SBA Test Score Reports
SBA stands for the Smarter Balanced Assessment. The SBA is the state assessment for English Language Arts and Math. Every spring, students take the SBA in 3rd through 8th grade, then again in 10th grade. Students may take it again in 11th or 12th grade if they are using the SBA as part of their graduation pathway (see your high school counselor for more information). Some students take the WA-AIM, an alternative to the SBA, which is determined by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team. Additionally, students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science, or WCAS.
These assessments measure students’ performance on the Washington K-12 Learning Standards for ELA, Math, and Science, which describes what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade level. These state assessments were created to help policy makers, educators, and the public to understand and support the educational system in Washington State. They are not pass/fail assessments and results are only one indicator of a student’s performance. These results should be used along with other information, such as classwork and other tests, when making decisions about a student’s education. For more information about how you can use the scores, what questions you can ask your student's teacher(s) about these scores, how you can support your student's learning, and how you can learn more about the assessment, see the linked resources below.
For both English Language Arts and Math, students receive a Detailed Performance Score. Detailed Performance Scores are used to determine the Level at which the student performed and correlate with the student's numbered scale score.
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SBA Scoring Key |
IMPORTANT: All scores are based on the performance level expected at the end of the student's grade level. |
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4-Point Scale: |
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4.00-4.99
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Level 4: Student consistently demonstrates advanced grade-level knowledge and skills with deep and full range of complexity |
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3.00-3.99
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Level 3: Student consistently demonstrated proficient grade-level knowledge and skills with a broad range of complexity |
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2.00-2.99
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Level 2: Student demonstrates foundational grade-level knowledge and skills with a limited range of complexity |
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1.00-1.99 |
Level 1: Student does not consistently demonstrate grade-level knowledge and skills. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my student's SBA score not match my student's report card grade, or i-Ready score and level?
Sometimes all tests and grades for a student are similar. Sometimes they are different. The SBA and i-Ready tell how a student performed on a single test on a limited sampling of standards. SBA and i-Ready test achievement in different ways. Though often they produced similar results, sometimes a student does better on one test than another. Additionally, SBA only measures student's proficiency at their current grade level standards, and i-Ready measures assesses which grade level standards a student has mastered. A student's grade is a summary of how a student performed on the work completed for a class. Grades reflect a student's achievement over time of a broad range of standards. Both the SBA and report card grades are measures of progress toward meeting standard.
More State Testing Frequently Asked Questions
More Resources
Helping your student at home (Elementary)