About the WELL Online Screening Test
- How does WELL work?
- Who can administer the WELL screening?
- What skill areas does WELL assess?
- When should the assessment be completed?
- How long does it take to administer WELL?
- How is performance measured?
- How much does WELL cost?
- What kinds of devices does WELL run on?
How does WELL work?
Once the test is purchased, an email is sent from Bolster Learning Systems with an ID number and a link to WELL. The characters, Trip and Click, instruct and guide the child through the entire screening. The child takes the test using a computer or tablet connected to the Internet. The adult giving the test connects to a simple Scoring Form online using a smart phone, tablet, or computer. Some subtests are scored automatically. Others require the helper to check a box next to every answer the child says correctly. The Scoring Form shows you exactly what the child must say. After taking the test and submitting the Scoring Form, the results section appears instantly detailing the child’s learning profile along with links to Next Steps: games, learning materials, and help finding the right professional to consult in any skill area identified as a weakness to bolster.
Who can administer the WELL screening?
Parents, teachers, learning specialists, speech-language pathologists, pediatricians, nurses, psychologists, and other health professionals can administer the WELL screening (see Terms of Use and Privacy Statement).
What skill areas does WELL assess?
- Receptive language (comprehension)
- Expressive language (formulation)
- Social communication (pragmatics)
- Early literacy (phonological awareness)
- Reading (decoding)
- Attention
- Math
When should the assessment be completed?
The WELL screening identifies key kindergarten skills and can be administered to children:
- At the end of preschool to determine kindergarten readiness
- Throughout kindergarten to monitor academic growth
- Prior to starting first grade to identify lingering areas of weakness
How long does it take to administer WELL?
On average, it takes about 20 minutes to complete the screening. Your child may need more or less time depending on his/her capabilities. Let your child determine the pace of the assessment.
How is performance measured?
The child’s performance is compared to grade norms and placed into one of three categories: A Strength to Celebrate, Acceptable, or a Weakness to Bolster. The goal is for all children to reach their academic potential by celebrating strengths and bolstering weaknesses through early identification of learning profiles. A Weakness to Bolster may simply indicate that more exposure to a skill area(s) is needed. Falling within the Acceptable range is where the majority of children perform.
How much does WELL cost?
Affordable and effective, WELL costs just $25 per screening.
What kinds of devices does WELL run on?
The child takes the test using a PC, Mac or tablet and should view the screen in “landscape” or “wide” orientation. The child should not use a smartphone to take the test. A second device is needed to score the assessment. The Scoring Form can be run on a smartphone, tablet or computer. We recommend that you run the WELL screening and Scoring Form on a computer or device that meets one of these requirements.
iPad or iPhone
Use iOS 7 or newer with Safari browser.
Mac or Windows PC
If you are using a desktop or laptop computer, make sure it has speakers, JavaScript enabled, and one of the following operating systems:
Use one of the following Mac or PC browsers:
- Chrome 40 or newer
- Internet Explorer 9 or newer
- Safari 7 or newer
- Firefox 40 or newer
- Edge