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California Smarter Balanced · ELA · Grades 3–8 and 11

California Smarter Balanced ELA Practice Test: Grades 3–8 and 11

Build California Smarter Balanced ELA readiness with five focused 10-question practice sets covering literary reading, informational text, language, writing, research, and evidence.

California Smarter Balanced ELA practice sets

This California Smarter Balanced ELA Practice Test page provides five short practice sets with 10 original multiple-choice questions each. The sets support supplemental review for Grades 3–8 and 11 across literary reading, informational text, language, writing, research, and evidence.

ELA skills covered

  • Character traits, repetition, metaphor, inference, setting, theme, irony, point of view, symbolism, and narrative structure
  • Main purpose, evidence, text structure, research sampling, synthesis, reliable sources, limitations, summaries, multimedia evidence, and correlation
  • Commas, active voice, subject-verb agreement, colons, modifiers, transitions, possessives, concise language, formal tone, and sentence combining
  • Claims, evidence, counterclaims, rebuttals, organization, paraphrasing, precision, relevance, narrative openings, and conclusions
  • Qualified claims, research methods, graph scales, primary sources, rhetoric, synthesis, responsible conclusions, logical flow, research questions, and complexity

How to use this page

Complete one 10-question set at a time. Return to the passage when needed, identify the strongest evidence, and review the explanation for every missed or guessed answer.

This is supplemental State Test Practice, State Assessment Practice, and Standardized Test Practice. It does not replace current California Department of Education guidance, official Smarter Balanced blueprints, accommodations, or testing schedules.

For the broader California assessment hub, visit California State Assessments.

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5 Tests
1. Test2. Test3. Test4. Test5. Test

3. Test

California Smarter Balanced ELA Practice Questions

A 10-question California Smarter Balanced ELA practice set on language and conventions, with answers and explanations.

Read each passage or sentence carefully, choose one answer, and review the explanation after responding.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence uses a comma correctly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is When the rain stopped, the team returned to the field..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: The comma follows the introductory dependent clause.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

The comma follows the introductory dependent clause.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence uses an active verb?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The committee approved the proposal after reviewing the evidence..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: The committee performs the action in the active sentence.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

The committee performs the action in the active sentence.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

Which word correctly completes the sentence? “Neither the coach nor the players ___ ready to leave.”

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is were.

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: With neither nor, the verb agrees with the nearer plural subject, players.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

With neither nor, the verb agrees with the nearer plural subject, players.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The field study required three tools: a net, a notebook, and a thermometer..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: The complete clause before the colon introduces the list.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

The complete clause before the colon introduces the list.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Which revision avoids a dangling modifier?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is After examining the map, the researchers marked the safest route..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: The researchers are the ones examining the map, so they should follow the introductory phrase.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

The researchers are the ones examining the map, so they should follow the introductory phrase.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Which transition best shows a result? “The river rose quickly. ___, officials closed the low bridge.”

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is As a result.

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: As a result connects the rising river to the decision to close the bridge.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

As a result connects the rising river to the decision to close the bridge.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence is written correctly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The students’ reports were placed in the teachers’ mailbox..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: Both plural nouns are possessive, so each receives an apostrophe after the plural s.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

Both plural nouns are possessive, so each receives an apostrophe after the plural s.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Which revision is most concise? “The reason is because the sample was small.”

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The reason is that the sample was small..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: The revision removes the redundant construction reason is because.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

The revision removes the redundant construction reason is because.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence best maintains a formal tone in a research report?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The results suggest that additional trials are needed..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: The sentence uses precise, cautious wording appropriate for formal research.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

The sentence uses precise, cautious wording appropriate for formal research.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence combines the ideas most effectively? “The sample was contaminated. The researchers repeated the test.”

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Because the sample was contaminated, the researchers repeated the test..

  1. Read for the task: Identify the text evidence, language rule, organizational purpose, or writing goal requested by the question.
  2. Use the evidence: Because clearly shows the reason and creates a complete sentence.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the option that is precise, supported, and appropriate for the passage or writing context.

Because clearly shows the reason and creates a complete sentence.

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Frequently asked questions about California Smarter Balanced ELA Practice Test

Which ELA skills are covered?

The page covers literary reading, informational text, language conventions, writing, research, rhetoric, synthesis, and evidence for Grades 3–8 and 11.

How many questions are included?

There are five practice sets with 10 questions each, for 50 questions in total. Each set can be completed separately.

Are these official Smarter Balanced questions?

No. These are original supplemental practice questions. Check the latest California Department of Education information for official materials, standards, accommodations, and policies.