California English Language Development Test (CELDT) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Choose the correctly capitalized sentence:

my teacher, mrs. smith, teaches english.
My teacher, mrs. Smith, teaches english.
My teacher, Mrs. Smith, teaches English. (Correct answer)
My Teacher, mrs. smith, Teaches english.

Correct answer: My teacher, Mrs. Smith, teaches English.

Proper nouns (names, titles) and the first word of a sentence must be capitalized.

Question 2: What is the significance of the CELDT results for English Learner students?

They determine if a student graduates
They determine which sports teams students can join
They are used to monitor English language development and guide instructional support (Correct answer)
They replace all other standardized tests

Correct answer: They are used to monitor English language development and guide instructional support

CELDT results guide schools in providing appropriate instructional programs and monitoring the English language progress of English Learner students.

Question 3: What does the word 'persuade' mean?

To convince someone (Correct answer)
To confuse someone
To ignore someone
To help someone

Correct answer: To convince someone

Persuade means to cause someone to believe or do something through reasoning or argument.

Question 4: Which transition word shows a result or effect?

Therefore (Correct answer)
However
In addition
Meanwhile

Correct answer: Therefore

'Therefore' is a transition word that signals a result or conclusion based on what came before.

Question 5: Who is required to take the CELDT in California?

All students in California public schools
Students whose home language is not English, as identified by the Home Language Survey (Correct answer)
Only students who were born outside the United States
Only students who fail state math exams

Correct answer: Students whose home language is not English, as identified by the Home Language Survey

Students identified as potential English learners through the Home Language Survey are required to take the CELDT.

Question 6: Which word has a similar meaning to 'observe'?

Watch (Correct answer)
Ignore
Speak
Write

Correct answer: Watch

Observe means to watch carefully or notice, making 'watch' the closest synonym.

Question 7: In math, what is a 'product'?

The answer to a multiplication problem (Correct answer)
The answer to a subtraction problem
The answer to an addition problem
The answer to a division problem

Correct answer: The answer to a multiplication problem

In mathematics, the product is the result obtained by multiplying two or more numbers together.

Question 8: In math, what does the word 'estimate' mean?

Count one by one
Make a rough or approximate calculation (Correct answer)
Measure precisely
Find the exact answer

Correct answer: Make a rough or approximate calculation

To estimate means to find an approximate value rather than an exact one.

Question 9: What does 'infer' mean when reading a passage?

To read every word carefully
To look up words in a dictionary
To use clues to figure out something not directly stated (Correct answer)
To retell the story from beginning to end

Correct answer: To use clues to figure out something not directly stated

To infer means to use textual clues and background knowledge to conclude something not explicitly stated.

Question 10: On the CELDT, when writing a paragraph, which element should come first?

A topic sentence (Correct answer)
A concluding sentence
A supporting detail
An example

Correct answer: A topic sentence

A topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph and should appear at the beginning.

Question 11: What is the best way to organize a CELDT written response?

Only write one sentence
Write random thoughts in any order
Use an introduction, body, and conclusion (Correct answer)
Begin with the conclusion and end with the introduction

Correct answer: Use an introduction, body, and conclusion

A well-organized written response follows a clear structure: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Question 12: Which grade levels take the CELDT?

Kindergarten through grade 12 (Correct answer)
Only grades 6 through 8
Only grades 9 through 12
Only grades 3 through 5

Correct answer: Kindergarten through grade 12

The CELDT is administered to English learners in kindergarten through grade 12.

Question 13: How should you handle unfamiliar vocabulary in the Reading section?

Guess the meaning without context
Stop and look up the word in a dictionary
Use context clues to infer the meaning (Correct answer)
Skip the word and continue reading

Correct answer: Use context clues to infer the meaning

When encountering unfamiliar vocabulary in the CELDT Reading section, the best approach is to use context clues to infer the meaning. Analyzing the surrounding sentences, paragraphs, and the overall theme of the passage can often provide enough information to understand the word's likely definition. This skill allows you to maintain reading flow and comprehension without needing to stop and look up every unknown word.

Question 14: Which sentence is in the future tense?

She will walk to school. (Correct answer)
She is walking to school.
She walks to school.
She walked to school.

Correct answer: She will walk to school.

Using 'will' before a verb indicates future tense, showing an action that has not yet happened.

Question 15: Identify the pronoun in this sentence: 'Maria forgot her homework at home.'

Forgot
Homework
Her (Correct answer)
Maria

Correct answer: Her

'Her' is a possessive pronoun that refers back to the noun 'Maria.'

Question 16: What punctuation mark ends an interrogative sentence?

Exclamation mark
Comma
Period
Question mark (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Question mark

An interrogative sentence asks a question and must end with a question mark.

Question 17: What does the word 'vivid' mean?

Bright and clear (Correct answer)
Old and worn
Dull and colorless
Hidden and unclear

Correct answer: Bright and clear

Vivid means producing strong, clear images or feelings; bright and intense.

Question 18: Which sentence uses a comparative adjective correctly?

This book is more better.
This book is gooder.
This book is better. (Correct answer)
This book is more good.

Correct answer: This book is better.

'Better' is the correct irregular comparative form of 'good'; 'more better' and 'gooder' are incorrect.

Question 19: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

She doesn't like apples. (Correct answer)
She not like apples.
She don't like apples.
She no like apples.

Correct answer: She doesn't like apples.

With a singular third-person subject like 'she,' the correct negative form is 'doesn't' (does not).

Question 20: Which of the following does the CELDT overall score NOT directly measure?

Listening comprehension
Content knowledge in academic subjects (Correct answer)
Writing fluency
Speaking ability

Correct answer: Content knowledge in academic subjects

The CELDT measures English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing — not students' mastery of academic subject content.

Question 21: Which sentence uses the correct article?

I saw an elephant. (Correct answer)
I saw a elephant.
I saw the elephant yesterday at park.
I saw elephant.

Correct answer: I saw an elephant.

The article 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as 'elephant.'

Question 22: What type of sentence is: 'Please close the door.'?

Declarative
Imperative (Correct answer)
Exclamatory
Interrogative

Correct answer: Imperative

An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request, like 'Please close the door.'

Question 23: A teacher reviews a student's CELDT results showing Early Intermediate in Writing but Intermediate in Listening. What does this MOST likely indicate?

The student should be reclassified as Fluent English Proficient
The student's scores are too inconsistent to be valid
The student has equal proficiency across all domains
The student performs better in listening comprehension than in writing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The student performs better in listening comprehension than in writing

Separate domain scores allow teachers to see specific strengths; this student clearly demonstrates stronger listening skills than writing skills.

Question 24: Which word is a verb in this sentence: 'The bright stars sparkle every night'?

Sparkle (Correct answer)
Stars
Night
Bright

Correct answer: Sparkle

A verb shows action or state of being; 'sparkle' shows the action the stars perform.

Question 25: An English Learner at the Intermediate CELDT level is BEST described as:

Unable to read or write in English at any level
Understanding and using everyday English but struggling with academic language (Correct answer)
Being fully fluent in academic English
Having no functional English ability

Correct answer: Understanding and using everyday English but struggling with academic language

Intermediate level students have functional everyday English skills but need support with complex academic language and content.

Question 26: Which word is a preposition in this sentence: 'The book is on the table'?

Table
On (Correct answer)
Is
Book

Correct answer: On

'On' is a preposition that shows the relationship between 'book' and 'table' in terms of location.

Question 27: Which approach helps you best manage time during the CELDT?

Skip all difficult questions and never return
Spend equal time on every question no matter what
Read every question twice before answering any
Answer easier questions first, then return to harder ones (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Answer easier questions first, then return to harder ones

Answering easier questions first ensures you earn those points before spending extra time on harder items.

Question 28: On the CELDT, if a question asks for the 'main idea,' where is it usually found?

Often in the first or last paragraph (Correct answer)
Only in the middle of the passage
Only in the last paragraph
Only in the title

Correct answer: Often in the first or last paragraph

The main idea is often stated or summarized in the introduction or conclusion of a passage.

Question 29: Which sentence contains a compound subject?

Running is healthy.
Maria runs every morning.
She runs every morning.
Maria and Luis run every morning. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Maria and Luis run every morning.

A compound subject contains two or more subjects joined by a conjunction; 'Maria and Luis' is a compound subject.

Question 30: On the CELDT, which sentence structure is most appropriate for a formal written response?

Plants make food using the sun or whatever.
I think it's pretty cool how plants grow.
Plants are kind of interesting I guess.
Photosynthesis enables plants to convert sunlight into energy. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Photosynthesis enables plants to convert sunlight into energy.

Formal academic writing uses precise vocabulary and complete sentences without informal language.

Question 31: Choose the correct form: 'There _____ many students in the classroom.'

Was
Am
Is
Are (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Are

'Are' is correct because 'students' is plural, requiring a plural verb form.

California English Language Development Test (CELDT)

The CELDT was California's standardized assessment for English Learner (EL) students in grades K–12, measuring English proficiency across Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing domains to determine EL classification and instructional program placement. It was administered annually until replaced by the ELPAC in 2018.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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