Pause Rules for Assessments - Pause Rules - More Than 20 Minutes

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda

Pause Rules for Assessments outlines how test administrations handle interruptions during testing. It specifies that assessments can be paused for reasons such as breaks, end-of-day session limits, system inactivity, or site technical issues. It distinguishes pause handling at a 20-minute threshold: returning within 20 minutes allows review within the same segment, while returning after more than 20 minutes restricts access to previously responded or partially responded items. It also defines exceptions, including assessments or segments with no pause rules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Pausing Assessments

Reasons for Pausing

Pause Rules for Assessments

Equal to or Less Than 20 Minutes

More Than 20 Minutes

Pause Rules for Assessments

No Pause Rules

Applicable Assessments

Assessments With Pause Rules

Assessments Without Pause Rules

Acronyms

Pause Rules for Assessments Pausing Assessments All assessments can be paused by either the student, test administrator, or test examiner during testing. Assessments may be paused for, but not limited to, the following reasons: ■ A student needs a break. ■ A testing session ends for the day, and the student has not completed the assessment. ■ There is 30 minutes of inactivity in the Test Delivery System or Test Administrator Interface. ■ There are technical issues at the test site, such as a power outage. While all assessments can be paused, some assessments have a 20-minute pause rule that prevents the student from revisiting previously answered questions. Pause Rules Equal to or Less Than 20 Minutes If a student returns to an assessment after being paused for 20 minutes or less, they will return to where they left off within a segment and can revisit previously answered items in the current segment. The student will not be able to access previous segments. Note: timing is based on when a test administrator or test examiner approves the student in the Test Administrator Interface. More than 20 Minutes If a student returns to an assessment after being paused for more than 20 minutes, they will not be able to return to items to which they have responded or partially responded, even if the items were marked for review. Note the following about pausing for more than 20 minutes: ■ If a student is working on a non–performance task, constructed-response item and pauses for more than 20 minutes, they will not be able to return to that item, and the partial response will be submitted. ■ A partial response includes any interaction with the item, including typing any characters or spaces in a constructed-response item. ■ If there are multiple items on one page and the student has not interacted with all items on the page, the student will return to that page and can interact with all items. ■ Digital notepad notes are item-specific; if the student cannot access the item, they cannot access the digital notepad notes for that item either. ■ Global notes, which are available only for ELA performance tasks, are retained across items and segments regardless of pause rules. Pause Rules for Assessments No Pause Rules For assessments or segments without pause rules, if a student is paused for more than 20 minutes, they will be able to return to items with previous or partial responses within the current assessment or segment. It is important to remind students that if they move past a segment barrier in any assessment, they will not be able to return to those previous segments, regardless of the pause rules. Applicable Assessments Assessments WITH pause rules ■ Summative Assessments ■ Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics—computer adaptive tests ■ CAST—discrete item blocks (non– performance task segments) ■ CSA ■ Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC—Listening and Reading domains ■ Interim Assessments ■ Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics—non–performance task IABs and ICAs ■ CAST—non–performance task segments ■ ELPAC—Listening and Reading domains Assessments WITHOUT pause rules: ■ Summative Assessments ■ Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics—performance tasks ■ CAST—performance task segments ■ CAAs ■ Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC—Speaking and Writing domains ■ Initial Alternate ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC ■ Interim Assessments ■ Smarter Balanced for ELA and mathematics—performance tasks ■ CAST—performance task segments ■ ELPAC—Speaking and Writing domains Acronyms CAASPP: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress CAST: California Science Test CAAs: California Alternate Assessments CSA: California Spanish Assessment ELA: English language arts/literacy ELPAC: English Language Proficiency Assessments for California IABs: Interim Assessment Blocks ICAs: Interim Comprehensive Assessments

FAQs

Who can pause an assessment during testing?

Assessments can be paused by the student, test administrator, or test examiner during testing.

What happens if a student returns after a pause of 20 minutes or less?

The student returns to where they left off within a segment and can revisit previously answered items in the current segment, but cannot access previous segments.

What changes when a student returns after more than 20 minutes?

The student cannot return to items they responded to or partially responded to, even if items were marked for review. For constructed-response tasks, any typing interaction counts as a partial response and is submitted.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda