A simile compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.' The anemones' tentacles are compared to 'fingers reaching for food' with the word 'like,' making this a simile.
9Read the sentence below. 'The classroom was a beehive the morning of the science fair.' What does the metaphor suggest about the classroom?
A.It was quiet and empty.
B.It was busy and full of buzzing activity.
C.It was full of insects that had flown in through the window.
D.It was cold and uncomfortable.
Explanation: A metaphor compares two things without using 'like' or 'as.' A beehive is associated with constant motion and humming activity, so comparing the classroom to a beehive means it was busy and full of energy.
10Read the sentence below. 'The wind whispered through the Douglas fir trees.' Which figure of speech is used in this sentence?
A.Simile
B.Metaphor
C.Personification
D.Hyperbole
Explanation: Personification gives human qualities to something nonhuman. The wind is described as 'whispering,' which is a human action, so this is personification.

About the OSAS ELA Grade 5 Exam

The OSAS Grade 5 English Language Arts assessment measures student proficiency against the Oregon K-12 English Language Arts and Literacy Standards. It is reported in four claims — Reading, Writing, Listening, and Research — through a Smarter Balanced computer-adaptive test and a Performance Task.

Assessment

Online Smarter Balanced assessment with two components: a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) of selected-response and technology-enhanced items, and a Performance Task (PT) with a research item and a full extended write scored on Organization/Purpose, Evidence/Elaboration, and Conventions. The 2025-26 OSAS ELA blueprint specifies 24-25 machine-scored CAT items (Reading 11-12, Writing 6, Listening 4, Research 3) plus a Performance Task containing one research item and one full write scored on three traits. ODE notes that the item counts are not the same as the claim score weighting, which it does not publish.

Time Limit

Untimed; most students complete the CAT and Performance Task in roughly 3 hours

Passing Score

No pass/fail mark. Results are reported on four achievement levels (Levels 1-4); Levels 3 and 4 are considered proficient.

Exam Fee

No fee to students (Oregon Department of Education (ODE); ELA assessment delivered as part of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium)

OSAS ELA Grade 5 Exam Content Outline

About 40% of items (11-12 of 28-29)

Reading

Reading closely and analytically to comprehend increasingly complex literary and informational texts; citing textual evidence and determining central ideas.

About 31% of items (9 of 28-29)

Writing

Producing effective writing for a range of purposes and audiences; organization, evidence and elaboration, and conventions.

About 14% of items (4 of 28-29)

Listening

Interpreting and using information delivered orally across diverse media and formats.

About 14% of items (4 of 28-29)

Research

Engaging in research and inquiry: interpreting and integrating information, analyzing sources, and using evidence.

How to Pass the OSAS ELA Grade 5 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No pass/fail mark. Results are reported on four achievement levels (Levels 1-4); Levels 3 and 4 are considered proficient.
  • Assessment: Online Smarter Balanced assessment with two components: a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) of selected-response and technology-enhanced items, and a Performance Task (PT) with a research item and a full extended write scored on Organization/Purpose, Evidence/Elaboration, and Conventions. The 2025-26 OSAS ELA blueprint specifies 24-25 machine-scored CAT items (Reading 11-12, Writing 6, Listening 4, Research 3) plus a Performance Task containing one research item and one full write scored on three traits. ODE notes that the item counts are not the same as the claim score weighting, which it does not publish.
  • Time limit: Untimed; most students complete the CAT and Performance Task in roughly 3 hours
  • Exam fee: No fee to students

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

OSAS ELA Grade 5 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise identifying the main idea and citing textual evidence in both literary and informational passages — Reading is the largest claim on the blueprint.
2Build writing craft: clear topic focus, relevant evidence and elaboration, and Standard English conventions — Writing accounts for 9 of the 28-29 items on the official blueprint.
3Strengthen listening comprehension by identifying main ideas and supporting details in oral presentations and multimedia.
4Practise research skills: distinguishing relevant from irrelevant sources, integrating information, and using evidence to support a point.
5Try the free OSAS sample and training tests on the OSAS Portal so the online tools and technology-enhanced item types are familiar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the OSAS Grade 5 ELA test cover?

It measures four claims: Reading (literary and informational text), Writing, Listening, and Research. The 2025-26 ODE blueprint sets the official item counts at Reading 11-12, Writing 9, Listening 4 and Research 4; ODE does not publish claim score weights.

Is the OSAS Grade 5 ELA test all multiple choice?

No. The official test combines a computer-adaptive test of selected-response and technology-enhanced items with a Performance Task that includes a full extended write. The 100 questions on this page are a four-option MCQ study adaptation and do not simulate the official item types.

Is there a passing score?

No. Results are reported on four achievement levels (Levels 1-4); Levels 3 and 4 are considered proficient.

Is the Grade 5 ELA test available in Spanish?

No. OSAS ELA is an English literacy assessment and is delivered only in English. OSAS Mathematics and Science offer a Spanish/English toggle.

When is the test given?

Each spring. For 2026-27 the Grades 3-8 ELA and Mathematics window runs March 30, 2027 through June 11, 2027.