CST Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

California Standards Tests (CSTs): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the end-of-course (EOC) CSTs?
Who determines which EOC test a student will take?
If an Algebra I course began later in the school term and will not be completed by the end of the year, would the students take the test in the spring that year?
May students write on additional pages for the writing tests?
Are there different answer documents for the CSTs and the CMA?
If a student takes a content area test, such as mathematics, in both the CST and the CMA, will the student receive scores for both the CST for Mathematics and the CMA for Mathematics?
May students taking the CSTs and the CMA be tested together in the same room at the same time?
May students assigned to take the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) test in some CST or CMA content areas?
Do the testing windows for the CMA, CAPA, and STS differ from the testing window for the CSTs?

What are the end-of-course CSTs?
The end-of-course CSTs are as follows:

End-of-Course CSTs
Mathematics CSTs	Science CSTs
General Mathematics (students in grades 8 and 9 only) Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Summative High School Mathematics (students in grades 9–11 only) Integrated Mathematics 1 Integrated Mathematics 2 Integrated Mathematics 3	Biology Chemistry Earth Science Physics Integrated/Coordinated Science 1 Integrated/Coordinated Science 2 Integrated/Coordinated Science 3 Integrated/Coordinated Science 4
History–Social Science
World History

Who determines which EOC test a student will take?
The district STAR coordinator, in collaboration with the district mathematics, science, or history–social science specialist or department, determines the EOC CST to be administered.

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If an Algebra I course began later in the school term and will not be completed by the end of the year, would the students take the test in the spring that year?
The students would not take the Algebra I test in spring because they would not have completed the course by the end of the school year. If the students were in grade seven, they would take the CST for Mathematics (Grade 7). If the students were in grade eight or nine, they would take the General Mathematics test.

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May students write on additional pages for the writing tests?
No. As in previous years, additional pages will not be scored.

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Are there different answer documents for the CSTs and the CMA?
It depends on the grade; the guidelines are as follows:

Grade three—At least one test booklet (either a CST test booklet or a CMA test booklet) must be returned for each student in grade three. If a student took one CST and one CMA content-area test, Section 7c, "Assessed with CMA," must be marked on the front cover of the CST test booklet for the CMA content-area test taken.
Grades four through seven—Separate content-area sections for the CST and CMA tests are on the answer documents for grades four through seven. Students who take one or more CMA tests must mark Section 7c, "Assessed with CMA," on the front cover of the CST/CMA answer document for each CMA content-area test taken.
Grades eight through eleven—Separate CST and CMA answer documents are used for grades eight through eleven. Students in grades nine and ten who take only CMA tests will have no CST answer document to be returned. Students assigned to take the CMA in grades eight and eleven also are required to take at least one grade-level CST in addition to their assigned CMA test(s), so will also have a CST answer document to be returned; school staff must mark section 7c, "Assessed with CMA," on the front cover of the student's CST answer document for each CMA content-area test taken.

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If a student takes a content area test, such as mathematics, in both the CST and the CMA, will the student receive scores for both the CST for Mathematics and the CMA for Mathematics?
No. The student will receive a score for the CMA test only if the appropriate circle was marked in Section 7c, "Assessed with CMA," on the first page of the CST/CMA or CST answer document and/or if the "Student will be assessed with CMA–Math" indicator was set in Pre-ID. If the "CMA for Math" circle was marked or the Pre-ID indicator was set, the student's score for the CMA for Mathematics will be reported. If the "CMA for Math" circle was not marked and the Pre-ID indicator "Student will be assessed with CMA–Math" was not set, the student will receive a score for the CST for Mathematics taken. In the case of grade three, which uses a test booklet rather than an answer document, if the CMA test booklet was returned, the indicator in the Pre-ID file must also have been set for the student to receive a CMA score.

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May students taking the CSTs and the CMA be tested together in the same room at the same time?
Doing so is not recommended because those tests are administered using different Directions for Administration.

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May students assigned to take the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) test in some CST or CMA content areas?
No. However, students who have scored proficient or advanced on all CAPA content areas for two years in a row may take the CSTs or CMA if their IEP specifies that they should take the CSTs or CMA instead.

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Do the testing windows for the CMA, CAPA, and STS differ from the testing window for the CSTs?
No, the testing windows do not differ; all the tests in the STAR Program are administered within the same testing window.

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