Assessment Spotlight, Issue 308
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) email update, February 7, 2025.Focusing on the CAASPP System and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)—and including, when timely, updates on California’s other statewide assessments. For questions related to test administration, coordination, and trainings, visit the CAASPP and ELPAC website
.
Organization of the California Science Test
To prepare educators and coordinators for the administration of the California Science Test (CAST), understanding the organization of the test may be beneficial. The CAST is an untimed computer-based assessment administered to students in grade five, in grade eight, and once in high school—that is, grade ten, eleven, or twelve. The CAST consists of six test segments, presented in random order, and ends with a student survey.
The test segments are divided into two sections: discrete, or stand-alone, test items and performance tasks (PTs). PTs are a group of 4-6 test items developed around a single science concept or phenomenon. Each PT is aligned with one of the three domains: Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences, or Physical Sciences. Students will receive at least one PT from each science domain.
For additional information about how the CAST is organized, you may view the Organization of the California Science Test flyer
(PDF) on the California Science Test web page
.
Updated Quick Reference Guides
CAASPP and ELPAC Quick Reference Guides provide step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish a task or activity within California’s assessment systems and programs, for example, How to Start a Test Session
(PDF). These helpful guides have recently been updated to ensure users can quickly navigate the assessment systems and programs. All Quick Reference Guides are located on the Quick Reference Guides web page.
To receive future CAASPP and ELPAC updates and notifications, subscribe to the CAASPP mailing list by sending a blank email message to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov. Are you a new subscriber? For previous Assessment Spotlight issues, visit the California Department of Education Assessment Spotlight web page.