Common Core State Assessments | SBAC & PARCC

What Are Common Core State Assessments?

Common Core State Standards define what students in the United States should know and be able to do in mathematics and English language arts at each grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Most US states have adopted these standards, and states assess student progress against them through annual standardized tests.

The two best-known Common Core-aligned assessment programs are SBAC and PARCC.

SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) is used in California, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and several other states. SBAC assessments are computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on how each student is performing. They are administered in Grades 3 through 8 and Grade 11, in both mathematics and English language arts. Testing takes place in spring each year, with the exact window varying by state.

PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) was once used across many states, but its use has declined significantly. Most former PARCC states have since moved to their own Common Core-aligned assessments derived from it, and only a small number of jurisdictions still use PARCC-branded tests. Where it is still administered, PARCC tests Grades 3 through 8 and high school in mathematics and English language arts, also in spring.

Many states have developed their own assessments built around Common Core Standards, including New Jersey's NJSLA, Illinois's IAR and Louisiana's LEAP. While these have different names, they test the same foundational skills as SBAC and PARCC because they are all designed around the same Common Core Standards.

What Do These Assessments Test in Math?

All Common Core-aligned math assessments, whether SBAC, PARCC or a state-designed equivalent, test the same foundational skills because they are all built around the same standards.

Grades 3-5: Number sense, operations, fractions, decimals, measurement, geometry and word problems. The emphasis at this level is on deep understanding of foundational concepts rather than rote calculation.
Grades 6-8: Ratios and proportional relationships, the number system, expressions and equations, geometry and statistics. These years build the algebraic foundations that high school math requires.
Grade 11 (SBAC) and high school courses (PARCC): Functions, algebra, statistics and data analysis. At this level the assessments measure college and career readiness.

SBAC assessments are particularly notable for their emphasis on mathematical reasoning and real-world application rather than calculation in isolation. Students are asked to explain their thinking, construct arguments and apply concepts to unfamiliar contexts, not just arrive at an answer.

APLUS America Is Built Around Common Core Standards

Every lesson in APLUS America is developed around Common Core Standards, the framework used by many schools across the United States to guide what students learn at each grade level.

This matters for families in SBAC and PARCC states because these assessments are designed to measure many of the same grade-level skills. For example, a student working through Grade 6 math may be building skills in ratios, expressions, and geometry, which are also key areas assessed at that level.

Your child starts with our Math Doctor assessment, which helps identify what they already understand and where they may need more support. From there, their personalized weekly learning plan targets the right skills at a pace that works for them, helping them build stronger foundations and grow in confidence.

Developing Strong Foundations

APLUS America is curriculum-based tutoring, not a test prep service. Instead of focusing on practice papers or test-taking strategies, we help students build a stronger understanding of the math skills these assessments are designed to measure.

SBAC and PARCC are aligned with Common Core Standards, which means they focus on grade-level math understanding, problem solving, and applying skills in different ways. APLUS America supports this by helping your child strengthen the foundations they need across the K-12 math curriculum.

Your child's personalized weekly learning plan targets the right skills at a pace that works for them. As they build stronger foundations and become more confident with the concepts, they are better prepared to approach assessments like SBAC and PARCC.

How APLUS America Works

Step 1: Math Doctor Assessment

Every student starts with our Math Doctor assessment. This helps identify what your child already understands, where there may be gaps, and which skills need more support across the Common Core math curriculum.

Step 2: Personalized Weekly Learning Plan

Every Monday, your child's personalized learning plan is updated with lessons targeting the specific areas that need attention. The plan is based on their assessment results, ongoing progress, and how they are performing in their lessons.

Step 3: Self-Paced Learning

Your child completes their lessons using Math Wiz, our online learning platform. Lessons are short, interactive, and engaging, helping your child build understanding one step at a time across the Common Core-aligned K-12 math curriculum.

Step 4: Tutor Support When They Need It

If your child needs extra support with a math concept, our online tutors are there to explain it further and answer questions, so your child can continue learning with confidence. Using screen sharing and an interactive whiteboard, tutors can walk your child through concepts they may be struggling with in real time. Tutor support is available after school, Monday to Thursday, up to 10 hours per week, and is included in the weekly pricing.

A Note on English Language Arts

SBAC and PARCC test both mathematics and English language arts. APLUS America also offers English support from Kindergarten through Grade 12, including reading comprehension, writing, grammar, and vocabulary.

If your child needs support in both areas, math and English can be included together, with pricing starting from $24 per week.

Pricing

Math tutoring with APLUS America starts from $24 per week, covering the full Common Core-aligned K-12 curriculum, the Math Doctor diagnostic assessment, a personalized weekly plan, tutor helpline access and weekly progress reports. New students get their first two weeks free.

From $24 / week

Full Common Core-aligned K-12 curriculum
Math Doctor diagnostic assessment
Personalized weekly lesson plan
Tutor helpline up to 10 hrs/week
Weekly progress reports

Start Your 2 Weeks Free

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states use SBAC?

SBAC is used in California, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and several other states. The SBAC assessment is administered in Grades 3-8 and Grade 11 in both math and English language arts each spring. Because state participation can change, check your state's department of education website to confirm.

Which states use PARCC?

PARCC use has declined significantly since it was introduced. Most states that originally used PARCC have moved to their own Common Core-aligned assessments derived from it, such as New Jersey's NJSLA, Illinois's IAR and Louisiana's LEAP, and only a small number of jurisdictions still use PARCC-branded tests. Check your state's department of education website to confirm which assessment applies.

My state has its own assessment, not SBAC or PARCC. Is the tutoring still relevant?

Yes. Most state assessments are built around Common Core Standards even if they have a different name. If your state uses a Common Core-aligned assessment, the APLUS America curriculum covers the same skills. You can check your state's department of education website to confirm which standards and assessments apply in your state.

Is the APLUS America curriculum actually aligned to Common Core Standards?

Yes. Every lesson is developed around Common Core Standards. This is the framework around which the entire curriculum is built, from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Does APLUS America offer SBAC or PARCC practice tests?

No. We are curriculum-based tutoring, not a test prep service. We build the foundational Common Core math knowledge these assessments test. For practice tests aligned to the specific format of your state's assessment, your state's department of education website typically provides free official practice materials.

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Common Core State Assessments: SBAC, PARCC and Beyond