CAASPP Smarter Balanced - ELA (Gr. 3–8 & 11) Exam Survival Guide

Format: CAT + PT (performance task)

Must-do topics

• Reading: main/central idea, text evidence, author’s purpose, structure; paired texts
• Research: evaluate sources, integrate info across texts/graphics
• Writing: argumentative/explanatory narratives in PT; claims, reasons, evidence; organization & clarity
• Listening (some grades): take notes; answer inference/detail questions

Top traps

• Answering from memory instead of line-based evidence
• Confusing theme vs summary; purpose vs tone
• Weak thesis or missing counterclaim in PT
• Skimming graphics (charts/figures) without reading axes/keys

Quick checks

• Pull 1 direct quote + paraphrase that proves a claim
• Identify a paragraph’s function (example/contrast/counter/summary)
• Draft a 4-paragraph PT outline (claim, reasons w/ evidence, counter, close)
• From a chart, state the trend in 1 sentence

You will make

• Evidence tracker (quote → explanation → link to claim)
• Paragraph-function codes legend
• PT outline frame (timed 8–10 min)

Last-48h checklist

• 2 short passages: 4 Q each (evidence first)
• 1 PT outline + intro paragraph
• 10 vocab-in-context items (roots/prefixes)

1 chart/figure read with 3 Qs