RightStart™ Mathematics Placement Tests

A placement test is a short assessment that helps you find the right starting point for your student in a specific curriculum. It checks which math concepts your child already understands so they begin at a level that is neither too easy nor too frustrating.

RightStart™ Mathematics is organized into levels (A through H) rather than strict grade levels, and it teaches math in a unique, hands-on way using the AL (Cotter) Abacus and visualization strategies. Because a student transferring from another program may not have learned those specific strategies, a placement test is the most reliable way to find the right RightStart level — instead of guessing based on grade alone.

Download the free printable placement test on this page, print it, and have your student work through it with a pencil and paper. Each test includes a guide to help you interpret the results and choose the right level. Prefer a digital option? You can also take RightStart's interactive online placement test, which walks you through questions and recommends a starting level.

RightStart™ Mathematics (2nd Edition) runs from Level A through Level H, covering roughly the early-elementary through pre-algebra years. Levels are based on mastered concepts, not age, so two children of the same grade can place differently. The official placement test will recommend a specific level; if you are brand new to RightStart, it is normal to start a level earlier than your child's grade so they can learn RightStart's strategies from the ground up.

Very little prep is needed. Print the placement test, set aside a quiet workspace, and give your student a pencil and paper. The placement test does not require the abacus or any special materials — it simply gauges what your student already knows so you can choose the right level.

Nicole the Math Lady is building RightStart™ Mathematics video lessons — the same step-by-step teaching and online support families love for our Saxon and Singapore Math-Dimensions programs. Take the placement test now to find your level, and join the waitlist on our RightStart™ Mathematics curriculum page to be the first to know when lessons launch.