Woodland Unified School District - California Science Test (CAST)

California Science Test (CAST)

The California Science Test (CAST) is an online assessment based on the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All local educational agencies (LEAs) with eligible students in grades five and eight and in high school will administer the CAST operational test. The CAST operational test uses the current California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test delivery system and will be only administered online.

Who takes the CAST operational test? The CAST is administered in grades five and eight and once to each student while that student is in high school. All students must take the CAST by the end of grade twelve, but have the option of testing in grade ten or grade eleven. Only eligible students may participate in the administration of the CAST. Students assigned to take an alternate assessment should take the California Alternate Assessment for Science.

Science Reference Tools

The CAST assessments for grade eight and high school include a periodic table and a reference list of formulas that students may access during online testing as universal tools. The reference list provides all formulas that a student may need to use in responding to a test item; however, it does not imply that the student will receive a specific item type. The purpose of the reference tools is to signal that students do not need to memorize what is on the sheets and to ensure that students have equal access to the tools during testing. These reference tools are not meant to guide instruction.