California Science Test
California's statewide science assessment for students in grades five and eight and once in high school.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 for the 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22 school years.
- Assessment System Chart (PDF) lists the tests of the California assessment system by subject content, test name, test type, student participant groups, grade levels, and testing window time frame.
Resources and Communication Materials
Resources for Communication with Parents/Guardians
Talking to Parents About the CAASPP (PPTX; 5MB)
CAST Assessment Fact Sheet flyer (PDF)
Introducing CAST Item Specifications flyer (PDF)
California Student Assessment Accessibility for Science flyer (PDF)
Available CAST Resources flyer (PDF)
CAST Training Tests Now Available 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
Suggested Pausing Point for the California Science Test (PDF)
Science Test Administration for High School Students (PDF)
Student Accessibility Resources web page
Scores and Results Reporting
CAST 2017–18 administration research files contain the results from the field test. CAST aggregated results are reported by the state, county, LEA, and school levels as well as by student groups. The data is 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.
Reporting Science Assessments Results Time Line provides LEAs, schools, and other stakeholders with information about releasing the science results to parents/guardians and the public.
Laws, Regulations, and Requirements
California Education Code Section 60640
Assessment Apportionment Reimbursements to LEAs
Technical Documents
Accessibility Supports for Operational Testing (PDF)
CAASPP Technical Reports and Studies
