Summative ELPAC Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following student behaviors during the ELPAC Listening section is permitted and encouraged as a test-taking strategy?

Discussing answers with a neighboring student to confirm understanding
Requesting additional time to listen to the passage a third time beyond what is standardly allowed
Asking the test administrator to translate key words into the student's home language
Writing brief notes or keywords while listening to the passage (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Writing brief notes or keywords while listening to the passage

Note-taking during listening is a permitted and encouraged strategy on the ELPAC, as it supports recall and comprehension of oral passages.

Question 2: Which of the following best describes the Speaking domain on the ELPAC?

Students read aloud a printed passage to a proctor
Students respond orally to prompts, which are recorded for scoring (Correct answer)
Students write answers to spoken questions
Students listen and select the correct spoken response

Correct answer: Students respond orally to prompts, which are recorded for scoring

In the Speaking domain, students give oral responses to prompts, and those responses are recorded and later scored.

Question 3: In ELPAC speaking tasks, what does the term 'discourse-level features' refer to?

The loudness and speed of a student's spoken response
Whether the student makes eye contact with the examiner
How a student organizes and connects ideas across multiple sentences or utterances (Correct answer)
The number of vocabulary words the student uses

Correct answer: How a student organizes and connects ideas across multiple sentences or utterances

Discourse-level features refer to organization, coherence, and the logical connection of ideas across an extended spoken response.

Question 4: A student reads a passage about the American Revolution and answers: 'What happened after the Boston Tea Party?' This question type is best described as:

Tone and mood identification
Author's purpose evaluation
Figurative language analysis
Sequential / chronological comprehension (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Sequential / chronological comprehension

Questions asking what happened after a specific event test sequential or chronological comprehension, a text structure skill in ELPAC Reading.

Question 5: A kindergarten student is shown three picture cards and asked to name each one. Which ELPAC speaking task type does this represent?

Collaborative discussion
Sentence completion
Oral vocabulary naming (Correct answer)
Read-aloud task

Correct answer: Oral vocabulary naming

Naming objects from picture cards is an oral vocabulary naming task assessing a young student's productive English vocabulary at a foundational level.

Question 6: Which of the following is a key evaluator best practice when scoring open-ended ELPAC Speaking responses?

Apply the rubric consistently and score the response as a whole, not by individual words (Correct answer)
Penalize heavily for accent or pronunciation differences
Award partial credit for any response that contains English words
Score responses immediately after each student leaves the room

Correct answer: Apply the rubric consistently and score the response as a whole, not by individual words

Holistic, rubric-consistent scoring ensures evaluators assess communicative effectiveness rather than isolated surface features.

Question 7: Under ESSA, what minimum percentage of eligible English learners must a district test with the Summative ELPAC to meet federal participation requirements?

95% (Correct answer)
90%
80%
100%

Correct answer: 95%

ESSA requires states and districts to test at least 95% of all eligible student subgroups, including English learners, on annual assessments.

Question 8: Which of the following is NOT typically assessed in the ELPAC Reading domain?

Interpreting visual information in a diagram
Identifying text structure such as problem/solution
Understanding the main idea of a passage
Writing a multi-paragraph essay (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Writing a multi-paragraph essay

Writing a multi-paragraph essay is assessed in the ELPAC Writing domain, not the Reading domain.

Question 9: Which of the following is an example of an ELPAC Listening item that requires inference rather than literal recall?

What word does the speaker use to describe the weather?
How many items does the speaker list?
Based on how the character speaks, how does she probably feel? (Correct answer)
What is the first step the speaker describes?

Correct answer: Based on how the character speaks, how does she probably feel?

Inferring a character's feelings from speech requires going beyond stated information to draw a conclusion, making it an inferential comprehension item.

Question 10: A student hears: 'First, wash your hands. Next, gather your materials. Then, mix the ingredients carefully.' Which question type best assesses listening comprehension of this passage?

What figurative language does the speaker use?
What is the author's tone in this passage?
Which step comes after washing your hands? (Correct answer)
What is the speaker's overall argument?

Correct answer: Which step comes after washing your hands?

Sequencing questions directly assess whether the student tracked the order of procedural steps presented orally.

Question 11: Which ELPAC universal tool allows students to flag items for review during computer-based testing?

Mark for review/bookmarking tool (Correct answer)
Spell checker
Highlighter
Pop-up glossary

Correct answer: Mark for review/bookmarking tool

The mark-for-review or bookmarking tool is an ELPAC universal digital tool that allows all students to flag questions to revisit before submitting.

Question 12: When an ELPAC Reading task asks a student to examine a chart alongside a paragraph, what skill is primarily being assessed?

Integrating visual and textual information (Correct answer)
Identifying rhyme schemes
Spelling accuracy
Phonics decoding

Correct answer: Integrating visual and textual information

Tasks combining charts and paragraphs assess the ability to integrate and interpret information from both visual and written sources.

Question 13: Which of the following ELPAC evaluation best practices BEST supports equitable outcomes for long-term English learners (LTELs)?

Using ELPAC scores as the sole metric for academic program placement
Exempting LTELs from the Summative ELPAC after six years
Requiring LTELs to retake the Initial ELPAC each year
Triangulating ELPAC data with classroom performance and teacher observations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Triangulating ELPAC data with classroom performance and teacher observations

Combining ELPAC data with classroom evidence and teacher input creates a fuller picture of an LTEL's needs and prevents over-reliance on a single data point.

Question 14: On the ELPAC, speaking tasks at the kindergarten level are different from those at grade 8 primarily because:

Grades K tasks use written prompts while grade 8 uses oral prompts
Tasks are scaffolded with more visual supports and require less extended oral production (Correct answer)
Kindergarten speaking is scored by peers, not examiners
Kindergarteners are tested in their home language instead of English

Correct answer: Tasks are scaffolded with more visual supports and require less extended oral production

Kindergarten ELPAC speaking tasks use heavy visual scaffolding and target shorter, more foundational oral responses aligned with developmental language expectations.

Question 15: Which ELPAC Reading task type would most likely ask a student to read a science article and answer questions about cause and effect?

Read and Interpret Visuals
Read and Compare Texts
Read Literary Text
Read Informational Text (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Read Informational Text

Science articles are informational texts, and cause-and-effect relationships are a key comprehension focus within the informational text task type.

Question 16: A student reads a short informational article about recycling and answers questions. Which ELPAC Reading task type does this represent?

Read and Compare Texts
Read and Interpret Visuals
Read Literary Text
Read Informational Text (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Read Informational Text

Reading an informational article and answering comprehension questions is classified as the 'Read Informational Text' task type on the ELPAC.

Question 17: A grade 6 student is shown an informational graphic about water conservation and asked to explain the information to the examiner. Which language functions does this task MOST require?

Reading aloud and pronouncing technical terms
Narrating a personal experience and expressing emotions
Greeting someone and asking for directions
Describing, explaining, and summarizing informational content (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Describing, explaining, and summarizing informational content

Explaining an informational graphic requires the academic language functions of describing data, summarizing key points, and explaining relationships — all core school language skills.

Question 18: Which of the following is a key feature of the 'Listen to a Short Exchange' task type across most grade levels?

Students read a story and then listen to questions about it.
Students listen to a long, academic lecture.
Students listen to a two-turn conversation and answer a single question. (Correct answer)
Students listen to a multi-paragraph fictional story with complex characters.

Correct answer: Students listen to a two-turn conversation and answer a single question.

The 'Listen to a Short Exchange' task type is characterized by a brief, typically two-turn, conversation between two speakers, followed by one comprehension question to assess understanding of the exchange.

Question 19: What role does background knowledge play in ELPAC Listening tasks, according to assessment design principles?

Tasks assume students have no prior knowledge of any topic
Tasks require specialized prior knowledge beyond the school curriculum to answer correctly
Background knowledge is the only skill assessed, not language proficiency
Tasks are designed so content knowledge is irrelevant; only language proficiency is measured (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tasks are designed so content knowledge is irrelevant; only language proficiency is measured

ELPAC Listening tasks are designed to minimize the influence of prior content knowledge so they measure language proficiency, not subject-matter expertise.

Question 20: In ELPAC speaking scoring, which performance level descriptor indicates that a student communicates effectively with minimal errors that rarely impede understanding?

Minimally Developed
Not Developed
Well Developed (Correct answer)
Moderately Developed

Correct answer: Well Developed

Well Developed is the highest performance level, indicating that the student communicates effectively with sophisticated language and minimal errors that do not impede comprehension.

Question 21: A student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) specifies the 'read-aloud' accommodation for all classroom and state testing. When preparing for the ELPAC Reading domain, the test examiner reviews this requirement. Which of the following statements is the most accurate?

The examiner should provide the student with a text-to-speech tool instead of reading aloud.
The examiner should proceed with reading the passages aloud as the IEP is the guiding document.
Reading the passages aloud would invalidate the construct of the Reading domain and is not a permissible accommodation for this specific domain. (Correct answer)
The read-aloud accommodation is only permitted for the Writing and Listening domains without restriction.

Correct answer: Reading the passages aloud would invalidate the construct of the Reading domain and is not a permissible accommodation for this specific domain.

The purpose of the ELPAC Reading domain is to assess a student's ability to read and comprehend English text. Reading the passages aloud to the student would measure their listening comprehension, not their reading ability, thereby invalidating the construct of the assessment. This is not an allowable accommodation for the Reading domain.

Question 22: On the ELPAC, how are Listening domain scores reported in relation to overall English proficiency?

Listening scores are reported separately on a pass/fail basis only
Listening scores are reported as the sole indicator of overall proficiency
Listening is not scored; it only provides diagnostic data for teachers
Listening domain scores contribute to the overall composite proficiency level determination (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Listening domain scores contribute to the overall composite proficiency level determination

ELPAC domain scores (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) each contribute to the overall composite score that determines a student's proficiency level.

Question 23: A kindergarten student's ELPAC Initial composite result shows 'English learner.' What must the school do next?

Notify parents and provide appropriate English language development services (Correct answer)
Administer the Summative Assessment the same week
Immediately reclassify the student
Transfer the student to a special education program

Correct answer: Notify parents and provide appropriate English language development services

Schools must notify parents of the EL identification and ensure the student receives appropriate English language development instruction.

Question 24: An ELPAC examiner asks a student to listen to a sentence and then repeat it exactly. Which task type is this, and what does it primarily measure?

Sentence repetition — measuring auditory memory and phonological processing (Correct answer)
Opinion response — measuring argumentation skills
Oral description — measuring expressive vocabulary
Story retell — measuring narrative coherence

Correct answer: Sentence repetition — measuring auditory memory and phonological processing

Sentence repetition tasks measure a student's ability to hold a sentence in working memory and reproduce it accurately, reflecting phonological and grammatical processing.

Question 25: What is the key difference between the Alternate ELPAC Initial assessment and the Summative assessment?

The Initial is taken online; the Summative is paper-based
The Initial assesses writing only; the Summative assesses all four domains
The Initial is optional; the Summative is mandatory for all students
The Initial is used to identify new potential English learners for designation, while the Summative monitors annual progress (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Initial is used to identify new potential English learners for designation, while the Summative monitors annual progress

The Alternate ELPAC Initial is administered to newly enrolled students to determine EL designation, while the Summative is given annually to monitor English language development progress.

Question 26: On the ELPAC, when a reading task uses a glossary sidebar to define difficult words, this is an example of:

A comprehension question
A grammar correction exercise
A visual interpretation task
An embedded language support scaffold (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An embedded language support scaffold

Glossary sidebars are embedded scaffolds provided to support English learners in accessing grade-level text without penalizing vocabulary gaps.

Question 27: How does the ELPAC Listening domain differ from the Reading domain in terms of text delivery?

Listening items require students to read a passage aloud to an examiner
Listening items use only written scripts shown on screen
Both domains deliver all content in written form simultaneously
Listening items present text orally while students cannot read along (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Listening items present text orally while students cannot read along

In the Listening domain, all passages are delivered orally (via audio or live reading) without a written transcript available to the student.

Question 28: In the ELPAC Oral Language Production task, a student is shown a picture of a park scene and asked to describe what they see. Which skill is PRIMARILY being assessed?

Written response to visual prompts
Reading comprehension of visual texts
Listening and repeating phrases
Spontaneous oral description using contextual vocabulary (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Spontaneous oral description using contextual vocabulary

Picture description tasks assess a student's ability to spontaneously produce oral language using vocabulary appropriate to the visual context.

Question 29: Which of the following best describes a 'transactional' listening task on the ELPAC?

Listening to a story for character analysis
Listening to a debate to evaluate competing arguments
Listening to a poem for emotional response
Listening to exchange information, such as instructions or directions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Listening to exchange information, such as instructions or directions

Transactional listening focuses on extracting specific information or directions from spoken language, such as classroom instructions.

Question 30: Which answer choice best describes a 'Read and Interpret Visuals' task on the ELPAC?

Using labels, diagrams, or graphics to answer comprehension questions (Correct answer)
Writing captions for photographs
Listening to a teacher describe an image
Drawing a picture based on a poem

Correct answer: Using labels, diagrams, or graphics to answer comprehension questions

This task type requires students to read and interpret visual elements such as diagrams, maps, or labeled graphics to answer questions.

Question 31: Which feature of ELPAC Reading tasks ensures they are appropriate for English learners at different proficiency levels?

Tasks are scaffolded with supports such as glossed words or sentence frames (Correct answer)
Tasks are only given orally
Tasks avoid academic vocabulary entirely
All tasks are identical regardless of grade

Correct answer: Tasks are scaffolded with supports such as glossed words or sentence frames

ELPAC tasks are scaffolded with grade-appropriate supports like glossed vocabulary to ensure accessibility across proficiency levels.

Question 32: A test examiner is administering the 'Talk about a Scene' task to a high school student. The student is shown a picture of a busy school library. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial question the examiner would ask?

"What do you think will happen next in this scene?"
"What is the main idea of this picture?"
"What is the girl in the red shirt doing?" (Correct answer)
"Why is it important for students to use the library?"

Correct answer: "What is the girl in the red shirt doing?"

The 'Talk about a Scene' task typically begins with direct, observable questions about the scene, such as 'who, what, when' type questions, to elicit specific descriptions before moving to more complex prompts. Asking what a specific person is doing is a standard initial question for this task type.

Question 33: A Grade 3 ELPAC Reading task shows a fable and asks the student what lesson the story teaches. Which comprehension skill is targeted?

Decoding multi-syllabic words
Identifying the moral or theme of a literary text (Correct answer)
Counting sentences in each paragraph
Locating the author's name

Correct answer: Identifying the moral or theme of a literary text

Identifying the moral or theme of a fable is a literary comprehension skill that the ELPAC assesses in its literary text tasks.

Question 34: Which statement BEST explains why speaking tasks on the ELPAC cannot be scored by machine-automated voice recognition software for official placement decisions?

Students refuse to speak into microphones during standardized testing
Speaking proficiency involves nuanced discourse features, coherence, and pragmatic meaning that require trained human raters to evaluate accurately (Correct answer)
Machine scoring is more expensive than human scoring for these tasks
The tasks are too short for voice recognition software to process

Correct answer: Speaking proficiency involves nuanced discourse features, coherence, and pragmatic meaning that require trained human raters to evaluate accurately

Accurate oral language proficiency assessment requires human judgment to evaluate discourse coherence, pragmatic appropriateness, and holistic communication — dimensions beyond current automated scoring capabilities for high-stakes placement.

Question 35: In the ELPAC Listening domain, which task type requires a student to listen to a fictional story that includes dialogue and then answer several comprehension questions?

Listen to a Classroom Conversation
Listen to a Short Exchange
Listen to an Oral Presentation
Listen to a Story (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Listen to a Story

The 'Listen to a Story' task type specifically assesses a student's ability to comprehend a fictional narrative, which includes dialogue, by asking them to answer questions about the story's details and events.

Question 36: On the ELPAC, which speaking task type asks students to engage in a back-and-forth exchange with the examiner, simulating real conversation?

Picture-Naming
Oral Language Production — Interactive task (Correct answer)
Sentence Repetition
Read Aloud

Correct answer: Oral Language Production — Interactive task

Interactive oral language production tasks simulate real conversational exchanges, requiring students to respond dynamically to examiner prompts.

Question 37: What is the primary purpose of the ELPAC Initial Assessment versus the Summative Assessment?

Initial identifies potential ELLs for designation; Summative monitors annual progress (Correct answer)
Summative is used only for reclassification, not instruction
Initial is longer and more detailed than Summative
Initial and Summative are identical in content and purpose

Correct answer: Initial identifies potential ELLs for designation; Summative monitors annual progress

The Initial ELPAC determines ELL status for new enrollees, while the Summative ELPAC tracks yearly language development for designated ELLs.

Question 38: The ELPAC speaking domain is scored using a rubric with four performance levels. Which ordering, from lowest to highest, is CORRECT?

Beginning, Emerging, Expanding, Bridging
Basic, Proficient, Advanced, Distinguished
Not Developed, Minimally Developed, Moderately Developed, Well Developed (Correct answer)
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4

Correct answer: Not Developed, Minimally Developed, Moderately Developed, Well Developed

The ELPAC uses the four-level scale: Not Developed, Minimally Developed, Moderately Developed, and Well Developed, from lowest to highest proficiency.

Question 39: Which of the following best explains why reviewing released ELPAC items is an effective preparation strategy?

They contain the exact questions that will appear on the operational test
They familiarize students with the actual question formats, task types, and scoring expectations (Correct answer)
They are only useful for teachers, not students
They replace the need to practice writing and speaking in English

Correct answer: They familiarize students with the actual question formats, task types, and scoring expectations

Released items let students experience authentic ELPAC formats and understand what is expected, reducing test anxiety and improving performance.

Question 40: In the ELPAC scoring rubrics, what does the term 'language use' typically refer to?

The length of time taken to respond
The correctness and complexity of vocabulary and grammar (Correct answer)
The physical volume of a student's voice
Whether the student responds in English or another language

Correct answer: The correctness and complexity of vocabulary and grammar

'Language use' in ELPAC rubrics evaluates the accuracy, range, and sophistication of the student's vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Question 41: After listening to a short classroom discussion on recycling, a student must identify the main idea. Which ELPAC skill does this item primarily measure?

Recalling specific vocabulary definitions stated by the speaker
Determining the central idea of spoken discourse (Correct answer)
Identifying the speaker's tone through intonation patterns
Evaluating the logical structure of an argument

Correct answer: Determining the central idea of spoken discourse

Identifying the main idea of spoken discourse is a core Listening domain skill tested across multiple ELPAC grade-level clusters.

Question 42: What is one effective way to prepare for the ELPAC speaking section?

Listening to English podcasts and practicing speaking (Correct answer)
Memorizing vocabulary lists
Watching math tutorials
Reading history books aloud

Correct answer: Listening to English podcasts and practicing speaking

To prepare for the ELPAC speaking section, actively engaging with spoken English and practicing oral production is crucial. Listening to English podcasts improves comprehension and exposure to natural speech, while practicing speaking in response to various prompts or in conversations helps develop fluency, pronunciation, and vocabulary use.

Question 43: A test administrator is preparing an ELPAC assessment for a group of second-graders. One task involves showing the students a picture and asking them to choose the one sentence, out of four options, that best describes the picture. Which Reading Domain task type is being administered?

Read and Choose a Word
Read a Short Informational Passage
Read and Choose a Sentence (Correct answer)
Read-Along Story with Scaffolding

Correct answer: Read and Choose a Sentence

The 'Read and Choose a Sentence' task type, applicable to grades 1-12, specifically requires students to read several sentences and select the one that accurately describes a given picture.

Question 44: Which of the following Speaking domain task types is administered to students in grades K-12 and involves the student listening to a presentation about two options and then stating a preference with justification?

Talk about a Scene
Support an Opinion (Correct answer)
Speech Functions
Retell a Narrative

Correct answer: Support an Opinion

The 'Support an Opinion' task is administered across all grade levels (K-12). It requires students to listen to information about two choices and then express an opinion, supporting it with reasons.

Question 45: In the ELPAC Speaking domain, which task type requires students in grades 6-12 to view a graph or chart, summarize the information, and then evaluate a claim based on that information?

Present and Discuss Information (Correct answer)
Support an Opinion
Summarize an Academic Presentation
Talk about a Scene

Correct answer: Present and Discuss Information

The 'Present and Discuss Information' task type specifically assesses a student's ability to interpret and describe data presented visually (like a graph or chart) and then use that data to determine if a given claim is supported.

Question 46: A student is asked to look at a sequence of four pictures that tell a story and then narrate the story aloud. Which ELPAC speaking task does this describe?

Oral reading fluency
Single-image description
Sequential picture narration (Correct answer)
Vocabulary definition task

Correct answer: Sequential picture narration

Sequential picture narration tasks require students to use visual story sequences as a scaffold to produce an organized oral narrative.

Question 47: Which of the following best describes the purpose of the ELPAC Reading domain overall?

To rank students against native English speakers nationally
To evaluate students' handwriting and spelling
To measure the English reading proficiency of English learners for California reclassification decisions (Correct answer)
To assess reading speed in words per minute

Correct answer: To measure the English reading proficiency of English learners for California reclassification decisions

The ELPAC Reading domain measures English reading proficiency to inform placement and reclassification decisions for English learners in California schools.

Question 48: A best practice when reviewing a student's ELPAC score report is to examine results in which order?

Reading and Listening only, as they are the academic domains
Overall score first, then individual domain scores (Correct answer)
Writing score last because it is least reliable
Speaking score first because it is most predictive

Correct answer: Overall score first, then individual domain scores

Starting with the overall score provides context, then domain scores reveal specific strengths and instructional needs.

Question 49: Which cognitive skill is MOST emphasized when ELPAC test-takers respond to 'Listen to Oral Instructions' tasks?

Sequencing multi-step directions accurately (Correct answer)
Evaluating an author's point of view
Identifying figurative language in speech
Summarizing an argument's main claim

Correct answer: Sequencing multi-step directions accurately

Oral instructions tasks focus on following sequential, multi-step directions, a critical classroom listening skill.

Question 50: In ELPAC Reading, what does it mean when a question asks for an 'inference'?

The student uses clues in the text plus background knowledge to figure out something not directly stated (Correct answer)
The student counts the total number of words in a passage
The student defines a vocabulary word using a dictionary
The student copies a sentence from the text

Correct answer: The student uses clues in the text plus background knowledge to figure out something not directly stated

Inference questions require students to use text clues and reasoning to draw conclusions about information not explicitly stated in the passage.

Question 51: Why does the ELPAC Reading domain include both literary and informational texts?

To make the test longer
To measure handwriting quality
To compare reading speed across genres
To assess English proficiency across the range of texts students encounter in California classrooms (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To assess English proficiency across the range of texts students encounter in California classrooms

Including both text types ensures the ELPAC measures English proficiency across the full spectrum of academic reading demands students face.

Question 52: During the 'Listen to a Classroom Conversation' task, a student hears a recording of two students discussing their differing viewpoints on a school-related topic, such as whether school uniforms should be required. What skill is primarily being assessed?

The ability to comprehend a conversation with multiple turns and perspectives. (Correct answer)
The ability to identify the main idea and supporting details in an academic lecture.
The ability to decode individual words and phonemes.
The ability to follow multi-step directions.

Correct answer: The ability to comprehend a conversation with multiple turns and perspectives.

This task type is designed to assess a student's ability to follow and understand a multi-turn discussion between two or more speakers, including their different ideas or opinions on a topic.

Question 53: What does 'standardized administration' mean in the context of the ELPAC?

All eligible students receive the test in English regardless of their language level
All students take the test on the same day and at the same time
The test is administered under the same conditions and procedures for all students (Correct answer)
All test results are compared to a national average standard

Correct answer: The test is administered under the same conditions and procedures for all students

Standardized administration means all students receive the same directions, materials, and testing conditions to ensure fair and valid results.

Question 54: The ELPAC uses holistic scoring for speaking tasks. What does 'holistic scoring' mean in this context?

Students score their own responses using a provided rubric
Each sentence is scored separately and scores are averaged
The rater assigns an overall score based on the total impression of language proficiency across all criteria (Correct answer)
Each individual error in the response is counted and subtracted from a perfect score

Correct answer: The rater assigns an overall score based on the total impression of language proficiency across all criteria

Holistic scoring means the rater considers the overall quality of language proficiency across multiple dimensions rather than tallying individual errors.

Question 55: Two ELPAC passages — one literary and one informational — share the theme of perseverance. A question asks how each author presents this theme differently. This is an example of:

Visual interpretation
Cross-text comparison (Correct answer)
Single-text literary analysis
Grammar correction

Correct answer: Cross-text comparison

Comparing how two texts from different genres treat the same theme is a cross-text comparison task, which falls under 'Read and Compare Texts' on the ELPAC.

Question 56: Which students are eligible to receive ELPAC designated supports?

Only students with 504 Plans
Only students with IEPs
All students automatically
Students whose needs are identified through the LEA's decision-making process, including English learners (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Students whose needs are identified through the LEA's decision-making process, including English learners

Designated supports are available to students whose specific needs are identified by the LEA's decision-making process, which can include English learners without disabilities.

Question 57: What is the primary purpose of the Initial ELPAC?

To measure academic content knowledge in math and science
To reclassify long-term English learners as proficient
To identify newly enrolled students who may be English learners (Correct answer)
To determine eligibility for special education services

Correct answer: To identify newly enrolled students who may be English learners

The Initial ELPAC screens newly enrolled students to determine if they should be designated as English learners requiring language support services.

Question 58: A student listens to a passage about the water cycle and must answer: 'What happens to water after it evaporates?' What type of comprehension skill is being measured?

Evaluating the speaker's credibility and bias
Recalling a specific fact from informational listening (Correct answer)
Identifying figurative language in scientific description
Inferring theme from narrative structure

Correct answer: Recalling a specific fact from informational listening

Recalling a specific fact from an orally presented informational text is a fundamental literal comprehension skill in the ELPAC Listening domain.

Question 59: When the ELPAC asks a student to determine the meaning of an unknown word using context clues, this skill is called:

Author's purpose identification
Phonemic awareness
Vocabulary in context (Correct answer)
Text structure analysis

Correct answer: Vocabulary in context

Using surrounding words and sentences to figure out the meaning of an unknown word is the vocabulary-in-context skill assessed in ELPAC Reading tasks.

Question 60: On the ELPAC, which factor most directly determines whether a Listening task uses picture-based responses vs. multiple-choice text responses?

The subject matter of the listening passage
Whether the passage was read aloud by a human or played as audio
The student's grade level and expected literacy development (Correct answer)
The length of the listening passage in minutes

Correct answer: The student's grade level and expected literacy development

Response format is calibrated to grade-level literacy expectations—younger students use pictures while older students use text-based options.

Question 61: What is the primary purpose of including picture-based prompts in ELPAC speaking tasks for early elementary grades?

To test reading readiness alongside oral language
To reduce reliance on prior content knowledge and provide equal access to the task (Correct answer)
To replace the need for an examiner to be present
To assess whether students can identify illustrations in books

Correct answer: To reduce reliance on prior content knowledge and provide equal access to the task

Picture-based prompts level the playing field by providing a shared visual referent so all students can access the task regardless of their background knowledge.

Question 62: When preparing students for ELPAC speaking tasks, a teacher should MOST focus on developing students' ability to:

Respond only in their home language when uncertain
Produce extended, elaborated responses using varied vocabulary and grammar (Correct answer)
Memorize and recite fixed phrases for each task type
Answer questions using only one-word or short responses to avoid errors

Correct answer: Produce extended, elaborated responses using varied vocabulary and grammar

ELPAC speaking tasks reward extended, elaborated production with varied vocabulary and complex grammar, so instructional focus should build these competencies.

Question 63: Which performance level on the Summative ELPAC indicates a student is closest to meeting reclassification criteria based on language proficiency?

Early Advanced
Intermediate
Beginning
Advanced (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Advanced

Students at the Advanced performance level have demonstrated the highest English proficiency and are generally the closest to meeting reclassification criteria.

Question 64: A student hears two classmates discussing a school project and must answer questions about their conversation. Which ELPAC Listening task type does this represent?

Listen to a Conversation or Discussion (Correct answer)
Listen to a Short Informational Presentation
Listen to Oral Instructions
Listen to a Story

Correct answer: Listen to a Conversation or Discussion

Listening to a Conversation or Discussion tasks require students to comprehend the exchange between two or more speakers in a realistic school context.

Question 65: A student reads a short poem and is asked what the phrase 'heart of gold' means. This question tests understanding of which literary device?

Simile
Figurative language / idiom (Correct answer)
Alliteration
Hyperbole

Correct answer: Figurative language / idiom

'Heart of gold' is an idiom, a type of figurative language, and recognizing its meaning is a key literary text comprehension skill on the ELPAC.

Question 66: A high school ELPAC student listens to two students debate whether school uniforms should be required and then answers questions about each speaker's position. Which task type and skill does this represent?

Listen to a Story; identifying narrative theme
Listen to Oral Instructions; sequencing procedural steps
Listen to a Presentation; identifying main idea of expository text
Listen to a Conversation or Discussion; distinguishing speakers' viewpoints (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Listen to a Conversation or Discussion; distinguishing speakers' viewpoints

This task requires comprehending a multi-speaker discussion and distinguishing the viewpoints each participant expresses.

Question 67: A student reads an article with headings, subheadings, and bold terms and answers questions about the article's organization. Which comprehension skill is targeted?

Comparing two different stories
Describing a character's motivation
Analyzing rhyme and rhythm
Identifying text features of informational text (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Identifying text features of informational text

Recognizing how text features like headings and bold terms organize informational text is a key ELPAC Reading skill for non-fiction comprehension.

Question 68: Which ELPAC grade-level cluster includes the widest range of Listening task complexity, progressing from simple image-based to multi-step oral comprehension?

Kindergarten only
Grades 9–12 only
The full span from Kindergarten through Grade 12 with increasing complexity (Correct answer)
Grades 1–2

Correct answer: The full span from Kindergarten through Grade 12 with increasing complexity

ELPAC Listening tasks span Kindergarten through Grade 12, with complexity systematically increasing across grade-level clusters.

Summative ELPAC Exam

The Summative ELPAC annually measures English learner students' progress toward English language proficiency in California schools across four domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, aligned to the 2012 California ELD Standards.

Questions

160 min

Time Limit

To Pass

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