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.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility (English Language Arts) | Grades 3–8 (CSLA offered in grades 3–4)[1] | Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (Math) | Grades 3–8[1] | Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (Social Studies) | Grade 7 at all schools (grade 4 dropped)[3] | Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Score release | Family reports in May; state results May–June; final state data in August[2] | Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Testing window | April 5–23, 2027 (tentative)[3] | Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Assessment Division · Oct 26, 2026 |
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.
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.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| English Language Arts[4] | CMAS English Language Arts Read passages closely, find the main idea and supporting evidence, and practise writing clear answers that quote the text. |
| Math[4] | CMAS Mathematics Work grade-level problems step by step, including spotting patterns in tables and showing how you reached each answer. |
| Science[4] | CMAS Science Practise reading data from charts and experiments and explaining what the evidence shows about a scientific idea. |
| Social Studies[4] | CMAS Social Studies Review civics, Colorado history and geography, and practise using maps and primary sources to support an answer. |
Prepare for the CMAS - Colorado Measures of Academic Success exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Question: How is the CMAS assessment primarily delivered to students?
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.
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.
Question: Which branch of the U.S. government is responsible for making laws?
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.
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.
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.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.
The tentative CMAS window is April 5 through April 23, 2027. CDE sets this statewide window, and each school picks its own testing days inside it. CDE lists the dates as tentative, so check the CDE important dates page closer to spring, and ask your school for the exact days your student will test in each subject.
Students in grades 3 through 8 take the English language arts and math assessments for their enrolled grade. CSLA, the Spanish-language literacy option, is offered in grades 3–4. Social studies is now given in grade 7 at all schools. CDE also lists science as a CMAS subject. Ask your school or check the CDE site for which grades test in science.
No. Under House Bill 26-1533, CMAS social studies is given in grade 7 at all schools, and the grade 4 social studies test has been dropped. If your student is in grade 7, practise civics, Colorado history and geography. Our Civics and Government and Colorado History and Geography sets focus on those topics.
Individual student performance reports become available to families in May. State-level results come out in May and June, and CDE publishes the final state data in August. Your school or district usually shares the family report, so ask them how and when you will get it.
No. We write the practice questions on this site with AI tools, and they are not taken from the actual CMAS. They are built around the official subjects (English language arts, math, science and social studies) so students can practise the kinds of skills tested. For official sample items and test details, use the Colorado Department of Education CMAS pages.