CAASPP exam-day guide
CAASPP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your test format and location with your school or test administrator
CAASPP is administered by California local educational agencies (LEAs), not by a single national testing company. Before exam day, confirm with your school or test administrator whether you are taking the Smarter Balanced summative assessment, the California Science Test (CAST), the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs), or another CAASPP component, and whether testing is on a school computer or a personal device. Do not assume a format based on what a friend at another school experienced. If the school has not communicated details, ask the site testing coordinator directly.
Know your test window and scheduled session dates
CAASPP testing windows are set by the state and then narrowed by each LEA, so exact dates vary by school and grade. Confirm your specific session dates and start times with your school. Mark them on a calendar and plan around them; a missed session may be difficult to reschedule within the window. Confirm with the provider (your school or LEA testing coordinator) if you have not received a schedule.
Bring or confirm your student identification
Test administrators typically verify student identity before a session, often through the school's student information system or a state-issued student identifier rather than a photo ID. Ask your test administrator what, if anything, you need to bring or know (for example, your student ID number or login credentials). Do not assume a government-issued photo ID is required or sufficient. Confirm with the provider.
Confirm your login credentials and device readiness
For computer-based CAASPP tests, students typically log in through a secure browser with credentials supplied at the test site. Confirm with your test administrator whether you will receive a test session ID, a username, or a pre-filled login ticket, and whether you should test your device beforehand. If you are using a school-managed device, verify it is charged and that any required secure browser is already installed. Confirm details with the provider.
Ask about approved calculators and embedded tools
Smarter Balanced mathematics tests include an embedded calculator for some grade levels and items, and the test administration manual specifies which tools are available. Do not bring your own calculator unless your test administrator explicitly says it is allowed for your grade and test. Ask whether scratch paper, a graph paper sheet, or other materials are provided or permitted, and whether they must be collected at the end of the session. Confirm with the provider.
Confirm accessibility supports and accommodations in advance
CAASPP offers embedded and non-embedded accessibility resources (for example, text-to-speech, Braille, or a separate setting) for students who need them, but these are arranged through the school and often require prior designation in the student's record. If you have an IEP, 504 plan, or other documented need, confirm well before exam day that your supports are set up. Do not wait until the session begins to request an accommodation. Confirm with the provider.
Get a full night's sleep and eat a normal breakfast
These tests can run 60 minutes or longer per session, and fatigue affects performance on multi-step reading and math items. Treat exam day like any other school day: sleep, eat, and hydrate normally. Avoid last-minute cramming the night before; there is no evidence that late-night review improves summative test performance, and it can hurt attention.
Arrive early and know the testing room
Arrive at the scheduled time and location with time to spare. Test administrators need to check students in, distribute login materials, and read directions before the clock starts. If you are unsure where the session is held, ask the day before rather than searching for the room on the morning of the test.
Leave prohibited items at home or in your locker
Schools typically restrict phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices during testing, and some require them to be turned off and stored away from the testing area. Ask your test administrator what the local rule is and follow it. Do not rely on a general assumption; policies vary by site. Confirm with the provider.
Review the test interface and practice tools
California provides practice and training tests that let students see the testing interface, including navigation, the embedded calculator, and the notepad or highlight tools. Ask your teacher or test administrator how to access the practice tests for your grade and subject. Familiarity with the interface reduces time lost on exam day and is especially useful if you have not taken a computer-based test before.
Plan for breaks and timing during the session
Smarter Balanced sessions may be paused and resumed within the school's testing window, and schools may offer breaks between sessions or during long ones. Ask your test administrator how breaks work at your site and whether a paused test can be resumed the same day. Knowing this in advance helps you pace yourself. Confirm with the provider.
Know how to raise a concern or report a problem
If a device freezes, a tool does not work, or you believe a test security issue occurred, tell the test administrator immediately rather than trying to fix it yourself. Schools follow state procedures for test incidents and may be able to void or reset a session. Ask in advance who the point of contact is at your site. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics with your school: exact dates, start times, room, device, login process, and whether any approved materials (scratch paper, calculator, reference sheet) will be provided. If you have documented accommodations, verify they are set up in the testing system. Take one practice test for each subject you will be tested on so the interface, navigation, and embedded tools feel familiar. Review your class notes for the tested subjects rather than trying to learn new material. Confirm with the provider if any of these details are unclear.
Do a light review of key concepts and question types, then stop. Charge any device you are responsible for bringing, if your school permits personal devices. Set out what you need (student ID information, login ticket if issued, water, a snack if allowed). Confirm the start time and room one more time, and check whether your school has changed any schedule. Go to bed at a normal hour. Do not stay up late reviewing; the test rewards sustained attention more than last-minute memorization.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, and follow check-in instructions. Listen carefully to the test administrator's directions, including how to log in, what materials are allowed, and how to pause or ask for help. Turn off and store your phone and any other electronic device as directed. Read the on-screen directions for each section before answering. If something about the interface or your login does not work, raise your hand immediately instead of troubleshooting alone.
Work at a steady pace and use the tools the interface provides, such as the notepad, highlighter, and review flags. For reading items, go back to the passage to support your answer; for math items, show your reasoning on scratch paper if it is allowed. If you are stuck, mark the item, move on, and return if time permits. Use breaks as your school allows, and remember that pausing may end your current session, so ask before pausing if you are unsure. If you finish early, review flagged items rather than closing the session immediately.
Rules to check
Follow your test administrator's directions about login, materials, and device use. CAASPP is administered under state test security and administration requirements, and local sites apply them; when a local rule and your assumption differ, the local rule controls. Confirm specifics with the provider.
Do not bring or use unauthorized electronic devices, notes, or reference materials during testing. Phones, smartwatches, and similar devices are typically restricted, and unauthorized materials can lead to an invalidation of your test. Ask your test administrator what is permitted before the session starts.
Identity is generally verified by the school at check-in, often through school records or a state student identifier rather than a photo ID. Ask your test administrator what you need to bring or know. Do not assume a particular ID requirement; confirm with the provider.
Accommodations and accessibility supports must be arranged through your school in advance, usually based on an IEP, 504 plan, or the school's documented process. Requesting a support for the first time on exam day may not be possible. Confirm with the provider before the testing window.
Breaks and pausing are governed by your school's testing schedule and the test administration manual. A paused session may or may not be resumable the same day, and pausing at the wrong moment can cost time. Ask your test administrator how breaks work at your site.
Scores on CAASPP assessments are reported at the student, school, and district level and are used for accountability and instructional planning, not for individual course grades in most cases. Ask your school how and when your results will be shared. Do not treat a single summative score as a complete picture of your ability.
Report any test security concern, device failure, or irregularity to the test administrator immediately. Do not attempt to fix a testing system problem yourself, and do not discuss specific test items with other students during the testing window. Schools follow state procedures for handling incidents; confirm the local process with the provider.
If you are unsure about any exam-day policy, including what to bring, how long sessions run, or how results are used, ask your school or LEA testing coordinator. CAASPP administration details vary by site and year, and guessing is riskier than confirming with the provider.