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About STAR 2007
The 2007 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program included five
components:
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California Standards Tests (CST)
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California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA)
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California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6 Survey)—grades 3 and 7 only
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Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS)—grades 2 through 4
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Aprenda: La prueba de logros en español, Tercera edición (Aprenda 3)—grades 5 through 11
California Standards Tests (CSTs)
The California Standards Tests in English-language arts, mathematics, science,
and history-social science are administered only to students in California
public schools. Except for a writing component that is administered as part of
the grade four and seven English-language arts tests, all questions are
multiple choice. These tests were developed specifically to assess students'
knowledge of the California content standards. The State Board of Education
adopted these standards that specify what all California children are expected
to know and be able to do in each grade or course. The 2007 CSTs were required
for students who were enrolled in the following grades/courses at the time of
testing or who had completed a course during the 2006–07 school year, including
2006 summer school.
CST scores are used for calculating each schools Academic Performance Index (API) and
adequate yearly progress (AYP). Information about the API and AYP is posted at
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/index.asp
For further information about the CST scores, go to
Term and Score Explanations.
English-Language Arts
The California English-Language Arts Standards Tests were administered by grade to students
in grades two through eleven.
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Grades 2-3
- 65 multiple-choice questions
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Grades 4-11
- 75 multiple-choice questions
- Additional 8 points for writing test in grades 4 and 7
Mathematics
The California Mathematics Standards Tests were administered by grade to students in grades
two through six. All California Mathematics Standards Tests have 65 multiple-choice questions.
Grade seven students took either the 7th grade math test or the Algebra I test.
Grade 8-11 math tests included:
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General mathematics (grades 8-9 only)
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Algebra I
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Geometry
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Algebra II
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Integrated mathematics 1
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Integrated mathematics 2
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Integrated mathematics 3
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Summative high school mathematics (grades 9-11 only)
Science
The California Science Standards Tests were administered by grade to students in grades five,
eight, and ten. All California Science Standards Tests have 60 multiple-choice questions.
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Grade 5 Covers grades 4 and 5 science content standards
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Grade 8 Covers grade 8 science content standards
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Grade 10 Covers middle school life science and high school biology content standards
Students in grades nine through eleven who completed a standards-based science course took
one of the following CSTs:
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Biology/Life Science
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Chemistry
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Earth Sciences
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Physics
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Integrated/Coordinated science 1
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Integrated/Coordinated science 2
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Integrated/Coordinated science 3
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Integrated/Coordinated science 4
Grade 10 students who completed a standards-based science course took one of the tests listed above
in addition to taking the Grade 10 Life Science Test.
History-Social Science
The California History-Social Science Standards Tests were administered by grade to students
in grades eight and eleven. These tests are:
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Grade 8 (75 multiple-choice questions) a cumulative test of standards from grade 6
(World History and Geography: Ancient Civilizations), grade 7 (World History and Geography:
Medieval and Early Modern Times), and grade 8 (United States History and Geography: Growth
and Conflict)
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Grade 11 (60 multiple-choice questions) United States History and Geography: Continuity
and Change in the Twentieth Century
Students in grades nine through eleven who completed a standards-based world history course
took the following test.
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World History, Culture and Geography: The Modern World (60 multiple-choice questions)
California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA)
Students with significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to take the CSTs
and CAT/6 Survey even with modifications participated in the STAR Program by taking the CAPA.
The CAPA is an individually administered performance assessment with all tasks linked to the
California English-Language Arts and Mathematics Content Standards. During the 2007
administration of CAPA, science was field-tested for inclusion in the 2008 test. Students in
Levels I, III, IV, and V participated in the CAPA science field test. Information on
student responses to field test items is used for the development of future CAPA tests. The
field tests are not scored and information on test results is not included in the student
report.
The CAPA is organized into five levels, representing specific grade spans. Most
students eligible for the CAPA take the level corresponding to their enrollment grade.
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Students in grades 2 – 11 (students with the most
significant cognitive disabilities) |
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Students in grades 2 and 3
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Students in grades 4 and 5
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Students in grades 6 8
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Students in grades 9 11
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CAPA scores are reported as one of five performance levels from advanced to far
below basic. While the CAPA performance levels have the same labels as those
used for the CSTs, they are defined differently and are based on a different
scale score range.
California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition (CAT/6 Survey)
The California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6 Survey) were administered only to students
in grades three and seven. These students were tested in reading,
language, spelling, and mathematics. The purpose of administering the CAT/6 Survey is to determine
how well California students are achieving academically compared to a national sample of students tested
in the same grade at the same time of the school year.
Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS)
Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) are multiple-choice tests that assess
reading-language arts, and mathematics in Spanish. The Spanish-speaking English learners in
grades 2, 3, and 4, who either were receiving instruction in Spanish or had been enrolled in
school in the United States for less than 12 months when testing began, were required to take
the STS in addition to taking the CSTs and the CAT/6 Survey. School districts had the option
of administering the STS to Spanish-speaking English learners in grades 2, 3, and 4 who had
been enrolled in school in the United States for 12 months or more and were not receiving
instruction in Spanish.
Aprenda: La prueba de logros en español, Tercera edición (Aprenda 3)
The Aprenda 3, published by Harcourt Assessment, Inc.,
is a norm-referenced achievement test series in Spanish. The tests assess reading, language,
and spelling, as well as mathematics in Spanish. Spanish-speaking English learners
who were receiving instruction in Spanish or who had
been enrolled in school in the United States less than 12 months when testing began, were
required to take the Aprenda 3 in addition to taking the CSTs and the CAT/6 Survey. Districts
had the option of administering the Aprenda 3 to Spanish-speaking English learners who had
been enrolled in school in the United States 12 months or more and were not receiving
instruction in Spanish. During 2006-07, the Aprenda 3 was administered in grades five through
eleven. As the STS is implemented, the Aprenda 3 will be replaced by new STS tests.
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