State and National Assessments
Assessment | Grade Level |
Assessment Summary |
PSAT/NMSQT | 11th | Optional for students: The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT® and a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs. |
CogAT | 2nd, 3rd and 6th | This is a group administered assessment intended to estimate students' learned reasoning and problem solving abilities through a battery of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal test items administered at grades 2 and 6. |
ACCESS for ELL's | K - 12th | The attainment of English proficiency by English Language Learner’s (ELL) is measured annually by an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment. Colorado uses the ACCESS for ELLs® ELP assessment developed by the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) consortium. |
CMAS: ELA, Math, Science |
ELA, Math:
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UPDATE: Due to a waiver approved by the US Department of Education, testing has been reduced for each grade level. Parents/guardians can choose to have their student participate in the optional assessments by contacting their school administrator. Colorado’s assessment system is called the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS). It incorporates English language arts, math, science, and social studies tests. CMAS ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies assess student mastery of the updated Colorado Academic Standards. With the standards being more focused, coherent and rigorous, tests have been adapted to align with the standards. Students may get familiar with the assessments by taking ePATs (practice tests). Students who qualify for alternative state assessments will take Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) for ELA and Mathematics and Colorado Alternative (CoAlt) assessment for science and social studies. The DLM and CoAlt will be given during the same testing window as CMAS. |
PSAT 9 PSAT 10 |
9th and 10th |
The PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 test the same skills and knowledge as the SAT in a way that makes sense for 9th and 10th graders. It builds on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests in literacy and mathematics and the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests in science and social studies. The PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 also align with Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) and with the SAT that students will take in 11th grade. The PSAT focuses on the knowledge, skills, and understandings that research has identified as most important for college and career readiness and success. In addition to helping sophomores practice for the SAT, it can identify student’s potential for success in advanced course work. It provides more data than ever before about academic strengths and weaknesses as well as access to millions of dollars in scholarships. |
SAT | 11th |
According to the College Board: The redesigned SAT focuses on the skills and knowledge that evidence shows are needed most for college and career success. It reflects what Colorado students are already learning in their classrooms, including the best of instruction in math, English language arts, science, history, and social studies. The new test has two sections – Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The scoring scale is 400 to 1600, with an optional essay scored separately. Students can submit their results to qualify for concurrent enrollment courses offered in our high schools and for college entrance into their college or university of choice. |
Accuplacer | 9th - 12th |
Accuplacer® is a computerized placement test used to help qualify students for concurrent enrollment and post-secondary courses. Accuplacer® has three components: -A mathematics test Sample Test Questions Mobile Study App for new Next Generation version of Accuplacer |
ASVAB | 12th | The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Sample Test Questions |