HS 10-11 CAST Test Prep-Revised Item Appearance-Higher Level Thinking/Apply

NOTE: In this revised document the appearance of the test items has been upgraded so that they are more "crisp" and easier to use with students. Content was "re-typed" and tables were re-formatted to make them appear clearer - while keeping them "true" to the CAST item format.

The document contains the 72 sample items that have been on the Portal. Items are intermixed (physical science, life science, earth and space science) as they are on the CAST assessment.

The CAST Blueprints state that only about one third of the standards will be assessed (with items that lead to individual student scores) on any one CAST Assessment. This document shows the released items, the answers, and standard that was assessed. Teachers can see specific examples of the way that the CAST Assessment requires students to apply their learned science skills. Student practice with these items can increase students' ability to confidently work with application items and use the information provided with the item, along with what they know about science, to determine correct answers. NOTE: teachers can use the Interim Assessments (IABs) for CAST, found on the CAASPP Portal, to fill in additional information about the way that CAST assesses the standards.

Also included, are the same sample items in Easel format. Students can interact directly with the sample items in a computer format.