CAASPP practice test 2027
In California, the grades 3-8 test is the CAASPP, short for California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. Here’s what we could confirm about the 2027 test, and a free math practice set for each grade.
Free practice by grade
A set of math questions in the style of the CAASPP for each grade, in the online formats state tests use, marked as soon as it’s done.
The test in 2027
- Who gives it
- California. Smarter Balanced supplies the ELA and math tests. California's test administration help is hosted by ETS and the practice tests run on Cambium Assessment's platform.
- When
- Usually spring; each district picks its own testing window inside the statewide window.
- What it checks
- California Common Core State Standards.
- How it’s taken
- Taken on a computer. It’s adaptive: the questions get harder or easier depending on the answers so far.
- Calculators
- No calculator in grades 3-5. Grades 6-8 mix calculator and non-calculator items, with an embedded Desmos calculator on calculator items.
What the math test looks like
The kinds of question on it:
- Multiple choice
- Multiple select
- Matching table
- Equation response (typed numeric answer or expression)
- Grid item (drag and drop, plotting)
- Table fill-in
- Short text response (explain reasoning)
How math is reported
The CAASPP reports a child’s math in these categories. The practice sets here are marked by them too.
- Every grade
- Concepts and Procedures
- Mathematical Practices (problem solving, modeling and data analysis, communicating reasoning)
Scores and results
A Smarter Balanced scale score (the scale runs from about 2000 to 3000 across grades) and one of four levels. Each of the two math composite areas is reported as Above Proficient, At or Near Proficient, or Below Proficient.
The levels, lowest first:
- Minimal
- Developing
- Proficient
- Advanced
When results come: Families get a Student Score Report through their school or district, on a timetable that varies by district. CDE released 2025-26 statewide results on October 15, 2026, with the California School Dashboard.
What’s changing
From 2025-26 reporting the four levels were renamed: Standard Exceeded is now Advanced, Standard Met is Proficient, Standard Nearly Met is Developing and Standard Not Met is Minimal. Cut scores did not change. CDE's March 2026 guide reports math as two composite areas instead of three claim areas.
Official practice
The state’s own practice is the best way to see what the real test looks like.
- Official CAASPP practice tests (caaspp-elpac.org)
The sets here aren’t real CAASPP questions: Thena writes every one in code, in the style of the test, and never copies a state’s own.
Questions about the CAASPP
When is the CAASPP in 2027?
Usually spring; each district picks its own testing window inside the statewide window.
Is a calculator allowed on the CAASPP math test?
No calculator in grades 3-5. Grades 6-8 mix calculator and non-calculator items, with an embedded Desmos calculator on calculator items.
How is the CAASPP scored?
A Smarter Balanced scale score (the scale runs from about 2000 to 3000 across grades) and one of four levels. Each of the two math composite areas is reported as Above Proficient, At or Near Proficient, or Below Proficient. The levels, lowest first: Minimal, Developing, Proficient, Advanced.
When do families get the results?
Families get a Student Score Report through their school or district, on a timetable that varies by district. CDE released 2025-26 statewide results on October 15, 2026, with the California School Dashboard.
Are there official CAASPP practice tests?
Yes. The state has official practice online, linked below. The sets on this page are made fresh each time, so they can be done as often as you like.
Where these facts come from
Checked on November 3, 2026, on these pages. Anything this page leaves out, we couldn’t yet confirm on the state’s own pages: they have the latest.
- caaspp-elpac.org: caaspp-elpac.org/
- caaspp-elpac.org: caaspp-elpac.org/assessments/caaspp/sb-ela-math
- caaspp-elpac.org: caaspp-elpac.org/s/docs/scoresmeanmath.pdf
- caaspp-elpac.org: caaspp-elpac.org/resources/reporting/ssr-and-reporting-resources/alds
- caaspp-elpac.org: caaspp-elpac.org/training-and-communication/communication/email/05-04-26-caaspp
- caaspp-elpac.org: caaspp-elpac.org/resources/preparation/practice-and-training-tests
- smarterbalanced.org: smarterbalanced.org/our-system/scores/
- technicalreports.smarterbalanced.org: technicalreports.smarterbalanced.org/2022-23_summative-report/_book/test-design.html
- portal.smarterbalanced.org: portal.smarterbalanced.org/library/en/mathematics-summative-assessment-blueprint.pdf
See Thena explain the ones they missed
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