Smarter Balanced

Last update April 22, 2016.

READYWA

READYWA was launched in June, 2013 to support understanding about state learning standards and how state assessments measure students' understanding of those standards.

Check it out! Opt In For Student Success!

Planning to Go to College? Parents can use these brochures to find out how to use the Smarter Balance score to qualify for entry-level credit-bearing college courses. Available in the following languages:

English  | Chinese | Khmer | Korean | Punjabi | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese

News!

• April 21: OSPI published additional support information. 
• March 23: OSPI informational videos posted. Please listen in as Washington state leaders talk about the role of state assessment as one part of a good education system.

If you have questions about the Practice Test or other Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium activities, please contact OSPI.

Practice Test

The practice test mirrors the summative assessment given each spring.  Each grade level assessment includes a variety of question types and difficulty (approximately 30 items each in ELA and math) as well as an ELA and math performance task at each grade level (3–8 and 11). The practice tests include all universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations approved by Smarter Balanced, and these are available to the student when logging with their user credentials to a practice session set up by a test proctor at school.

Training Test

The training tests are a more generic version of the practice tests and combine sample question types for different grade levels and subject areas. The purpose of training tests is to simply provide an opportunity for all to see and try out the various components of the test engine itself. The following training tests are available by grade spans:

• ELA
  • Grades 3-5 ELA
  • Grades 6-8 ELA
  • Grades 9-11 ELA
• Mathematics
  • Grades 3-5 Math
  • Grades 6-8 Math
  • Grades 9-11 Math

Try out the New Online Tests!

Practice Tests for the Smarter Balanced next-generation assessment system are available to everyone with Internet access and are freely available through a link on the Washington Assessment Portal website: http://wa.portal.airast.org/  From here you can select the practice tests or other areas.

No sign-up is needed.  Once you click on the link you will be automatically signed in as a Guest. Click “Sign In” and then select the grade level of the test you wish to take (Grades 3-8 or 11), and then select the content area. Public access computers at all North Central Regional Libraries have a link on the desktop!

Available before the first administration of the summative assessment in the 2014-15 school year, the Practice Tests will help students and schools prepare for next-generation assessments. Development of the Smarter Balanced Assessment System will continue after the release of the Practice Tests and through the summer of 2014 in collaboration with member states and educators. This initial version of the Practice Tests is augmented with additional features, including:

• Full array of performance tasks for mathematics (including classroom-based activities);
• Classroom-based activities for ELA performance tasks in all grades;
• Scoring rubrics for items requiring extended writing;
• American Sign Language translation and other accommodation and accessibility tools.

The Practice Tests use Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer browsers. Click here to see the list of supported browsers.

Learn more about the Student Interface and Keyboard Commands for Students by reviewing the Smarter Balanced resources. Here's a link to a FAQ for students and families.

Please contact Karen Allen with comments.