Last spring, my students took the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) for the first time. To prepare my students for this rigorous assessment I researched any and all SBAC sample questions, SBAC practice tests, and SBAC test prep materials.
Inspired by my research, I decided to create my own SBAC test prep materials that focused on reading and literacy.
Today I'm sharing the SBAC sample questions I created for students to prepare them for the English Language Arts/Literacy sections of the assessment. I have compiled a list of reading practice prompts for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry texts for each of the individual grade levels (3–5). These SBAC sample questions can be used during readers workshop or your English Language Arts block.
Below is a sample of my 4th Grade SBAC sample questions. To access all of my sample questions for grades 3–5, click the "download now" button below!
Fiction
Explain the lesson the reader can learn. Use details from the story to support your answer.
Why does the author use the sentence _____ to describe how _____ feels?
Based on _____’s actions, describe _____’s personality.
Summarize the story.
Nonfiction
Explain how _____ can help people in their everyday lives. Support your answer using details from the passage.
Write a summary of key events that led to _____ becoming a famous _____. Use details from the passage in your summary to support your answer.
Explain the author’s most likely purpose for writing about _____. Use examples from the passage to support your response.
Poetry
Explain the connection between _____ and _____ in the poem.
Compare _____ from the poem and _____ from the story _____ and describe how their actions are similar.
Download the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Reading Practice Prompts to help students prepare for the English Language Arts/Literacy sections of the SBAC assessments.