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

Question 1: Identify the pronoun in this sentence: 'Maria forgot her homework at home.'

Her (Correct answer)
Forgot
Maria
Homework

Correct answer: Her

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

Question 2: A student at the Advanced CELDT level can BEST be characterized as:

Relying on gestures and context clues to communicate
Producing English comparable to grade-level native speakers (Correct answer)
Writing only in simple sentences with frequent errors
Understanding simple conversational English only

Correct answer: Producing English comparable to grade-level native speakers

Advanced level students demonstrate English language skills comparable to those of native English-speaking peers at their grade level.

Question 3: In math, what does the word 'estimate' mean?

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

Correct answer: Make a rough or approximate calculation

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

Question 4: When checking your written response on the CELDT, what should you review first?

How many lines you wrote
Whether your answer addresses the question asked (Correct answer)
Whether every word is spelled perfectly
Whether your handwriting looks neat

Correct answer: Whether your answer addresses the question asked

Ensuring your response actually answers the question is the most critical step in reviewing written work.

Question 5: Which sentence uses the correct article?

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

Correct answer: I saw an elephant.

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

Question 6: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:

The children is playing outside.
The children play outside. (Correct answer)
The children playing outside.
The children plays outside.

Correct answer: The children play outside.

'Children' is plural, so the plural verb 'play' (not 'plays') is required.

Question 7: A student at the Early Intermediate CELDT level can typically do which of the following?

Understand simple conversational English with contextual support (Correct answer)
Read and write at grade level in English without assistance
Use only isolated words and memorized phrases
Understand and produce complex academic sentences independently

Correct answer: Understand simple conversational English with contextual support

Early Intermediate students can understand and produce simple conversational English, often relying on context and support.

Question 8: Which approach helps you best manage time during the CELDT?

Spend equal time on every question no matter what
Skip all difficult questions and never return
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 9: What does CELDT stand for?

California English Language Development Test (Correct answer)
California English Literacy and Development Test
California Elementary Language Development Test
California Education Language Development Test

Correct answer: California English Language Development Test

CELDT stands for California English Language Development Test, used to assess English proficiency of English learner students.

Question 10: Which word is an adjective in the sentence: 'The clever student solved the difficult puzzle'?

Puzzle
Clever (Correct answer)
Solved
Student

Correct answer: Clever

Clever is an adjective because it describes the noun 'student.'

Question 11: Choose the correct form: 'There _____ many students in the classroom.'

Was
Is
Are (Correct answer)
Am

Correct answer: Are

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

Question 12: What punctuation mark ends an interrogative sentence?

Exclamation mark
Question mark (Correct answer)
Comma
Period

Correct answer: Question mark

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

Question 13: What criteria must students meet to be reclassified as Fluent English Proficient (RFEP)?

Complete a minimum number of years in an EL program
Score at the Advanced level on the CELDT alone
Meet multiple criteria including CELDT performance, teacher evaluation, parent input, and academic performance (Correct answer)
Pass a single oral language interview

Correct answer: Meet multiple criteria including CELDT performance, teacher evaluation, parent input, and academic performance

Reclassification requires meeting multiple criteria: CELDT proficiency, teacher assessment, parent input, and comparison with academic performance of English-only peers.

Question 14: What does the idiom 'under the weather' mean?

Feeling cold
Feeling unwell (Correct answer)
Caught in a storm
Outdoors

Correct answer: Feeling unwell

'Under the weather' is an idiom meaning to feel ill or not well.

Question 15: What is the meaning of the word 'curious'?

Tired and sleepy
Bored and uninterested
Eager to learn or know (Correct answer)
Afraid and nervous

Correct answer: Eager to learn or know

Curious means having a strong desire to know or learn something.

Question 16: When reading a passage on the CELDT, what should you do first?

Start answering without reading fully
Read the questions before reading the passage
Skip difficult words entirely
Read the entire passage for overall meaning first (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Read the entire passage for overall meaning first

Reading the passage first for overall meaning helps you understand the context before answering specific questions.

Question 17: Which word is a conjunction in this sentence: 'I like pizza but my sister prefers pasta'?

Prefers
Pizza
Like
But (Correct answer)

Correct answer: But

'But' is a coordinating conjunction that connects two contrasting independent clauses.

Question 18: Which proficiency level is the lowest on the CELDT scale?

Developing
Intermediate
Beginning (Correct answer)
Early Intermediate

Correct answer: Beginning

Beginning is the lowest of the five CELDT proficiency levels, representing students with very limited English ability.

Question 19: Which sentence is in the future tense?

She walked to school.
She will walk to school. (Correct answer)
She is walking to school.
She walks 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 20: Which word is a preposition in this sentence: 'The book is on the table'?

Table
On (Correct answer)
Book
Is

Correct answer: On

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

Question 21: Which of the following is a common task in the CELDT Reading section?

Speaking about a topic
Writing a summary of a passage
Listening to a conversation and summarizing it
Reading a passage and answering comprehension questions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Reading a passage and answering comprehension questions

The CELDT Reading section primarily assesses a student's ability to understand written English. This is achieved by having students read various passages and then answer comprehension questions that test their understanding of main ideas, supporting details, vocabulary, and inferences within the text. This task directly measures their reading proficiency and critical thinking skills related to written material.

Question 22: Which of the following is NOT a good test-taking strategy on the CELDT?

Change your answer without a reason after completing the test (Correct answer)
Read all answer choices before selecting one
Use context clues for unknown words
Eliminate clearly wrong answer choices

Correct answer: Change your answer without a reason after completing the test

Changing answers without reasoning is not a good strategy — research shows first instincts are often correct.

Question 23: Which CELDT domain is administered individually, one-on-one between the student and an examiner?

Speaking (Correct answer)
Reading
Writing
Listening

Correct answer: Speaking

The Speaking domain of the CELDT is administered individually because it requires direct interaction and oral response from each student.

Question 24: Which word correctly completes the conditional sentence: 'If it rains, we _____ stay inside.'

Had
Will (Correct answer)
Would
Did

Correct answer: Will

A first conditional sentence uses 'if + present tense, will + base verb' to describe a likely future event.

Question 25: Which word best describes someone who always tells the truth?

Honest (Correct answer)
Reckless
Deceptive
Timid

Correct answer: Honest

Honest means truthful and sincere, making it the best descriptor for someone who always tells the truth.

Question 26: What does 'fluency' mean in the context of English language development?

The ability to use language smoothly and naturally (Correct answer)
Knowing only basic words
Writing with perfect spelling only
Speaking very loudly

Correct answer: The ability to use language smoothly and naturally

Fluency in language refers to the ability to speak, read, write, and understand a language smoothly, accurately, and at a natural pace.

Question 27: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

She no like apples.
She don't like apples.
She doesn't like apples. (Correct answer)
She not 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 28: Which sentence uses the present perfect tense?

She reads the book.
She read the book.
She will read the book.
She has read the book. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She has read the book.

The present perfect tense uses 'has/have' + past participle, as in 'has read.'

Question 29: In the CELDT Speaking section, what is important when responding to a question?

Using complex vocabulary only
Speaking as quickly as possible
Avoiding pauses at all costs
Providing detailed and clear responses (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Providing detailed and clear responses

In the Speaking section, simply answering "yes" or "no" is insufficient. Evaluators look for the ability to elaborate, provide examples, and explain reasoning, demonstrating a broader command of English. Clear and detailed responses allow the student to showcase their vocabulary, grammar, and ability to construct coherent thoughts.

Question 30: When an answer choice on the CELDT contains extreme words like 'always' or 'never,' it is usually:

Always the best choice
Always the first option
Correct, because extreme words are clear
Incorrect, because most statements have exceptions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Incorrect, because most statements have exceptions

Extreme absolutes like 'always' or 'never' are rarely correct because most situations have exceptions.

Question 31: At which CELDT level would a student most likely understand the main ideas of complex grade-level text with minimal support?

Beginning
Intermediate
Early Intermediate
Early Advanced (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Early Advanced

Early Advanced students can understand main ideas of complex, grade-level text with only minimal support.

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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