Testing Information

Testing Information

Taft Union High School provides students with a variety of state, college-readiness, career, and other assessments. Use this page to learn more about each assessment, who may participate, important testing dates, and available resources.

2026–27 Testing at a Glance

Use this quick reference to find scheduled testing dates. Select the assessment name to jump to more information about that test.

Note: Additional assessments are described below. Not every assessment has a specific testing date listed on this page.

Find Testing Information

College & Career Readiness:
ACT | Advanced Placement | ASVAB | PSAT | SAT

California State Assessments:
CAASPP | CAST | ELPAC | Physical Fitness

Other Assessments:
CHSPE

ACT

The ACT is a curriculum-based education and career planning tool for high school students that assesses mastery of college readiness standards.

Most students tend to take the ACT during their junior and senior years of high school, once they have covered the majority of their core coursework. However, students interested in earning college credit in high school through dual enrollment, enrolling in honors classes, or using scores to guide choices about high school classes and electives may take their first ACT during sophomore year.

A Common ACT Testing Timeline

1. Fall of Junior Year: This is a popular time to take the ACT for the first time. It allows students to establish a baseline score, identify areas for improvement, and plan subsequent preparation.

2. Spring of Junior Year: Taking the ACT again in the spring gives students additional time to build on their initial score and refine their skills.

3. Fall of Senior Year: Students planning to apply early to colleges may take the ACT again so scores are available for submission. This also provides another opportunity to improve scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

These are general suggestions. Each student's circumstances are unique, and students should choose a testing schedule that aligns with their goals, availability, and how they plan to use their ACT results.

Four-year college-bound students should check individual college requirements to determine whether the ACT or SAT is most appropriate.

Resources:
ACT California Information
The Act Test

Advanced Placement Testing

ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

Each year, an Armed Services representative administers the ASVAB to interested students. Test results help students identify areas of occupational interest and aptitude.

Practice ASVAB Test

California High School Proficiency Exam

This is a test that the State Board of Education offers to eligible persons to demonstrate proficiency in the basic skills taught in California public high schools, as defined by the average performance of second-semester seniors in those schools.

Each person who passes the CHSPE is awarded a Certificate of Proficiency, which is considered equivalent to a high school diploma. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Services. A fee is charged for this test.

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

CAASPP is a statewide system of assessments that provides information about student learning to help teachers, parents, and administrators improve teaching and student outcomes.

Parent resource for understanding the score reports and areas

California Science Test (CAST)

High school students will have only one opportunity to take a science test in their junior year. Students in grade twelve who have not yet taken a science test will automatically be registered to test. Students repeating grade twelve are not eligible to test a second time.

English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC)

School districts are required to administer this test to students whose home language is not English. The purpose of the ELPAC is to identify new students who are English Learners in grades K-12, determine their level of English proficiency, and annually assess their progress toward becoming fluent in English.

Schools must administer the ELPAC annually to all English Learners until they are reclassified from English Learner to Fluent English Proficient.

PSAT

The PSAT is taken by juniors who sign up for the test in the guidance office before September 15th for the October test. No make-up tests are available.

In addition to providing information about the student's aptitude for college-level studies, PSAT scores are used by the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) service to determine National Merit semi-finalists. Students planning to attend college should take this test.

Physical Fitness Testing

Students in grades five, seven, and nine take the fitness test. The FITNESSGRAM® has six parts, though California currently requires five parts to be completed annually.

The assessment measures areas of fitness that offer a degree of defense against diseases associated with inactivity. Test results can be used by students, teachers, and parents.

SAT

The SAT is a four-year college entrance examination generally taken during the Junior and/or Senior year. Some colleges require this test for admission.

The test is given locally at Taft Union High School in October and March each year.

CollegeBoard