Smarter Balanced Question Types
Examples of question types that students may encounter on the Smarter Balanced Field Test, and the student technology skill required to respond to each question type.
The Smarter Balanced Consortium also has developed Practice and Training Tests 
that include examples of all of the question types that students will encounter on the Spring 2014 Smarter Balanced Field Test. School districts are encouraged to use the Practice Test and Training Test to familiarize students with the various question types, software, and interface features.
that include examples of all of the question types that students will encounter on the Spring 2014 Smarter Balanced Field Test. School districts are encouraged to use the Practice Test and Training Test to familiarize students with the various question types, software, and interface features.As students prepare for the field test, it is important that they have an opportunity to view and practice each of the question types. The following table outlines each question type, technology skills needed to respond to each question type, and examples of each question type on the Practice Test and Training Test. In addition to responding to question types, the student should become familiar with accessing the context menu for embedded resources such as strikethrough, highlighter, American Sign Language videos, and text-to-speech.
ELA = English language arts
Math = Mathematics
Math = Mathematics
Content Area | Question Response Type | Student Technology Skill Required | Practice Test Examples | Training Test Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ELA and Math | Multiple choice, single correct response (radio buttons) | Select the radio button corresponding to an option To deselect an option, select a different radio button Only one option can be selected | G3 ELA, Question 2 G3 Math, Question 3 G4 ELA, Question 1 G4 Math, Question 6 G5 ELA, Question 1 G5 Math, Question 4 G6 ELA, Question 2 G6 Math, Question 21 G7 ELA, Question 3 G7 Math, Question 21 G8 ELA, Question 8 G8 Math, Question 12 G11 ELA, Question 1 G11 Math, Question 22 | G3-5 ELA, Question 2, Part A G3-5 Math, Question 1 G6-8, ELA, Question 4 G6-8 Math, Question 7 High School ELA, Question 4 |
ELA and Math | Multiple choice, single correct response (highlight) | Highlight an option by selecting an option To deselect an option, select a different option Only one option can be selected | G3 ELA, Question 1 G4 ELA, Question 5 G5 ELA, Question 5 G6 ELA, Question 3 G7 ELA, Question 1 G8 ELA, Question 9 G11 ELA, Question 2 | None available |
ELA and Math | Multiple choice, multiple correct responses (checkboxes) | Mark checkbox corresponding to an option To deselect an option, click on the checkbox that is already marked One or more options can be marked | G3 Math, Question 2 G4 Math, Question 8 G7 Math, Question 14 G8 Math, Question 25 | G3-5 ELA, Question 2, Part B G3-5 Math, Question 6 G6-8 Math, Question 4 High School Math, Question 6 |
ELA and Math | Multiple choice, multiple correct responses (highlight) | Highlight an option by selecting an option To deselect an option, click on the previously highlighted option One or more options can be selected | G3 ELA, Question 21 G4 ELA, Question 18 (Highlight sentences in a paragraph) G5 ELA, Question 4 G6 ELA, Question 4 G7 ELA, Question 19 G8 ELA, Question 5 G11 ELA, Question 7 | None available |
ELA and Math | Matching Tables (variation using True/False or Yes/No format) | Select checkbox corresponding to an option in a table cell To deselect an option, select a checkbox that is already marked | G4 ELA, Question 25 G5 ELA, Question 13 G7 ELA, Question 27 G11 ELA, Question 37 | G3-5 ELA, Question 6 G3-5 Math, Question 4 G6-8 ELA, Question 5 G6-8 Math, Question 6 High School ELA, Question 6 High School Math, Question 3 |
ELA and Math | Short Text | Keyboard entry into multiline text box (no text formatting) Ability to edit previously entered text | G3 ELA, Question 7 G3 Math, Question 12 G4 ELA, Question 3 G4 Math, Question 3 G5 ELA, Question 6 G6 ELA, Question 1 G6 Math, Question 11 G7 ELA, Question 7 G8 ELA, Question 12 G8 Math, Question 3 G11 ELA, Question 3 | G3-5 ELA, Question 1 G3-5 Math, Question 8 G6-8 ELA, Question 1 High School ELA, Question 1 High School Math, Question 2 |
Math Only | Drag and Drop (select and move objects) | Click and drag object to appropriate location in Question response area | G3 Math, Question 16 G4 Math, Question 2 G5 Math, Question 20 G6 Math, Question 3 G7 Math, Question 13 G8 Math, Question 6 G11 Math, Question 17 | G3-5 Math, Question 3 G6-8 Math, Question 5 High School Math, Question 1 |
Math Only | Hot Spot | Select targeted areas in the response area | G3 Math, Question 5 G4 Math, Question 19 G5 Math, Question 18 G6 Math, Question 25 G7 Math, Question 8 G11 Math, Question 18 | G3-5 Math, Question 5 G6-8 Math, Question 8 High School Math, Question 5 |
Math Only | Table Fill in | Keyboard entry into table cells or drag/drop objects into table cells | G8 Math, Question 11 G11 Math, Question 15 | G3-5 Math, Question 9 G6-8 Math, Question 3 High School Math, Question 7 |
Math Only | Graphing | Select the Add Point icon. Click in the Question response area to create a new point. To remove the point, select the Delete icon. Click on the point to be deleted. Select the Connect Line icon. Click in the Question response area where the line is to start. Click and drag to the area where the line is to end. To remove the line, select the Delete icon. Click on the line to be deleted. | G3 Math, Question 1 G5 Math, Question 2 G6 Math, Question 13 G7 Math, Question 15 G8 Math, Question 1 G11 Math, Question 19 | G3-5 Math, Question 7 G6-8 Math, Question 1 High School Math, Question 8 |
Math Only | Equation/numeric | Select buttons representing numbers and mathematic symbols to create a numeric response or equation | G3 Math, Question 9 G4 Math, Question 12 G5 Math, Question 17 G6 Math, Question 7 G7 Math, Question 18 G8 Math, Question 2 G11 Math, Question 23 | G3-5 Math, Question 2 G6-8 Math, Question 2 High School Math, Question 4 |
ELA Only | Two-part multiple-choice, with evidence responses | Multiple-choice (radio buttons) or multiple-choice (highlight) | G3 ELA, Question 1 G4 ELA, Question 5 G7 ELA, Question 1 G11 ELA, Question 4 | G3-5 ELA, Question 2 G6-8 ELA, Question 3 High School ELA, Question 2 |
ELA Only | Hot Text (select and move text) | Select text, click and drag text to new area | G3 ELA, Question 24 | None available |
ELA Only | Listening Tasks | Student must start or pause an audio clip by selecting buttons | G3 ELA, Question 19 G4 ELA, Question 19 G5 ELA, Question 20 G6 ELA, Question 20 G7 ELA, Question 18 G8 ELA, Question 22 G11 ELA, Question 27 | G3-5 ELA, Question 5 G6-8 ELA, Question 4 High School ELA, Question 5 |
ELA Only | Essay | Keyboard entry using text formatting buttons Ability to edit previously entered text | ELA Performance Tasks | None available |
Questions: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Office | caaspp@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-8765