ELPAC practice test for grades 11–12
Students across grades 11–12 take the same form of the test. The reading and listening practice below is scored as you go, with an explanation after every question. Writing and speaking cannot be scored automatically — a trained person judges them against a rubric on the real test — so those pages give you the prompts, the rubric, a worked sample and personalized practice feedback instead of a score. Work through one part at a time to get used to a single task type, or take the mixed practice test to practice switching between them the way the real test does.
Mixed practice tests
Mixed practice test 1
Reading and listening from end to end, in the order the real test presents them, with an explanation after every question.
Start the mixed practice test →Mixed practice test 2
A second full run of reading and listening, with different recordings and passages from practice test 1, in the order the real test presents them and with an explanation after every question.
Start the mixed practice test →
Practice one part at a time
Reading
Passages followed by comprehension questions, plus word and sentence choice tasks.
Practice Reading →
Listening
Short spoken passages played as recorded audio, with a transcript available, followed by questions.
Practice Listening →
Writing
Writing prompts with a rubric based on the published scoring guides, plus sample responses and optional personalized feedback. Not scored here — writing is scored by a person on the real test.
Practice Writing →
Speaking
Speaking prompts with a rubric based on the published scoring guides, plus sample responses and optional personalized feedback. Not scored here — speaking is scored by a person on the real test.
Practice Speaking →
ELPAC for grades 11–12: common questions
Do students in grades 11 and 12 still take the ELPAC?
Yes, if they are still identified as English learners. The Summative ELPAC is taken every year until a student is reclassified. Grades 11 and 12 share one form of the test, separate from the grades 9–10 form, though the two bands share scale score ranges. The task types are the same as in grades 9–10, including the student essay in reading and the graph or chart task in speaking.
What grades 11–12 ELPAC practice is on this site?
There are 21 listening questions, 32 reading questions, 8 speaking prompts and 8 writing prompts. Seven of the reading questions are extra vocabulary and grammar practice, which is not a separate task on the real test. There are also two mixed practice tests of reading and listening, with 24 and 25 questions, the second using different recordings and passages from the first, each with an explanation after every question.
What are the ELPAC writing prompts like in grades 11–12?
Writing is typed on a computer and has four task types: improving sentences a classmate wrote about a picture by expanding, correcting and combining them; writing about an experience; answering two questions about information in a graphic organizer; and a short essay giving a position on a school-related topic with supporting reasons. Each prompt here has a four-level practice rubric, from Level 4 (well developed) to Level 1 (minimally developed), and a sample response.
Does reaching Level 4 in grade 11 or 12 mean a student is reclassified?
Not automatically. An Overall Performance Level 4 on the Summative ELPAC is one of four criteria; the others are a teacher evaluation, a comparison of basic skills with English-proficient students, and consultation with the parent. Districts set the local details, so ask for the written reclassification policy. A level can also dip on moving up from grades 9–10, because the test gets more demanding in a higher grade span, and practice scores on this independent site cannot predict a level.
Guides for families and teachers
Practice for another grade
Or compare every band on one page: free ELPAC practice tests by grade.
This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the California Department of Education or the official ELPAC program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published task formats.