CMAS Practice Test

CMAS is the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, the state assessment run by the Colorado Department of Education. Students in grades 3 through 8 take English language arts and math for their enrolled grade, and social studies is given in grade 7. This page covers the tentative April 5–23, 2027 testing window and when score reports arrive. It also links free practice sets by subject, with worked answers written with AI tools.

CMAS Exam at a Glance

What changed for CMAS in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility (English Language Arts) changed to Grades 3–8 (CSLA offered in grades 3–4) (previously Grades 3–8 (CSLA available in grades 3–4)).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Score release changed to Family reports in May; state results May–June; final state data in August (previously Family reports in May; school/district reports through June; final state data in August).^[2]

What the CMAS is and how it works

According to Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division, “Students in grades 3 through 8 take the grade level ELA assessment for their enrolled grade.”^[1]

CMAS shows how well a student is meeting Colorado's academic standards in their enrolled grade. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Assessment Division runs it. Schools give the tests within a state window. Students do not register for it the way they would for a licensing or admissions exam.

Who takes which test. Students in grades 3 through 8 take the English language arts and math assessments for their enrolled grade. In grades 3–4, CDE also offers CSLA, the Spanish-language version of the literacy test. Under House Bill 26-1533, social studies is now given in grade 7 at all schools, and grade 4 social studies has been dropped. CDE also lists science as a CMAS content area. Science grade levels are not covered here, so check the CDE assessment page or ask your school which grades test in science.

When it happens. The tentative state window is April 5 through April 23, 2027. Your school sets the exact days within that window.

Scores. Families get individual student performance reports in May. State-level results come out in May and June, and the final state data is published in August.

This page does not cover delivery format, accommodations, score scales or opt-out rules. Schools and districts handle these, and the details can change. For anything official, use the CDE CMAS pages at ed.cde.state.co.us/assessment/cmas or ask your school's testing coordinator.

CMAS content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CMAS content outline published by Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CMAS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A table shows that a plant grew 2 cm in week 1, 4 cm in week 2, 6 cm in week 3, and 8 cm in week 4. What type of pattern does this represent?

1. Random variation
2. Exponential growth
3. Linear (arithmetic) pattern
4. Decreasing pattern

Answer: C. Linear (arithmetic) pattern

Explanation:

Correct answer: C, linear (arithmetic) pattern. The plant grows 2 cm, then 4 cm, then 6 cm, then 8 cm. The amount goes up by the same 2 cm every week, and a constant difference between terms is what makes a pattern arithmetic, or linear.

• A, random variation, is wrong because the changes are regular and predictable, not scattered.
• B, exponential growth, is wrong because exponential patterns multiply by the same factor at every step. Here the jump from 2 to 4 is a doubling, but 4 to 6 is not. The steady part is the added amount.
• D, decreasing pattern, is wrong because every value is larger than the one before.

Rule to remember: subtract each value from the next. If the difference stays the same, the pattern is linear. If the ratio stays the same, it is exponential.

Example 2

Question: How is the CMAS assessment primarily delivered to students?

1. Paper and pencil only
2. Oral examination only
3. Computer-based testing
4. Portfolio review

Answer: C. Computer-based testing

Explanation:

Correct answer: C, computer-based testing. Students normally take CMAS on a computer at school. Paper versions are an accommodation for students with specific documented needs, not the standard format.

• A, paper and pencil only, is wrong because paper is the exception, not the main method.
• B, oral examination only, is wrong because CMAS is not a spoken test given by a teacher.
• D, portfolio review, is wrong because CMAS scores answers to set test questions, not a collection of classwork.

Rule to remember: practise on a screen. Get used to scrolling through passages, using on-screen tools and typing written answers so the format feels familiar on test day. If your child may need a paper or other accommodation, ask the school.

Example 3

Question: Which branch of the U.S. government is responsible for making laws?

1. Executive
2. Judicial
3. Legislative
4. Administrative

Answer: C. Legislative

Explanation:

Correct answer: C, Legislative. The Legislative Branch is Congress, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Constitution gives Congress the power to write and pass federal laws.

• A, Executive, is wrong because the President and federal agencies carry out and enforce laws. They do not write them, even though the President can sign or veto a bill.
• B, Judicial, is wrong because the courts interpret laws and decide whether they follow the Constitution.
• D, Administrative, is wrong because it is not a branch of government. Administrative agencies sit under the executive branch.

Rule to remember: legislative makes laws, executive enforces them, and judicial interprets them. Tie each word to its verb and these questions get much easier.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official source. Read the CDE CMAS pages to confirm which subjects your student takes this year. Then ask the school for its testing days within the state window and any accommodations already in place.

Take a baseline in each subject. Do a short set from English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and, for grade 7, Social Studies. Note which questions felt slow or confusing, not only which were wrong.

Work on the weakest skill. For reading and writing, use Writing Skills and Research and Critical Thinking Skills. For charts and tables, use Data Interpretation and Analysis. Social studies students can add Civics and Government and Colorado History and Geography.

Read every explanation. After each set, have your student say in their own words why the right answer works and why the others do not.

Rehearse the format. Use Test Format and Preparation, then finish with a mixed practice test on a computer. Keep sessions short and regular, and stop the night before the test.

Sources & last verified

1. Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division — eligibility (official source). “Students in grades 3 through 8 take the grade level ELA assessment for their enrolled grade.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
2. Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division — score release (official source). “Individual student performance reports become available to families in May.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
3. Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division — testing window, eligibility (official source). “April 5 through April 23, 2027” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
4. Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division — other (official source). “english language arts” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.