KeyMath-3 Diagnostic Assessment
KeyMath-3 DA
For teachers and specialists who need to assess a full spectrum of essential math concepts and skills, KeyMath-3 DA is an individually administered measure of conceptual mathematics knowledge, computational skills, and problem solving for students in kindergarten through age 21. Including two parallel forms aligned to national math curriculum standards, KeyMath-3 also offers a comprehensive math instruction and intervention program, the KeyMath-3 Essential Resources (ER). The KeyMath-3 is the most current version of KeyMath. See our Guidance on using this assessment remotely.- Publication date:
- 2007
- Age range:
- 4:6-21:11; Grades K-12
- Qualification level:
- B
- Completion time:
- 30 to 90 minutes
- Administration:
- Paper-and-pencil, Q-global digital assets
- Scoring options:
- Manual Scoring
- Telepractice:
- Guidance on using this test in your telepractice
KeyMath-3 DA covers the full spectrum of math concepts and skills that are typically taught in kindergarten through ninth grade.
KeyMath Digital Assets: Now Available!
Digital assets for the Diagnostic Assessment (stimulus books, manual, response booklets for demonstration purposes only) as well as Essential Resources Level I (stimulus books, student materials, supplemental components) are now available in the Q-global Resource Library.
Digital assets for the Essential Resources Level II are still in digital development with a current release date in 2026.
Benefits
- Monitor an individual’s progress over time.
- Cover the full spectrum of math concepts and skills that are typically taught in kindergarten through ninth grade.
- Present math problems in real-world contexts using items that require standard and non-standard problem-solving strategies.
Features
Items are grouped into 10 subtests that represent three general math content areas: Basic Concepts (conceptual knowledge), Operations (computational skills), and Applications (problem solving).
- Available in two parallel forms, designated as Form A and Form B, each of which contains 372 full-color test items.
- Updated content that extends through factoring and solving algebraic expressions.
- Includes two separate written computation subtests (Addition and Subtraction; Multiplication and Division).
- Includes items that require students to identify missing elements in a problem, operations needed to solve a problem, and optimal strategies for solving the problem.
- Alignment with national math curriculum standards and link to the KeyMath 3 Essential Resources companion instructional program.
- Norms based on approximately 4,000 individuals representing U.S. demographics by sex, race, socioeconomic status, region, and disability condition.
Subtest
Number of Items
Basic Concepts
Numeration
49
Algebra
39
Geometry
36
Measurement
40
Data Analysis and Probability
40
Operations
Mental Computation and Estimation
40
Written Computation: Addition and Substaction
35
Written Computation: Multiplication and Division
31
Applications
Foundations of Problem Solving
27
Applied Problem Solving
35
Frequently asked questions follow. Click on a question to see the response.
KeyMath–3 Diagnostic Assessment
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The KeyMath–3 Diagnostic Assessment was designed around the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards published in the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics in 2000 and the Curriculum Focal Points in 2006. Many, if not most, of these standards are still upheld today and underlie many state standards.
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The KeyMath–3 Diagnostic Assessment can be administered as often as every 3 months when alternating between Form A and Form B.
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Administration times for the entire battery of subtests range from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the student's grade level. Practitioners may elect to administer only the subtests that correspond to a particular content area, which will result in a shorter administration time. The table below shows estimated KeyMath–3 administration times, by content area and grade.
KeyMath–3 Essential Resources
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The KeyMath–3 Essential Resources materials are designed for maximum flexibility and allow teachers to teach multiple students at one time. The easel presentation of the student activity is designed for use with smaller groups of 1–5 students. When working with 6 or more students, teachers may elect to access the same material in digital format via the Q-global resource library for use with classroom digital displays. Coming in 2025!
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Readiness tests are administered prior to the lesson being taught to determine whether the student has the prerequisite skills necessary to learn the applicable concept(s). Posttests are administered after all activities in the lesson have been taught to determine whether the student has grasped the concept(s). In cases where a student did not grasp the required concept(s), the teacher should re-teach the lesson as necessary. Mastery tests are used to determine whether a student has mastered the applicable concept(s).
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No, but some program lessons require the use of common classroom objects (e.g., rulers, cubes).
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Yes, the KeyMath–3 Diagnostic Assessment provides a direct link to appropriate curriculum activities in the KeyMath–3 Essential Resources, but you can use the program on its own.
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The ASSIST is no longer available. At this time, hand scoring must be completed and details about scoring each subtest can be found in the test manual starting on page 17.
