Colorado Practice Tests
Colorado Practice Books and Flashcards
Colorado's State Tests at a Glance
In grades 3 through 8, CMAS covers English language arts and math every year, science in grades 5 and 8, and social studies in grade 7. The tests are given online in timed units, and paper tests are used only as an accommodation for students with a documented need. Students may pause for up to three minutes in each unit without losing testing time. Testing takes place in one window each spring.
English Language Arts
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 | Three units; reading passages with written responses | 90 minutes per unit | Reading: literary text, informational text and vocabulary (about 62 to 63% of the score); writing: written expression and knowledge of language and conventions (about 37 to 38%) |
The written tasks are a literary analysis, a research simulation and a narrative task. Students in grades 3 and 4 who qualify may take the Colorado Spanish Language Arts (CSLA) version instead.
Mathematics
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Three units; no calculator | 65 minutes per unit | Major content (43 to 44%), supporting content (18%), expressing mathematical reasoning (20 to 22%), modeling and application (18%) |
| Grade 4 | Three units; no calculator | 65 minutes per unit | Major content (47 to 48%), supporting content (14%), expressing mathematical reasoning (20 to 22%), modeling and application (18%) |
| Grade 5 | Three units; no calculator; reference sheet | 65 minutes per unit | Major content (45 to 46%), supporting content (16%), expressing mathematical reasoning (20 to 22%), modeling and application (18%) |
| Grade 6 | Three units; Unit 1 has a no-calculator section and a calculator section; Units 2 and 3 allow a calculator; five-function calculator; reference sheet | 65 minutes per unit | Major content (39 to 40%), supporting content (22%), expressing mathematical reasoning (20 to 22%), modeling and application (18%) |
| Grade 7 | Three units; Unit 1 has a no-calculator section and a calculator section; Units 2 and 3 allow a calculator; five-function calculator; reference sheet | 65 minutes per unit | Major content (45 to 46%), supporting content (16%), expressing mathematical reasoning (20 to 22%), modeling and application (18%) |
| Grade 8 | Three units; Unit 1 has a no-calculator section and a calculator section; Units 2 and 3 allow a calculator; scientific calculator; reference sheet | 65 minutes per unit | Major content (47 to 48%), supporting content (13 to 14%), expressing mathematical reasoning (20 to 22%), modeling and application (18%) |
An online calculator and the reference sheet are built into the test where they are allowed, and students may use their own handheld calculator if it meets Colorado's calculator policy. Graphing calculators are not allowed.
Science
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 | Three units; four-function calculator | 65 minutes per unit | Earth and space science (41%), physical science (35%), physical and life science (24%); science and engineering practices in 65 to 75% of points |
| Grade 8 | Three units; scientific calculator | 65 minutes per unit | Life science (36%), physical science (34%), earth and space science (30%); science and engineering practices in 65 to 74% of points |
Questions come in sets built around one science situation, and written responses make up close to half of the points (47% in grade 5, 46% in grade 8).
Social Studies
| Grade | Format | Time | What’s tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 7 | One unit | 65 minutes | History (28%), geography (25%), civics (25%), economics (11%), personal financial literacy (11%) |
Social studies is given in grade 7 at all schools. Colorado no longer gives a grade 4 social studies test.