Day of Test Administration - Directions for Administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST

Oct 3, 2026

Directions for administering the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics, and the California Science Test (CAST). The guidance includes pre-administration checks for test security, seating and materials setup, posting required notices, controlling student access to devices, providing required resources, and launching secure browsers. It also specifies script adherence for test administrators, handling student questions without assisting with test items, and correct procedures for online testing sessions and incident reporting.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

Before You Administer a Test Session

Test Administrator

Administer an Online Test Session

Day of Test Administration: Directions for Administration of the Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST Note: These instructions apply to administration of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics and the California Science Test (CAST) . The Directions for Administration of the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA and Mathematics and the embedded performance tasks (PTs) for the CAA for Science, which include directions, can be downloaded from the password-protected Test Operations Management System (TOMS) . Overview RECOMMENDATION: Consider printing this section to be used on the day of testing for both the computer adaptive test (CAT) and PT portions of each content area test. Remember that the CAT and PT portions are considered two unique tests and, as such, adherence to the process that follows is needed when initiating both tests. Before you administer a test session, check to see if the following has been completed: 􀂉 Verify the security of the testing environment prior to beginning a test session. (Seethe subsection Security of the Test Environment.) 􀀹 Student seats are arranged in a way so they cannot see each other’s answers. 􀀹 All displayed instructional materials (e.g., vocabulary charts, periodic tables, etc.) are covered or taken down. 􀀹 Post “TESTING IN PROGRESS—DO NOT DISTURB” signs outside of the testing room. 􀂉 Ensure that students do not have access to digital, electronic, or manual devices (e.g. , cellphones, smart watches) during testing. 􀂉 Make sure each testing device or workstation has headphones. 􀂉 Verify that students have access to and use of the additional required resources in Table 15 specific to each assessment and content area (e.g., scratch paper for all tests, headphones for ELA, graph paper for mathematics grades six and above) . 􀂉 Recommended: Launch secure browsers on all testing devices before students sit down to test. Test Administrator Note: With the exception of students in grades six and above with a documented accommodation in an IEP or Section 504 plan to use a nonembedded calculator, students are expected to use the embedded calculator for calculator-allowed questions on the mathematics test. To ensure that all students are tested under the same conditions, the test administrator should adhere strictly to the script for administering the test unless a student is assigned thenon-embedded designated support or accommodation for Simplified Test Directions. The script can be found in the shaded boxes on pages 123 through 135. These instructions can be found in the boxes in bold on the following pages. When asked, the test administrator should answer questions raised by students but should never help the class or individual students with specific test items. No test items can be read to any student for any content area, unless the student is assigned a Read-Aloud non-embedded designated support or accommodation as listed in the Smarter Balanced Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines (UAAG) . Please remember that the script must be followed exactly and used each time a test is administered, except for students who are assigned the Simplified Test Directions non-embedded designated support as described in the UAAG. If the class is resuming a test and the test administrator is sure that all students are able to log on without hearing the logon directions again, the test administrator may skip the italicized portions of the directions. All directions that a test administrator needs to read to students are indicated by the word“SAY” and are in boxes so they stand out from the regular text. They should be read exactly as they are written, using a natural tone and manner (except for students assigned the Simplified Test Directions non-embedded designated support) . If the test administrator makes a mistake in reading a direction, the test administrator should stop and say, “I mad

FAQs

What checks must be completed before starting a test session?

Verify the security of the testing environment, arrange seats so students cannot see each other’s answers, cover or remove displayed instructional materials, post “TESTING IN PROGRESS—DO NOT DISTURB” signs, restrict device access, and ensure required resources and headphones are available.

How should the test administrator handle the test administration script?

The test administrator must adhere strictly to the script and read directions marked with “SAY” exactly as written, in a natural tone. If a mistake is made, the administrator should stop and say, “I made a mistake. Listen again,” then reread the direction.

What should be done if the wrong assessment type is mistakenly administered online?

If a summative assessment is administered when an interim or practice/training test was intended, the LEA CAASPP coordinator or test site coordinator must submit a CAASPP Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) form to report the incident, and may then be directed to file an appeal.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Riley West