Testing Technology

A core feature of Smarter Balanced assessments is that they are customized for each student for a more accurate measurement for every student.

Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)

To accomplish this, the computer-based test adjusts the difficulty of questions throughout the assessment based on the student’s response. If a student answers a question correctly, the next question will be harder; if a student answers incorrectly, the next question will be easier. This system is called computer adaptive testing, and it is part of the summative (end-of-year) assessments.

Benefits of Computer Adaptive Testing

By adapting to the student during test time, CAT assessments provide a set of questions that is individually tailored to each student and can quickly identify which skills students have mastered. This approach represents a significant improvement over old fashioned, fill in the bubble, paper-and-pencil assessments, providing more accurate scores for all students.

More efficient and more secure: Computer adaptive tests are typically shorter than paper-and-pencil assessments because fewer questions are required to accurately determine each student’s score. The assessments draw from a large bank of questions, and because students receive different questions based on their responses, test questions are more secure and can be used for a longer period of time.
More accurate: CAT offers teachers and schools a more accurate way to evaluate student achievement, readiness for college and careers, and growth over time.
Faster Results: Computerized assessments allow teachers, principals, and parents to receive results in weeks, not months. Faster results mean that teachers can use the information from optional interim assessments throughout the school year to differentiate instruction and better meet the individual needs of their students.

Test-Taking Devices

Smarter Balanced requires that testing devices meet certain minimum requirements and that they run in an approved secure browser. The official Smarter Balanced policy regarding testing devices is encompassed in the Student Device and Secure Browser Requirements, which provides information on universal requirements, the current list of approved secure browsers and corresponding devices, and a list of sunset dates after which certain operating system versions will not be supported.

Guide To Technology Readiness

This guide is intended to help school leaders better understand, plan for, and manage the technology necessary for successful administration of Smarter Balanced assessments.

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Testing Technology

Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)

Test-Taking Devices

Guide To Technology Readiness

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