Quick Reference Guides

The Quick Reference Guides provide step-by-step instructions for how to accomplish a task or activity within California’s assessment programs.

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment

• Starting a Test Session
  • Summative Assessment – How to Start a Training Test (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – How to Start a Practice Test (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – How to Start a Test Session (PDF)
• Accessing Results on the Public Reporting Website
  • Summative Assessment – How to View Overall Test Results (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – How to View Test Results for Student Groups (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – How to Compare Test Results (PDF)
  • Summative Assessment – How to View Change Over Time for Test Results (PDF)
    
• Accessing the California Educator Reporting System (CERS)
  

  • How to View Individual Student Results (PDF)
  • How to View Summative Assessment Target Group Reports (PDF)
  • How to View Student Results by School (PDF)
  • How to View Individual Student Summative Writing Trait Scores(PDF)
  • How to View Summative Writing Trait Scores by Student Group (PDF)
    

Due to factors surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2019–20 results are not available and testing participation in 2020–21 varied. Care should be used when interpreting results.

Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments

• Interim Assessments – How to Access the Interim Assessment Viewing System (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.
• Interim Assessments – How to Start a Test Session (PDF) – This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.

Smarter Balanced Tools for Teachers

• Formative Assessments – How to Self-Register for Tools for Teachers (PDF)

California Science Test (CAST)

• CAST – How to Start a Training Test (PDF)
• CAST – How to Start a Practice Test (PDF)
• CAST – How to Start a Test Session (PDF)

California Alternate Assessments (CAA)

• Accessing Results
  • CAA – How to View Overall Test Results (PDF)
  • CAA – How to View Test Results for Student Groups (PDF)
  • CAA – How to Compare Test Results (PDF)
  • CAA – How to View Change Over Time for Test Results (PDF)
  
  
• CAA – How to Start a Training Test (PDF)
• CAA – How to Start a Practice Test (PDF)
• CAA – How to Start a Test Session (PDF)
• CAA – How to View Test Results (PDF)

California Spanish Assessment (CSA)

• CSA – How to Start a Training Test (PDF)
• CSA – How to Start a Practice Test (PDF)

English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)

• Where to Submit Answers for the 2020–21 ELPAC (PDF)
  
  
• Accessing Results
  • Initial ELPAC – How to View Overall Test Results (PDF)
  • Initial ELPAC – How to View Test Results for Student Groups (PDF)
  • Initial ELPAC – How to Compare Test Results (PDF)
    
  • Summative ELPAC – How to View Overall Test Results (PDF)
  • Summative ELPAC – How to View Test Results for Student Groups (PDF)
  • Summative ELPAC – How to Compare Test Results (PDF)
    
    
• ELPAC – How to Start a Training Test for Speaking Domain (PDF)
• ELPAC – How to Start a Practice Test for Speaking Domain (PDF)
• ELPAC – How to Start a Training Test for Listening, Reading, and Writing Domains (PDF)
• ELPAC – How to Start a Practice Test for Listening, Reading, and Writing Domains (PDF)
• Initial ELPAC – How to Start a Test Session (PDF)
• Summative ELPAC – How to Start a Test Session (PDF)

• How to Use the Local Scoring Tool (LST) (PDF)
• How to Complete the Initial ELPAC Rotating Score Validation Process (PDF)
  
  
• How to Complete the Paper-Pencil Initial ELPAC Process (PDF)
• How to Complete the Computer-Based Initial ELPAC Process (PDF)

Test Operations Management System (TOMS)

• How to Log Into the Data Entry Interface (PDF)
  
  
• How to Enter Responses for the Paper-Based Initial ELPAC Listening Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Responses for the Paper-Based Initial ELPAC Reading Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Scores for the Computer-Based Initial ELPAC Speaking Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Scores for the Computer-Based Initial ELPAC Writing Domain for Grades K–2 (PDF)
• How to Enter Scores for the Paper-Based Initial ELPAC Speaking Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Scores for the Paper-Based Initial ELPAC Writing Domain (PDF)
  
  
• How to Enter Responses for the Paper-Based Summative ELPAC Listening Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Responses for the Paper-Based Summative ELPAC Reading Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Responses for the Paper-Based Summative ELPAC Writing Domain for Grades 3–12 (PDF)
• How to Enter Scores for the Paper-Based Summative ELPAC Speaking Domain (PDF)
• How to Enter Scores for the Computer-Based Summative ELPAC Speaking Domain (PDF)

Alternate ELPAC

• How to Start a Practice Test (PDF)