CAASPP vs SBAC: What's the Difference?

Both terms refer to the same California standardized test — here's the distinction.

Short Answer

CAASPP is California's statewide assessment program. SBAC (Smarter Balanced) is the specific ELA and Math test used within that program. In everyday use — by parents, students, and even teachers — both terms refer to the same thing: California's annual standardized test in grades 3–8 and 11.

Side-by-Side Comparison

CAASPP SBAC (Smarter Balanced)
Full Name California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
What It Is The overall California assessment program The specific ELA and Math test within CAASPP
Who Runs It California Department of Education (CDE) Multi-state Smarter Balanced consortium
Subjects ELA, Math, Science (CAST), and more ELA and Math only
Grades Tested 3–8, 11 (ELA/Math); 5, 8, 10 (Science) 3–8 and 11
States That Use It California only Multiple states (California, Oregon, Washington, and others)

The Deeper Explanation

California wanted a rigorous statewide assessment aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Rather than build its own test from scratch, California joined the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium — a group of states that pooled resources to develop high-quality assessments.

The Smarter Balanced tests became the ELA and Math components of California's assessment program. California then named its overall program CAASPP, which includes not just the SBAC tests but also:

  • CAST — California Science Test (grades 5, 8, and high school)
  • CAA — California Alternate Assessments (for students with significant cognitive disabilities)
  • ELPAC — English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (for English learners)

When most people say "the CAASPP test," they mean the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) ELA and Math tests. That's what CAASPPTest prepares students for.

Do Other States Take SBAC?

Yes — the Smarter Balanced test is used by several states, not just California. States like Oregon, Washington, and others administer similar SBAC tests. However, each state has its own reporting program with its own name and score cutoffs.

California's CAASPP uses California-specific scale score cutoffs for each grade and subject. Even though the underlying SBAC questions are shared across states, the performance levels and what they mean are calibrated specifically for California students and California standards.

Should I search for "CAASPP practice" or "SBAC practice"?
Either works — both terms refer to the same ELA and Math tests taken by California students. CAASPPTest prepares students for both, since the underlying Smarter Balanced questions are the same. When evaluating any practice resource, look for California-specific scale scores and level cutoffs, which differ from those of other SBAC states.
Is the CAASPP a harder test than other state standardized tests?
The Smarter Balanced test is generally considered more rigorous than many older state tests because it emphasizes higher-order thinking, written justification, and real-world application — not just multiple-choice recall. This is by design; it's aligned to the deeper expectations of the Common Core State Standards.
Will my child take a paper or computer-based CAASPP?
The CAASPP is primarily a computer-adaptive test (CAT), meaning question difficulty adjusts based on student responses. Most California public schools administer it on computers or tablets. There is a paper-based version available for schools without adequate technology, but this is uncommon.

Practice for the Real CAASPP/SBAC

CAASPPTest offers 50-question Smarter Balanced–aligned practice tests with real California scale scores.

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Read more:

What Is the CAASPP? CAASPP Score Levels How to Prepare for CAASPP