CSTA

CA Science Test - CAST

California Science Test - CAST

In 2019 all LEAs will administer the first operational version of the CAST or the CAA-Science field test to all students enrolled in grades 5, 8, and students in grade 12 who have did not participate in the 2018 CAST Field Test or CAA Science Year Two Pilot. The CAST testing window opens January 9, 2018. Districts may elect to administer the high school assessment to students enrolled in grades 10 and 11 (see "High School Administration Guidance" below for details).

In the fall of 2018, CDE will make available assessment results in the form of preliminary indicators from the 2018 CAST field test (see the "Field Test Results" tab below for details).

UPDATED AS OF 3/12/20
CSTA NGSS Committee has developed and updated a set of Frequently Asked Questions, in conjunction with CDE Assessment staff and leadership.

CAST Segments for 2018/19 Administration

This table outlines the six segments that make up the single CAST test. Unlike the Smarter Balanced Language Arts and Math Assessments, the Performance Task segments of the CAST are not separately administered. It is all one assessment. (Table coming soon!)

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

Segment 4

Segment 5

Segment 6

Discreet Items
(12 - 17 Items)

Discreet Items
(12 - 17 Items)

Discreet Items
(12 - 17 Items)

OR

Performance Task
(4 - 7 Items)

Performance Task
(4 - 7 Items)

Performance Task
(4 - 7 Items)

Student Survey
(3 - 4 Questions)

Source: California Department of Education: http://www.caaspp.org/rsc/pdfs/CAASPP.CAST.Suggested-Pausing-Points...

CAST Blueprints

Assessment blueprints document the content standards to be measured using the assessment. The CAST Blueprints were approved by the CA State Board of Education on November 8, 2017. The blueprint is available from CDE.

CAST General Achievement Level Descriptors and Score Reporting Structure (Operational Assessment)

On November 8, 2017, the SBE also approved CDE’s recommendation for the CAST general Achievement Level Descriptors (ALD) and Score Reporting Structure. General ALDs provide descriptions of student performance level expectations across four levels. These general ALDs will be used to develop both student level reporting of performance and grade-level specific ALDs.

Level

Description

4

The student has exceeded the performance expectations of the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) by demonstrating a thorough understanding of the CA NGSS and a thorough ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

3

The student has met the performance expectations of the CA NGSS by demonstrating an adequate understanding of the CA NGSS and an adequate ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

2

The student has nearly met the performance expectations of the CA NGSS by demonstrating a partial understanding of the CA NGSS and a partial ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

1

The student has not met the performance expectations of the CA NGSS by demonstrating a minimal understanding of the CA NGSS and a minimal ability to apply his or her knowledge and skills through the CA NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts.

Source: California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr17/documents/nov...

The operational CAST score reporting structure will include an overall scale score and three sub-scores, one each for three-dimensional Earth/space, life, and physical sciences. Assessment items measuring PEs from the Engineering, Technology, and Application of Science domain will be set in the context of life, physical, or Earth and space sciences and those items will be reported according to one of those three domains in the reporting structure.

Source: California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/yr17/documents/nov...