ELPAC Practice Tests — All Seven Grade Spans

What is the ELPAC?

The ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California) is the test California public schools use to measure the English of students whose primary language is not English. It is a program of the California Department of Education, is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards, and tests four domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. It is untimed, so students can work at their own pace, and there is no parent opt-out.

Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC

When a child first enrolls, families complete a home language survey. If it shows a language other than English, the child takes the Initial ELPAC within 30 calendar days of the first day of instruction. The result identifies the student as an English learner or as Initial Fluent English Proficient. The Initial ELPAC can be given any time from July 1 to June 30.

Students classified as English learners then take the Summative ELPAC every year, in the window from February 1 to May 31, until they are reclassified. The Summative test measures progress over the year and is the version our practice tests follow.

The seven Summative ELPAC grade spans

The Summative ELPAC has a separate test for each of seven grade spans. In kindergarten to grade 2, a test examiner gives the test one-on-one and reads directions aloud, and Writing is on paper. From grade 3, students take Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer on their own, and Speaking is always one-on-one with an examiner.

The overall score combines an Oral Language composite (Listening and Speaking) and a Written Language composite (Reading and Writing).

Performance levels and reclassification

Summative ELPAC results are reported as one of four performance levels: Level 1 Minimally Developed, Level 2 Somewhat Developed, Level 3 Moderately Developed and Level 4 Well Developed. Students are expected to improve within a level or move up a level each year.

An overall Level 4 is one of the four state criteria for reclassification as fluent English proficient. The other three are a teacher evaluation, parent opinion and consultation, and a comparison of the student's basic skills with English-proficient students of the same age.

How parents can help

• Read together every day, in English or in your home language, and talk about the story or the facts.
• Ask open questions that need a reason: “Which one is better? Why?”
• Ask your child to retell a story or explain something they learned at school, in order and with details.
• Encourage writing for real reasons: lists, notes, short stories and letters.
• Try one 7ESL practice test so the task types feel familiar. For young children, sit beside them and read the directions aloud, as the examiner does.

Every grade span on 7ESL has 4 full practice tests with audio; the first two are free and 7ESL Pro opens all of them. Listening and Reading are marked instantly, Speaking and Writing come with model answers and rubrics, and 7ESL Pro members can have their writing and speaking scored by the AI examiner.