Virginia SOL tests are harder for multilingual students — but not because of knowledge gaps. The barrier is almost always language, not content. A student who fully understands fractions in Spanish may stumble on the word “evaluate” in an English test question. That’s not a math problem. It’s a language access problem.

Four research-backed strategies below target exactly that gap. They’re practical enough to start this week, and each one is backed by VDOE guidance and WIDA best practices.

~46%
of Virginia ELL students passed the Grade 5 Reading SOL in 2023 — compared to 79% of non-ELL peers. The gap is real, and it’s closeable.

1. Teach the Language of the Test, Not Just the Content

The core problem

SOL questions use academic language that many ELL students have never explicitly been taught. Words like “evaluate,” “determine,” “which best represents,” and “most likely” are Tier 2 vocabulary — general academic words used across content areas, but rarely taught directly in ESL pull-out programs.

A student who knows every multiplication fact but doesn’t recognize “product” as math vocabulary will miss that problem. Not because of a math gap — because of a language access gap.

What to do before the test window

  • Build a SOL question-stem word wall: evaluate, determine, calculate, identify, describe, compare, contrast, summarize
  • Use bilingual glossaries — VDOE publishes approved translated test glossaries for Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and other languages
  • Practice with Kuliso’s SOL Practice Engine, which renders questions with home language scaffolding for vocabulary in 246 languages
  • Pair Tier 2 instruction with context-rich examples (e.g., “When we evaluate an expression, we figure out its value — like this…”)

2. Use Native-Language Previewing for Complex Passages

What the research says

Collier & Thomas (2017) found that students who receive content instruction in their native language first and then in English outperform students who receive English-only instruction by 3–4 grade levels by middle school. The same principle applies to test prep.

When a student previews a reading passage or math word problem in their home language first, their brain activates prior knowledge. When they encounter the English version, they’re reading for confirmation, not reading cold — dramatically reducing cognitive load.

How to implement this week

  • In small-group SOL prep, pair English passages with a native-language summary or key vocabulary list
  • For math word problems, allow students to re-read the problem in their home language before solving
  • Use Kuliso’s multilingual tutoring feature for pre-reading activation in 246 languages
  • Assign 15-minute independent preview sessions before whole-class test practice

3. Maximize Every VDOE Testing Accommodation

Most ELL students are underaccommodated

Virginia allows a range of testing accommodations for ELL students, but many schools underuse them — either because teachers aren’t aware, or because the paperwork feels daunting. If your student qualifies, every unused accommodation is a missed opportunity.

Accommodations available to ELL students in Virginia

  • Extended time (most impactful for ELL students — language processing takes longer)
  • Bilingual dictionaries and glossaries during testing (math and science SOLs only)
  • Separate testing setting to reduce distraction from English-dominant peers
  • Translated assessments available in Spanish for select grades and subjects
  • Read-aloud accommodations for students with documented needs

How to document and request

  • Use Kuliso’s ESOL Accommodation Tool to generate a compliant accommodation plan for each student
  • Submit accommodation requests to your test coordinator at least 3 weeks before the testing window
  • Document in the student’s ESOL file that accommodations were discussed with parents in their home language

4. Simulate Real Test Conditions — In the Right Language

Why generic practice isn’t enough

Standard test prep materials assume English proficiency that most ELL students don’t yet have. When a multilingual student practices with English-only test prep, they spend 60% of their mental energy on language — and only 40% on the content knowledge being assessed. That’s backwards.

Effective SOL prep for ELL students should mirror real test conditions (English questions, SOL-aligned content) but remove language barriers (native language scaffolding available on demand — not displayed by default, to match actual test conditions).

How to structure practice sessions

  • Use timed sessions of 20–25 questions matching the actual SOL format (multiple choice, technology-enhanced)
  • After the session, review errors in the home language to confirm whether the miss was a content gap or a language access gap — they require different interventions
  • Kuliso’s SOL Practice Engine delivers WIDA-aligned, standards-matched practice for Math, Reading, and Science with home language support in 246 languages
  • Track accuracy by standard (e.g., SOL 4.5 vs. SOL 4.6) so reteaching targets the weakest areas first

The Gap Is Closeable — With the Right Tools

Virginia’s achievement gap for multilingual students isn’t inevitable. When ELL students get native-language support, proper accommodations, and test prep that actually targets their needs, they close the gap fast.

The research is clear. The VDOE supports it. And now there are tools built specifically for this work — so you don’t have to build everything from scratch. See what districts are doing with Kuliso, or try the SOL Practice Engine free.