100+ Free CAST Grade 5 Practice Questions
Prepare for the California Science Test (CAST) — Grade 5 exam with instant access — no signup required.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More K-12 State Assessments
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
Key Facts: CAST Grade 5 Exam
Grades 5, 8, HS
CAST administered in grade 5, grade 8, and once in high school
cde.ca.gov CAASPP science
~2 hours
Untimed; estimated about two hours for three segments
caaspp-elpac.org CAST
32–34 + PTs
Segment A discrete items plus 2 performance tasks for student scores
Revised CAST Blueprint
3 domains
Physical, Life, Earth & Space Sciences with integrated ETS
CAST Blueprint
CA NGSS
Aligned to California Next Generation Science Standards
CDE CAST page
Free
State-funded CAASPP assessment; no family exam fee
Statewide assessment program
4 levels
Minimal, Developing, Proficient, Advanced; Grade 5 Proficient is 214–230
CDE CAST Range ALDs (2025–26 labels)
45 PEs
Item specifications cover 45 Performance Expectations for grade 5 form
CDE CAST Item Specifications
CAST Grade 5 is California’s free statewide CA NGSS science test (CDE/CAASPP), untimed (~2 hours), three science domains plus integrated engineering, four achievement levels.
Sample CAST Grade 5 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CAST Grade 5 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A sealed bag of frozen fruit juice is left on a warm counter until the juice becomes liquid. Which statement best describes the juice particles?
2Which property can help identify an unknown metal sample without changing what it is made of?
3Students pour 50 mL of water into a cup and add 10 g of sugar. After stirring, the sugar can no longer be seen. What most likely happened?
4Which classroom observation is the strongest evidence that a chemical change occurred?
5A ball rolls across a smooth floor and slowly stops. What best explains why the ball eventually stops?
6Why do objects fall toward Earth when dropped?
7A sealed bag holds baking soda and vinegar in separate corners. Students tip the bag so the materials mix and the bag puffs up. What best explains the puffing?
8In a closed jar, students combine 40 g of salt and 160 g of water. After stirring until the salt dissolves, what total mass should they measure if matter is conserved?
9A student thinks that when a puddle dries, the water is destroyed. Which model best corrects this idea?
10Students place a drop of food coloring in still water and watch the color spread without stirring. Which particle idea best explains the observation?
About the CAST Grade 5 Exam
The California Science Test (CAST) Grade 5 is California’s statewide CAASPP science assessment for grade 5 students. It measures the California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) across Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences, with Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science integrated by context. The computer-based form uses discrete items and performance tasks and is untimed (about two hours estimated). OpenExamPrep free MCQ practice is an English-language study aid aligned to CAST domains and CA NGSS—not official secure content or a full simulation of multi-part performance tasks.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
Untimed; estimated about two hours for all three segments (CDE/CAASPP).
Passing Score
No pass/fail score. Four overall achievement levels: Level 1 Minimal, Level 2 Developing, Level 3 Proficient, Level 4 Advanced (labels adopted by the SBE and used from 2025–26 reporting; formerly Standard Not Met / Nearly Met / Met / Exceeded). Cut scores unchanged: Grade 5 scale 150–250, Proficient 214–230, Advanced 231–250. Domain results use Above Proficient / At or Near Proficient / Below Proficient.
Exam Fee
Free to students and families; CAST is state-funded and administered through California public schools as part of CAASPP. (California Department of Education (CAASPP); operational delivery via the CAASPP contractor (ETS))
CAST Grade 5 Exam Content Outline
Physical Sciences (with integrated ETS)
Matter and its interactions, forces and motion, energy, and waves; Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science items assigned by stimulus context (CAST blueprint).
Life Sciences (with integrated ETS)
Organism structure and processes, ecosystems, heredity, and biological evolution at elementary grade-band depth with SEPs and CCCs.
Earth and Space Sciences (with integrated ETS)
Earth’s place in the universe, Earth’s systems, and Earth and human activity, including Environmental Principles and Concepts context where appropriate.
How to Pass the CAST Grade 5 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No pass/fail score. Four overall achievement levels: Level 1 Minimal, Level 2 Developing, Level 3 Proficient, Level 4 Advanced (labels adopted by the SBE and used from 2025–26 reporting; formerly Standard Not Met / Nearly Met / Met / Exceeded). Cut scores unchanged: Grade 5 scale 150–250, Proficient 214–230, Advanced 231–250. Domain results use Above Proficient / At or Near Proficient / Below Proficient.
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: Untimed; estimated about two hours for all three segments (CDE/CAASPP).
- Exam fee: Free to students and families; CAST is state-funded and administered through California public schools as part of CAASPP.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CAST Grade 5 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAST Grade 5?
CAST is California’s statewide science assessment in the CAASPP System. Grade 5 assesses CA NGSS Performance Expectations from grades 3–5 (with foundational K–2 concepts) using three-dimensional items that integrate practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts.
Who takes CAST?
Students in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school (grade 10, 11, or 12) take CAST unless their IEP designates the California Alternate Assessment for Science.
How long is CAST?
CAST is untimed. CDE/CAASPP estimate about two hours for all three segments.
What domains are scored?
Students receive an overall score and domain scores for Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences. Engineering items are assigned to a science domain based on stimulus context (CAST blueprint).
Is CAST free?
Yes. CAST is state-funded and administered through public schools at no cost to families for standard administration.
What language is the CAST given in?
The CAST is delivered in English. Eligible students may receive the Spanish stacked–dual language designated support, which displays a full Spanish translation of each item above the English version, and CDE publishes non-embedded translated CAST test directions in sixteen additional languages. OpenExamPrep practice questions are English-language only.
Are these practice questions official CAST items?
No. OpenExamPrep questions are English-language MCQ study adaptations aligned to CA NGSS and CAST domains. They do not reproduce secure items or fully simulate multi-part performance tasks and technology-enhanced item types.