Placement guide, math
Which level of Zearn should my child start?
How Zearn levels line up with school grades, how to choose a level without a placement test, what to do if your child lands between two levels, and the mistakes parents most often make.
The short answer. Zearn grades are not levels a child tests into. Zearn expects a child to work in the grade being taught and fills gaps from earlier grades inside each lesson. Its units are called Missions, and with a School Account the student never sees the grade of the earlier-grade lessons a teacher adds.
Zearn has no formal placement test, so the level comes from the publisher's guidance below. If you are not sure where your child really is, check their level first: it is quicker than a wrong book.
Zearn levels and the grades they usually suit
| Level | Usually suits grade | Main topics |
|---|---|---|
| Zearn Math Grade 3 | 3 | Grade 3 digital lessons organized into Missions (units of connected grade-level ideas), each lesson with fluency, guided practice, the Tower of Power and a paper Exit Ticket. |
| Zearn Math Grade 4 | 4 | Grade 4 digital lessons organized into Missions. |
| Zearn Math Grade 5 | 5 | Grade 5 digital lessons organized into Missions. Adaptive fluency runs only through grade 5. |
| Zearn Math Grade 6 | 6 | Grade 6 digital lessons organized into Missions. |
| Zearn Math Grade 7 | 7 | Grade 7 digital lessons organized into Missions. |
| Zearn Math Grade 8 | 8 | Grade 8 digital lessons organized into Missions. This is the top of Zearn's K-8 range. |
Grades are the publisher's own guide. Many children sit a level above or below, especially after switching programs.
How to choose a Zearn level
- There is no placement test.
- Zearn recommends placing students on the first grade-level unit aligned to the math curriculum they are using.
- With a free Individual Account a parent chooses the grade, Mission, topic and lesson under Assignments, then Change Current Lesson.
- Inside each lesson an embedded daily diagnostic launches a Boost, support from earlier grades or units, when the child makes a mistake in the Tower of Power.
- The child must answer every Tower of Power question correctly to finish the lesson, and three Boosts in one Tower create a Tower Alert for the parent or teacher.
If your child lands between two levels
For extra help on earlier-grade skills, the free account gives a Foundational Guidance PDF on each Mission page that lists connected earlier-grade lessons. Math Library access can also be opened to all lessons in the current and prior grades. Students advance to the next lesson automatically. Mid- and End-of-Mission paper assessments in the teacher materials check each Mission.
Problems parents often run into
- Families look for a score or grade in the reports, but Zearn reports show none because every lesson requires 100 percent on the Tower of Power.
- Zearn is built to sit beside teacher-led instruction. Used alone at home, the parent has to supply that part with Zearn's teacher materials, which the free Individual Account includes.
- A child far below grade level gets repeated Boosts in the Tower of Power. Zearn's response is a Tower Alert and teacher follow-up, not a move to an earlier grade.
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See where they stand →Switching to Zearn from another program
- Zearn publishes Curriculum Companion Guides that show which Mission to assign at the start of each unit of many published curricula. Students start each Mission at lesson 1 rather than matching individual lessons.
- A free Individual Account covers up to 35 students and 1 teacher. Paid School Accounts add features such as bookmarking specific foundational lessons.
- Zearn suggests repeating Kindergarten digital lessons before moving to grade 1, and offers an auto-advance option into grade 1.
When you don't need a whole level
A placement test answers one question: which book. If your child is mostly on track but shaky in one area, say fractions or paragraph writing, a full lower level means months of review they do not need. Practising just the gaps is faster, and keeps them in the book that fits the rest of their skills.
Questions parents ask
How long is a Zearn lesson?
Not stated per lesson. Zearn's on-track goal is 3 or more grade-level lessons and about 90 minutes a week.
Is it bad if my child places below their grade?
No. Programs pace topics differently, so a lower level often reflects the order things were taught, not how able a child is. What matters is starting where the work makes sense.
Do I need a placement test at all?
If you are switching programs or your child has had a hard year, yes. Starting too high is the most common reason a new curriculum stalls in the first month.
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Sources
- help.zearn.org/hc/en-us/articles/115006581808-Placing-students-on-Zear
- help.zearn.org/hc/en-us/articles/360051705154-Zearn-Math-for-homeschoo
- help.zearn.org/hc/en-us/articles/115005912007-Change-your-student-s-as
- help.zearn.org/hc/en-us/articles/236238988-Independent-Digital-Lesson-
- help.zearn.org/hc/en-us/articles/236239188-Independent-practice-Tower-
- help.zearn.org/hc/en-us/articles/1500003390061-Boosts
Know where they stand before you buy the book.
About forty minutes at home, math and reading & writing, grades 3 to 10. The report is ready as soon as the test finishes.
Test your child, $9.99 →or with the ten-week workbook, $19.99This page is Point of Progress's own research, compiled in November 2026 from publishers' websites, placement materials and parent reviews. Publishers update their products, levels, placement tests and prices from time to time, so please verify all information with the provider before you buy. Point of Progress is independent and is not affiliated with any publisher named here.