California Science Test

Program Overview

The statewide California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System includes federally required science assessments in grades five and eight and once in high school (i.e., grade ten, eleven, or twelve). Since the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (CA NGSS) in 2013, the California Department of Education developed the California Science Test (CAST), which is aligned with these standards.

High school students will have only one opportunity to take a science test (i.e., in grade ten, eleven, or twelve). Local educational agencies (LEAs) can elect to administer a science test to students in grade ten or eleven. Students in grade twelve, who have not yet taken a science test, will automatically be registered to test. Students repeating grade twelve are not eligible to test.

The following links provide additional information about the program.

• CAASPP–CalEdFacts web page provides a more detailed overview of the tests.
• California Assessment Timeline (PDF) presents the assessment administration timeline.
• Assessment System Chart (PDF) lists the tests of the 2022–23 California assessment system by subject content, test name, test type, student participant groups, grade levels, and testing window timeframe.

Resources and Communication Materials

Resources for Communication with Parents/Guardians

Talking to Parents About the CAASPP (PPTX; 5MB)

CAST Informational Video

CAST Assessment Fact Sheet flyer (PDF)

Introducing CAST Item Specifications flyer (PDF)

2020–21 California Student Assessment Accessibility Graphic for Science (PDF)

CAST Practice and Training Tests flyer (PDF)

Partner Organizations

• Achieve NGSS Resource 
• California Science Project
• California Science Teachers Association
• National K–12 Science Framework 
• National Science Teachers Association 
• Next Generation Science Standards 

Test Administration

Test Administration Coordination website

CAST Training Tests, Practice Tests, and Scoring Guide

CAASPP Portal Quick Start Guides web page provides guides with instructions on how to start the following:

• CAST—How to Start a Training Test
• CAST—How to Start a Practice Test
• CAST—How to Start a Test Session (This resource is intended for California educators and requires district log-in credentials.)

CAASPP Portal CAST web page includes online science resources available to all students:

• Periodic table of elements
• Reference sheets that include formulas and constants

Organization of the California Science Test (PDF)

Science Test Administration for High School Students (PDF)

Student Accessibility Resources web page

Scores and Results Reporting

Test Results for California's Assessments Website —For directions on how to view results, go to the Quick Reference Guides.

CAASPP Starting Smarter website

The CAST Reporting Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs) (PDF) document provides descriptions of the four levels possible for a student’s overall performance on the CAST and the three levels possible for a student’s performance by science domain.

CAST Scale Score Ranges provides the scale score ranges by grade and achievement level.

Research Files for California Science Test web page , which provides research files from previous administrations of the CAST.

CAST 2017–18 administration research files contain the results from the 2017–18 field test. CAST aggregated results are reported by the state, county, LEA, and school levels as well as by student groups. These research files are intended for use by educators or researchers to perform analyses and prepare customized reports. Caution should be used when interpreting the preliminary indicator results, given that these results are from an assessment that was not operational.

Laws, Regulations, and Requirements

California Education Code Section 60640

CAASPP Regulations

Assessment Apportionment Reimbursements to LEAs

Technical Documents

CAST Blueprint (PDF) was used to build the 2018–19 through 2020–21 administrations of the CAST.

Revised CAST Blueprint (PDF; 2MB) will be implemented with the 2021–22 administration of the CAST.

CAST Item Specifications

CAST Range Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs)

2016 Science Framework

Accessibility Supports for Operational Testing (PDF)

CAASPP Technical Reports and Studies