Summary
Bracketing is the short, front-loaded phase where we verify starting levels and tighten foundations.
It may briefly show early levels (e.g., “K”) or hide some subjects (e.g., Science) on purpose. None of this is a judgment about your child. It’s a safety check to prevent the “wobble-then-crash” later.
A strong daily/weekly plan
Take a test. If it was 90% of higher, that's awesome! You're ready for another one.
If it was below, we recommend Post-Test Coaching. (This link is in Circle under "links")
Knock out Knowledge Gaps. These are assigned to filling what the student couldn't demonstrate on the test.
Try another test. Go slow and patiently. No rushing. ☺️
The Most Common Issues
Science is missing (not visible)
Science is missing (not visible)
Why this happens (by design): Science unlocks after Reading places the student at an independent level. We’re making sure Science measures science thinking—not reading endurance.
What to do today
Follow the Reading daily plan (one test), then complete Knowledge Gaps the same day.
If the last Reading test was <90%, book a PTC (15 minutes) to clear the blocker quickly.
Ignore Science for now—you’re not missing a setting. Everything is good!
How you’ll know when they're ready for Science
Science appears alongside core subjects automatically once Reading confirms independence. A Science test will then enter the normal rotation; your dashboard activity will follow.
How to explain to your child
“Science turns on once reading is set, so the test measures your science knowledge—not how fast you can read.”
Mini-FAQ
Can I turn on Science manually? No. It unlocks automatically after Reading places.
Does this delay progress? No. Science is a lot of word problems, so Reading is a prerequisite and getting to Sciene too quickly will lead to frustration.
K-level (Kindergarten) appeared for 1 or more subjects
K-level (Kindergarten) appeared for 1 or more subjects
What it means: “K” is a foundation checkpoint—not a label. It verifies the earliest skills so higher levels don’t wobble.
What to do today
Normalize it with your child: “This is a quick base check so you can move faster later.”
Complete Knowledge Gaps from the K test the same day if possible.
If the last test was <90%, book PTC (15 minutes). One quick tune-up prevents repeats.
How you’ll know things are moving
After closing the early gaps, the system moves up quickly to the appropriate level. Kids who have a reaction to Kindergarten content are usually moved up after 1 test.
How to explain to your child
“If it feels easy, great—that means we’ll move up fast. Go carefully so we don’t miss tiny steps that slow you later.”
Mini-FAQ
Does K mean something is wrong? No. It’s a zoom-in check on early skills.
Can we skip it? No, but the good news is that it is just a short investment of time.
Tests feel too easy / too hard
Tests feel too easy / too hard
Why this happens: Bracketing intentionally probes above and below to find the right “just-right” starting point. This usually means taking at least 1 test in each subject that will feel easy and another that will be too hard.
What to do today
Too easy? Keep a steady pace and complete Knowledge Gaps same day—this fast-tracks you upward.
Too hard? Slow down, take breaks if needed, and use PTC (Post-test Coaching) after any score <90% to remove friction. It's okay to get a bad grade.
Mini-FAQ
Should we retest everything? No. Use PTC to target the blocker and keep moving. The tests will continue adjusting until the student has completed the process and ready to start their building lessons.
We’re seeing the same test again
We’re seeing the same test again
Why this happens: The student scored close to the required score of 90%. Rather than have them start this grade level from the beginning, the system is going to have them do Knowledge Gap filling and try this test again until they get above 90%.
What to do today
100% do Post-test Coaching to help the student learn from their last attempt. This will help avoid the redundant attempts.
Re-take in a quiet space, one subject per day.
Complete Knowledge Gaps immediately afterward.
How you’ll know you're moving ahead
Your child will pass the repeat with 90% or above, gaps will shrink, and new content will appear.
When to contact support
If the exact same test repeats 3+ times despite the steps above.
Knowledge Gaps are piling up
Knowledge Gaps are piling up
Why this happens: Students may have knowledge gaps to complete after their last failed attempt. They'll want to complete these before attempting new tests. (Sometimes, the student will see both a test and the lessons. They should do the lessons first)
What to do today
Set a simple rule: “Gaps done first."
If gap lessons feel unclear or your child is frustrated, book PTC.
Keep blocks to ~25 minutes with short breaks to avoid fatigue. The process sometimes just requires a little time.
How do we know when the process is over?
How do we know when the process is over?
Short answer: The process follows a set of conditions to determine when it ends (rather than a fixed process). This makes it hard to predict when it ends in terms of a particular day or date, but the conditions can be easily explained. We are working on an easier way for parents to see this in the platform itself and acknowledge this is not super easy to determine without getting help.
A subject is done bracketing when:
The student has passed a subject with at least 90%
The student has failed a subject below 60%
The student is done bracketing when all subjects have met both criteria.
Why don't we see any data during bracketing?
Why don't we see any data during bracketing?
Why this happens: This is a current flaw in our data tracking and something we are working on. Currently, lesson completion data doesn't start racking until bracketing is over for the subject (since their starting point is still being determined). While this can make sense from 1 perspective, we undertand that parents often feel like they're in the dark during bracketing and don't know how to help or support the process. We are working on a better way to show data and progress during bracketing.
What to do today
Stick to the outlined process above to ensure your child's time in bracketing is both efficient and brief.
If something feels off, please let us know so we can helpp
Common Parent Questions → Answers
Q: How long does bracketing usually take?
A: Most families clear it in 3 weeks, depending on gaps and consistency. AlphaLearn students may go faster as the system allows tests to be taken immediately. Dash currently requires a 4-hour delay between tests.
Q: Do we need to do a Post-Test Coaching call every time?
A: It's always encouraged. Use PTC after any score <90% or if frustration shows up two sessions in a row.
Q: My child was advanced last year. Why are we seeing K?
A: K is a zoom-in on early pieces that broader tests can’t fully confirm. It’s usually brief. Also, being able to do work that's ahead does not mean no knowledge gaps behind. Both can very easily (and are often) true.
Q: Can we do multiple tests in one day to go faster?
A: You can, but accuracy drops with fatigue, so just monitor your child for their endurance.
Q: Do we lose time because Science is hidden?
A: No. You’re saving time by avoiding false signals caused by reading stamina instead of science knowledge.
Q: When should I email support vs. book coaching?
A: Tech glitches → support. Repeated sub-90s, boredom, or confusion about gaps → PTC.
Bottom Line
Bracketing is short, purposeful, and worth doing right. One fresh test per day, same-day gaps, and a quick PTC when needed will beat every shortcut you can think of. If anything feels stuck, we’ll help—fast, friendly, and human.