Facts about Common Core Testing for Juniors at CVHS
April 11-29, 2016
In schools across the country, teachers are helping students meet the challenge of the Common Core
State Standards—consistent guidelines for what students should know and be able to do at each grade
level so they can graduate high school prepared for college and the workplace. These standards
challenge students to develop a deeper understanding of subject matter, learn how to think critically,
and apply what they are learning to the real world.
Teachers and college faculty from two dozen states have developed high-quality assessments that
provide more accurate and meaningful information about what students are learning. The assessments
will replace the previous California Standards Tests in English and mathematics this year. Administered
online, the new assessments will adapt to each student’s ability, giving teachers and parents better
information to help students succeed.
Specific Details:

All eleventh-grade students are required to take the assessments in grade 11.

There are TWO PARTS: English-Language Arts and Mathematics.

Students are given UNLIMITED time during each school day to take this exam.

The test is online and computer adaptive.

California Common Core State Standards (CA CCSS): the standards adopted by the state of
California in August 2010; the CCSS focus on developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving,
and analytical skills students will need to be successful

California Assessment for Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP): the CCSS assessments that
replace California Standards Test (CST)/STAR in California
Test Content:

Your ability to think and reason

Expressing reasoning and support with evidence

Clarity and accuracy

English Language Arts: reading, writing, listening, and research

Mathematics: reasoning, modeling, procedures and problem-solving
Four types of Questions:

Selected Response: prompt students to select one or more responses for a set of options; may have
many right answers

Constructed Response: prompt students to produce a written or numerical response in order to
collect evidence about their knowledge or understanding; “short answer” in which students must
explain their reasoning with evidence

Extended Response: prompts students to produce a written or numerical response that requires
lengthier justification or explanation with multiple steps; open-ended

Performance Task: measures a student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills across multiple
standards—a key component of college and career readiness; used to better measure depth of
understanding, research skills, and complex analysis

For both ELA and math, you will complete the Selected Response, Constructed Response, and
Extended Response items during the first day of testing. The following day there will be a class
discussion to prepare you for the performance task in that content area. The third day will include
the Performance Task in that content area.
Tool Bar:
Test Preparation:

All math and English courses at CV teach the CA Common Core State Standards. This will prepare
all students for CAASPP assessments.

Questions in all of your classes at CV are structured to raise the level of critical thinking.

Teachers across all content areas are preparing you with Selected Response, Constructed Response,
Extended Response, and Performance Tasks throughout the year.

iReady assessments give all CV students practice with a computer adaptive assessment

Practice tests in ELA and math are available online:
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/
Test Details:

The test is untimed.

Most students will be testing with their English and Math classes.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Our school will be on block schedule during the weeks of the exam.
You will likely be taking the exam for a couple of hours during each of four days throughout the
testing window (two days for the ELA assessment and two days for the mathematics assessment). The
rest of the school will be on block schedule, similar to what you experienced during CAHSEE testing
last year.
Other Testing:
California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) is still a graduation requirement in California.
Social Science STAR Test will still be given in the spring to all sophomores.
SAT and ACT are still used by colleges for admissions; they are NOT replaced by CAASPP.
AP exams are still administered by the College Board allowing students to earn college credit.