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Students » VAAS Student Testing & Assessment

VAAS Student Testing & Assessment

Assessments are an important component of instructional decision-making at VAAS. The information gained from these assessments allows us to plan instruction, improve our instructional practices, and better support our students. Additionally, assessments such as the PSAT and SAT highlight student strengths and provide valuable opportunities for their future.

This year, students will participate in several key assessments:

  • i-Ready Diagnostic – Administered three times a year to monitor student growth in reading and math.
  • PSAT & SAT – College readiness exams available to all students, with the PSAT offered to 10th graders and SAT offered to juniors in the spring.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Exams – Administered in May for students enrolled in AP courses.
  • Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) – State-mandated assessments in English and math for all 11th-grade students.

Please visit this page regularly for updates on upcoming tests, how to access your results, and other important information.

I-Ready Logo

i-Ready is an online assessment program for reading and mathematics that helps teachers identify students’ areas for growth, tailor instruction to meet their needs, and track progress throughout the year.

Students will take the i-Ready Diagnostic during the following testing windows:

  • Fall: August 18 – September 11

  • Winter: January 15 – February 6

  • Spring: May 18 – May 29 (Note: The spring diagnostic is not required for 11th and 12th grade students)

Score reports will be sent home with students in early October. To help you better understand your child’s results, please review the handout Understanding Your Student’s Diagnostic Results. For additional support and guidance on how to use i-Ready to support your child’s learning at home, please refer to the Family Guide linked below.

PSAT/NMSQT Logo
PSAT/NMSQT Fall Test
At VAAS, we believe in creating as many opportunities as possible for our students to own their future. That’s why we offer the PSAT/NMSQT® (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) to our 10th grade students, with no cost to families. Whether your child is thinking about attending a two- or four-year college, is going straight into the workforce, or isn’t sure what they want to do after high school, the PSAT/NMSQT can help make their path clearer. 
 
Results from the PSAT/NMSQT provide insights into your child’s academic strengths, along with areas they can work on while still in high school. If your child took the PSAT 8/9, they’ll see their progress from one test to the next.
 
Taking the PSAT/NMSQT can also help your child to:
  • Enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program if they meet program requirements specified in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide.
  • See where they are and set a target for where they want to be.
  • Practice and prepare for the SAT®.
  • Find out what AP® courses they’re ready to take.
  • Plan and pay for college.
  • Connect to their future career.
 
This fall the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered in the digital forma that will provide an overall easier testing experience for students. Your child will take the PSAT/NMSQT during the week of October 20-24, 2025, using their own school-issued device.
 
Watch this video to see what students can expect from the digital PSAT/NMSQT.
 
If you or your child have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT or college and career planning, please reach out to me or your child’s counselor—we’re here to help!

PSAT/NMSQT School Day – Opt-Out Information

The PSAT School Day is a regular instructional day. If you choose to opt out of the exam, you are still required to attend school. Instruction will be provided by a non-proctoring teacher, who may not be one of your regular classroom teachers.

If you do not wish to take the PSAT/NMSQT, you must complete the PSAT Opt-Out Form by October 15th. This form must be signed by a parent or guardian. Forms will be made available in late September/early October. Please see Mrs. Montsinger in Room B159 for more information. 

PSAT logo
PSAT Student Test Day Information
 
Students, please be sure to get a good night's sleep and eat a nourishing breakfast before the test. 
 
Assessments in the digital SAT® Suite of Assessments have 2 sections—Reading and Writing, and Math—with a break in between. For students testing with standard time, each section is about an hour with a 10-minute break.
 
PSAT- Items Permitted During Testing
  • VAAS School Issued ID or Government Issued ID
  • School-issued testing device
  • 1 Calculator
  • External keyboard (school provided)
  • Pen or pencil 
  • Power cord
  • Portable charging device 
  • Sign-in Ticket (provided by Room Proctor)
 
Items Permitted During Breaks
  • Snack
  • Drink
  • Hand Sanitizer
 
 
Prohibited Items
The following items cannot be accessed during the tests or breaks:
 
  • Phones, smartwatches, or other electronic devices (except their testing device)
  • Detachable privacy screens
  • External keyboards for use with laptops or Chromebooks
  • Notes, books, or any other reference materials (translated test directions and
    word-to-word dictionaries are permitted for PSAT 8/9 test takers using EL supports)
  • Scratch paper not provided by the proctor
  • Headphones, earbuds, or earplugs
  • Any camera, recording device, or timer
CAASPP logo
Science Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs)
 
During the 2025-2026 school year, there will be 3 CAST Interim Assessment (CAST IA) forms available, each assessing one or more science domains. The CAST IAs assess three-dimensional Performance Expectations. For high school, students will be assessed on one or more of the following Interim Assessments:
 
High School CAST IA— Earth and Space Sciences I
High School CAST IA— Life Sciences I
High School CAST IA— Physical Sciences I
 
More information on testing dates and locations will be announced soon! 
 
CAST Assessment Breakdown

Summative Assessment

Attention 11th-grade students! This year the CAASPP Summative Assessment will take place from April 20-30, 2026. It is important that students are present for this assessment.  Please make sure to have a good night's sleep and eat a nourishing breakfast before the exam. 
 
Additionally, a benefit of the CAASPP Summmative Assessment is that students can bypass placement exams at some California colleges if they opt to send their scores to the school at the end of the assessment. 
 
Early Assessment Program
Students will enroll in a general education English or mathematics course in CSUs or participating Community Colleges if they meet the following measures:
Receive a score of Standard Exceeded (Level 4).
Receive a score of Standard Met (Level 3) and have completed an approved twelfth grade year-long English course or math course beyond Algebra II with a grade of C- or better.
SAT Logo
SAT School Day
Attention 11th-grade students! This year the SAT School Day administration will take place during the week of March 16-20, 2026 and will be administered digitally. 
 
The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college. The SAT is an exam/assessment used by some colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice test created and administered by
the College Board. 
 
 
Students, please be sure to get a good night's sleep and eat a nourishing breakfast before the test. 
 
Assessments in the digital SAT® Suite of Assessments have 2 sections—Reading and Writing, and Math—with a break in between. For students testing with standard time, each section is about an hour with a 10-minute break.
 
Items Permitted During Breaks
  • Snack
  • Drink
  • Hand Sanitizer