Scale Score Ranges for 2024–25 Results
Overview about Scale Score Ranges
For the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), scale scores are derived from raw scores.
Raw scores (the number of test questions answered correctly) are not directly comparable from administration to administration because each raw score is based on a set of items that may differ in difficulty. Instead, student performance, for example, on the Summative ELPAC is reported in terms of scale scores that express student proficiency in terms of a constant metric. Thus, a scale score of 1350 in one language skill area in one administration represents the same level of proficiency as 1350 in the same language skill area in another administration even though each scale score may represent a different raw score.
A threshold score, or cut point, is the scale score needed for a student to reach a specified performance level. The Initial ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC are each separate assessments, based on separate scales; therefore, the scale scores cannot be compared between the Initial and Summative assessments. Additionally, the alternate assessments are based on alternate standards and comparing these across assessments is not advised.
LEA staff can access student ELPAC results—except for the Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC—in the California Educator Reporting System (CERS).
Initial ELPAC Overall Scale Score Ranges
In May 2018, the California State Board of Education (SBE) approved the State Superintendent of Public Instruction's proposed overall threshold scale score changes, beginning with the 2018–19 Initial ELPAC.
Weighting
The scale score for determining the overall performance level on the Initial ELPAC for individual and group results were approved by the SBE and are as follows:
- Kindergarten (K)—90 percent Oral Language (Listening and Speaking) and 10 percent Written Language (Reading and Writing)
- Grade one—70 percent Oral Language (Listening and Speaking) and 30 percent Written Language (Reading and Writing)
- Grades two through twelve—50 percent Oral Language (Listening and Speaking) and 50 percent Written Language (Reading and Writing)
Overall Scale Score Ranges
The overall scale score ranges for the Initial ELPAC are presented in table 1 below.
| Grade Span | Novice EL | Intermediate EL | IFEP |
|---|---|---|---|
| K–12 | 150–369 | 370–449 | 450–600 |
Summative ELPAC Overall Scale Score Ranges
In November 2018, the SBE approved the State Superintendent of Public Instruction's proposed overall and composite threshold scale score changes, beginning with the 2018–19 Summative ELPAC.
Weighting
The percentages for determining the overall performance level on the Summative ELPAC for individual and group results were approved by the SBE and are as follows:
- Kindergarten—70 percent Oral Language (Listening and Speaking) and 30 percent Written Language (Reading and Writing)
- Grades one through twelve—50 percent Oral Language (Listening and Speaking) and 50 percent Written Language (Reading and Writing)
Overall Scale Score Ranges
The overall scale score ranges for the Summative ELPAC are presented in table 2, below.
| Grade Level or Grade Span | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 1150–1373 | 1374–1421 | 1422–1473 | 1474–1700 |
| Grade One | 1150–1410 | 1411–1454 | 1455–1506 | 1507–1700 |
| Grade Two | 1150–1423 | 1424–1470 | 1471–1531 | 1532–1700 |
| Grade Three | 1150–1447 | 1448–1487 | 1488–1534 | 1535–1800 |
| Grade Four | 1150–1458 | 1459–1498 | 1499–1548 | 1549–1800 |
| Grade Five | 1150–1466 | 1467–1513 | 1514–1559 | 1560–1800 |
| Grade Six | 1150–1474 | 1475–1516 | 1517–1566 | 1567–1900 |
| Grade Seven | 1150–1480 | 1481–1526 | 1527–1575 | 1576–1900 |
| Grade Eight | 1150–1485 | 1486–1533 | 1534–1589 | 1590–1900 |
| Grades Nine and Ten | 1150–1492 | 1493–1544 | 1545–1605 | 1606–1950 |
| Grades Eleven and Twelve | 1150–1499 | 1500–1554 | 1555–1614 | 1615–1950 |
Composite Scale Score Ranges
The Overall score on the Summative ELPAC consists of the student’s Oral Language score and Written Language score.
The Oral Language score consists of the student’s scores from the Listening and Speaking domains.
The Written Language score consists of the student’s scores from the Reading and Writing domains.
The weighting of the Oral and Written Language scores is based on the student’s grade level. Refer to tables 3 and 4 below.
| Grade Level or Grade Span | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 1150–1385 | 1386–1426 | 1422–1477 | 1478–1700 |
| Grade One | 1150–1407 | 1408–1450 | 1451–1492 | 1493–1700 |
| Grade Two | 1150–1413 | 1414–1459 | 1460–1509 | 1510–1700 |
| Grade Three | 1150–1334 | 1435–1465 | 1466–1511 | 1512–1800 |
| Grade Four | 1150–1438 | 1439–1471 | 1472–1521 | 1522–1800 |
| Grade Five | 1150–1446 | 1474–1476 | 1477–1532 | 1533–1800 |
| Grade Six | 1150–1449 | 1450–1483 | 1484–1541 | 1542–1900 |
| Grade Seven | 1150–1455 | 1456–1497 | 1498–1553 | 1554–1900 |
| Grade Eight | 1150–1460 | 1461–1504 | 1505–1568 | 1569–1900 |
| Grades Nine and Ten | 1150–1464 | 1465–1511 | 1512–1578 | 1579–1950 |
| Grades Eleven and Twelve | 1150–1469 | 1470–1513 | 1514–1582 | 1583–1950 |
| Grade Level or Grade Span | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 1150–1345 | 1346–1409 | 1410–1462 | 1463–1700 |
| Grade One | 1150–1413 | 1414–1458 | 1459–1519 | 1520–1700 |
| Grade Two | 1150–1432 | 1433–1480 | 1481–1553 | 1554–1700 |
| Grade Three | 1150–1460 | 1461–1508 | 1509–1556 | 1557–1800 |
| Grade Four | 1150–1477 | 1478–1524 | 1525–1574 | 1575–1800 |
| Grade Five | 1150–1486 | 1487–1549 | 1550–1586 | 1587–1800 |
| Grade Six | 1150–1498 | 1499–1549 | 1550–1591 | 1592–1900 |
| Grade Seven | 1150–1504 | 1505–1555 | 1556–1597 | 1598–1900 |
| Grade Eight | 1150–1509 | 1510–1561 | 1562–1609 | 1610–1900 |
| Grades Nine and Ten | 1150–1519 | 1520–1577 | 1578–1631 | 1632–1950 |
| Grades Eleven and Twelve | 1150–1528 | 1529–1594 | 1595–1645 | 1646–1950 |
Alternate ELPAC Overall Scale Score Ranges
The Initial Alternate and Summative Alternate ELPAC overall threshold scores were approved by the SBE in May 2022. The following scale score ranges were produced based on these scores for reporting purposes.
| Grade Span | Level 1 Novice EL |
Level 2 Intermediate EL |
Level 3 Fluent English Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| K–12 | 101–143 | 144–159 | 160–199 |
| Grade Level or Grade Span | Level 1 Novice EL |
Level 2 Intermediate EL |
Level 3 Fluent English Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | 201–243 | 244–259 | 260–299 |
| Grade One | 301–343 | 344–359 | 360–399 |
| Grade Two | 401–443 | 444–459 | 460–499 |
| Grades Three Through Five | 501–543 | 544–559 | 560–599 |
| Grades Six Through Eight | 601–643 | 644–659 | 660–699 |
| Grades Nine and Ten | 701–743 | 744–759 | 760–799 |
| Grades Eleven and Twelve | 801–843 | 844–859 | 860–899 |