Running Start: Can SBAC scores from 8th grade be used for admission?

Applying to College
1

While looking on a community college’s Running Start admission policy page, I found that exceptions for their current SBAC rules could be made if the tests were taken in 2017. I took the SBAC in 2017 as an 8th grader, and on them, I got a 2775 in math and a 2770 in English. The Washington OSPI website has a rubric for what qualifies as each score of either 1, 2, 3, or 4, and both of my scores would qualify as a 4 for a 10th grade administration of the exam. The SBAC exams themselves are all graded on a same scale, with only a relative grading rubric as you can see below:

Smarter Balanced ELA Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Grade 3 <2367 2367-2431 2432-2489 >2489
4 <2416 2416-2472 2473-2532 >2532
5 <2442 2442-2501 2502-2581 >2581
6 <2457 2457-2530 2531-2617 >2617
7 <2479 2479-2551 2552-2648 >2648
8 <2487 2487-2566 2567-2667 >2667
10* <2491 2491-2576 2577-2677 >2677

Smarter Balanced Math Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Grade 3 <2381 2381-2435 2436-2500 >2500
4 <2411 2411-2484 2485-2548 >2548
5 <2455 2455-2527 2528-2578 >2578
6 <2473 2473-2551 2552-2609 >2609
7 <2484 2484-2566 2567-2634 >2634
8 <2504 2504-2585 2586-2652 >2652
10* <2533 2533-2613 2614-2696 >2696

So considering this, could I use the scores from 8th grade for admission instead of taking the Accuplacer tests?

2

I think they will be looking for high school SBAC scores. Given your scores from 8th grade, you will probably continue to do fine and be able to use the scores once you have taken the high school version.

3

The problem is that waiting for the SBAC test results will take too long, and I won’t really have the opportunity to sign up for the classes that I want to take if I go this route. By using my old scores, I won’t have to take the Accuplacer or rely on this year’s SBAC.