California Practice Tests
California Practice Books and Flashcards
California's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, California's CAASPP covers English language arts and math every year with the Smarter Balanced tests, plus science with the California Science Test (CAST) in grades 5 and 8. The tests are given online, and paper tests are available only by special request for a student who cannot take a computer-based test, such as a student whose IEP or Section 504 plan calls for braille or large print. Every test is untimed, and the times below are the state's estimates for scheduling. Most schools test in the spring. An optional California Spanish Assessment is also offered in grades 3 through 8.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 | Online; a computer-adaptive part plus a performance task in two parts; one essay, in the performance task | Untimed; about 45 minutes for the adaptive part and 2 hours for the performance task | Reading and listening, and writing and research/inquiry (two reported areas) |
In the performance task, students read several sources, answer a research question, and then write one full essay, which may be narrative, opinion, or informational. Smarter Balanced recommends giving the adaptive part and the performance task on separate days.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4 and 5 | Online; a computer-adaptive part plus a performance task; no calculator | Untimed; about 45 minutes for the adaptive part and 1 hour for the performance task | Concepts and procedures, and mathematical practices (two reported areas) |
| Grade 6 | Online; a computer-adaptive part plus a performance task; on-screen four-function calculator on some items | Untimed; about 1 hour for the adaptive part and 1 hour for the performance task | Concepts and procedures, and mathematical practices (two reported areas) |
| Grades 7 and 8 | Online; a computer-adaptive part plus a performance task; on-screen scientific calculator on some items | Untimed; about 1 hour for the adaptive part and 1 hour for the performance task | Concepts and procedures, and mathematical practices (two reported areas) |
The test measures concepts and procedures, problem solving and modeling/data analysis, and communicating reasoning. The adaptive part adjusts to each student's answers, and the performance task is a set of related questions about one real-world problem. From grade 6, part of the adaptive test allows the calculator and part does not; a student may use a separate calculator only as an IEP or Section 504 accommodation.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 | Online; stand-alone questions plus three or four performance tasks; on-screen four-function calculator | Untimed; about 2 hours | Earth and space sciences, life sciences, physical sciences (one third each) |
| Grade 8 | Online; stand-alone questions plus three or four performance tasks; on-screen scientific calculator; periodic table and formula reference sheet | Untimed; about 2 hours | Earth and space sciences, life sciences, physical sciences (one third each) |
The CAST is built on the California Next Generation Science Standards. The grade 5 test draws on standards from grades 3 through 5, and the grade 8 test on grades 6 through 8. Every student gets at least one performance task from each science domain, and a short survey at the end does not count toward the score.