Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) SBAC Test Structure and Test-Taking Skills Syllabus

What are Universal Tools on the SBAC?

Digital or non-digital supports available to ALL students by default, regardless of need—such as the highlighter, digital notepad, zoom, scratch paper, and the math/global glossary.

List four examples of SBAC Universal Tools.

Examples include the highlighter, zoom/magnification, digital notepad, mark-for-review (flagging) feature, strikethrough/answer eliminator, scratch paper, and the keyboard navigation.

How do Universal Tools differ from Designated Supports?

Universal Tools are available to every student automatically, while Designated Supports must be enabled/assigned in advance by an educator for students who have an identified need (but no formal disability documentation required).

What are Designated Supports on the SBAC?

Features available to any student for whom an educator (or team) has indicated a need—such as color contrast, text-to-speech for items, translated glossaries, masking, and read-aloud—turned on before testing.

What are Accommodations on the SBAC, and who can use them?

Changes in test procedures or materials that increase access without altering the construct, available only to students with a documented need in an IEP or 504 plan—examples include braille, American Sign Language video, and closed captioning.

How do Designated Supports differ from Accommodations on the SBAC?

Designated Supports require an educator's decision but no formal documentation, while Accommodations require a documented IEP or 504 plan; both are assigned in advance, but accommodations serve students with disabilities.

What is the three-tier framework of SBAC accessibility resources?

Tier 1: Universal Tools (for all students); Tier 2: Designated Supports (for students with an identified need); Tier 3: Accommodations (for students with a documented IEP or 504 plan).

What is the 'mark for review' feature in the SBAC test interface?

A flagging tool that lets a student bookmark an item so they can return to it later—available within a segment of the test before it is submitted.

What is the function of the 'global notes' or notepad in the SBAC interface?

A digital scratch area where students can type notes that persist across items (especially during the Performance Task) to organize thinking before writing.

What does the strikethrough/answer-eliminator tool do in the SBAC interface?

It allows a student to cross out answer options they believe are incorrect, helping them narrow choices on selected-response items.

How do you typically expand a reading passage in the SBAC ELA interface?

By using the expandable passage feature—often a button or arrow that widens the passage panel or allows scrolling—so the text and the question can both be viewed.

What are the SBAC Achievement Levels?

Four performance levels reported for each student: Level 1 (Standard Not Met), Level 2 (Standard Nearly Met), Level 3 (Standard Met), and Level 4 (Standard Exceeded).

Which SBAC achievement level indicates a student is considered proficient/on track for college and career readiness?

Level 3 (Standard Met) is the threshold for proficiency; Levels 3 and 4 together indicate the student met or exceeded the standard.

What is a Scale Score on the SBAC?

A numerical score on a continuous vertical scale that represents a student's overall achievement in a subject, allowing comparison across grades and translation into one of the four achievement levels.

Why does SBAC use a vertical scale score across grades?

Because a vertical scale places all grades on one continuous metric, it allows tracking of a student's academic growth in a subject from year to year.

What are 'Claims' in the SBAC reporting structure?

Broad statements about the major content areas a test measures within a subject; scores are reported by claim to describe what students know and can do in each area.

How many claims does SBAC report for ELA/literacy, and what are they?

Four claims: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Research/Inquiry.

How many claims does SBAC report for mathematics, and what are they?

Four claims: Concepts and Procedures, Problem Solving, Communicating Reasoning, and Modeling and Data Analysis (Problem Solving and Modeling/Data Analysis are sometimes combined into one reported claim).

What are Reporting Categories on the SBAC score report?

The claim-level groupings under which performance is summarized (often as 'Below,' 'At/Near,' or 'Above Standard'), helping identify relative strengths and weaknesses within a subject.

On a claim-level report, what do the indicators 'Below Standard,' 'At/Near Standard,' and 'Above Standard' mean?

They are the three relative performance categories used to describe how a student did on each claim, since claims are not detailed enough for a full four-level achievement score.

What is a key time-management strategy for the SBAC Computer Adaptive Test?

Pace yourself by spending a reasonable, steady amount of time per item, answering every question (since you usually cannot skip), and using mark-for-review only within the allowed segment to revisit flagged items before submitting.

Why is it important to answer every question on the SBAC CAT rather than leaving items blank?

Because the adaptive test scores responses and selects the next item based on your answers; leaving items unanswered means you cannot advance and forfeits opportunities to demonstrate ability.

What test-taking strategy helps most on multiple-select selected-response items?

Read how many answers are required, evaluate each option independently as true or false, and use the strikethrough tool to eliminate clearly wrong choices before selecting all correct ones.

What is an effective strategy for the ELA Performance Task essay?

Read all sources carefully, take notes in the global notepad, plan/outline using the prompt's requirements, cite evidence from the sources, and reserve time to revise and check spelling, grammar, and structure.

What should a student do first when starting an SBAC math Performance Task?

Read the full scenario and all parts of the task before answering, identify what each part asks, and plan how the parts connect, since later parts often build on earlier work.

What is the recommended approach when you encounter a difficult item on the CAT that you cannot skip?

Make your best reasoned attempt—eliminate wrong options, use available tools (scratch paper, calculator, glossary)—and answer, since a non-response prevents progress; do not leave it blank.

Why should students familiarize themselves with the SBAC test interface and tools before test day?

Because knowing how to navigate, use the equation/graphing tools, highlighter, notepad, and mark-for-review feature saves time and reduces errors during the actual timed test (often via the practice and training tests).

How can a student manage time across the CAT and the Performance Task?

Treat them as separate sessions: maintain a steady pace on the many shorter CAT items, and budget the longer PT into reading, planning, writing/solving, and reviewing phases to avoid running out of time.

What is a smart strategy for technology-enhanced items like drag-and-drop or ordering?

Read the directions carefully to understand exactly what to move or sequence, complete all required placements (partial responses may lose credit), and verify each element is placed before moving on.

Why is reading the full question and all answer choices important on SBAC selected-response items?

Because distractors are designed to look plausible; reading the entire stem and every option helps you avoid choosing a partially correct or trap answer and ensures you meet multi-select requirements.