Early Assessment

Junior Year 

The Early Assessment Program starts in eleventh grade when students take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) exam at school. (The CAASPP exam is already a regular part of the school schedule in all California public high schools. No action is required to sign up.) Based on CAASPP scores, the CSU system automatically assigns each student one of the following academic preparation statuses in mathematics and written communication. 

• Above grade level (Level 4): ready for college-level work without support.
• At grade level (Level 3): ready for college-level wok without support upon satisfactory completion of an approved senior year math or English course.
• Below grade level (Level 1 or 2): must demonstrate academic preparation in another way, through ACT, SAT, AP/IB exams or enroll in supported coursework while at the CSU.

CSU campuses aren't the only colleges that consider CAASPP exam scores. Visit the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium to view a list of colleges across the country that are using or have used CAASPP exam scores as part of their placement process for first year students.

See the video explanation below for more information about the importance of the CAASPP exam!

Senior Year

Throughout their senior year of high school, students have the opportunity to demonstrate academic preparation by receiving a qualifying score on the SAT, ACT or certain AP exams. In addition, students who earned Level 3 on the CAASPP exam (were assessed at grade level) can demonstrate academic preparation for general education math and writing courses without support by completing qualifying courses during their senior year. 

Please work with your high school to identify approved courses.

Qualifying senior math course options must have Algebra II or Integrated Math III as a prerequisite.

Approved senior year English course options include AP or IB English, honors English classes (only if approved as honors courses in the UC Course Management Portal), as well as CSU Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC).