SBAC Testing - Tips and Tricks

If your child is enrolled in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and is in grades 3-11, come this May, they will be taking the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. This test has a tendency to raise anxiety in children and is almost certain to have a technological glitch along the way.

Here are some things that you should know about the SBAC.

• The SBAC is administered on an iPad or Laptop

  • There is a listening component with headphones, and your child will be expected to TYPE their responses.

• The test is untimed

  • Technology glitches occur, this will not limit the time your child can spend on the test.

• Testing will span multiple days

  • Make sure your child is well rested and on time to school. Remember how you feel when you are 10 minutes late to work.
  • It is easy to get distracted when working on technology. All though the test is not timed, an engaged student is able to get through the material in a reasonable amount of time.

• Practice material is available online

  • Go to https://practice.smarterbalanced.org/student/
  • The website is not always straightforward, you can login by just submitting a blank username and password.
  • To have one of our trained teachers practice with your child, feel free to contact us (818)850-6284

• Best practices to prepare

  • Go through all of the practice material WITH your child.
  • Take note of content areas where your child is having the most concern.
  • Identify which concepts have been taught but not mastered vs. not taught. 
  • Initially focus on concepts that have been taught, but not mastered as you will be doing less teaching and more of review.
  • Create additional sample problems based on content weakness areas.
  • For professional assistance, give us a call and we would love to be a part of the process.

• Failing to prepare is preparing to fail