Engaging 7th and 8th grade students in ELA SBAC test prep can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to literary analysis and characterization.
I used to DREAD it.
<— the polar opposite emotion of this
Many teachers struggle to find clear, structured ways to ensure students are ready for the rigorous question types that appear on the test.
And yes, CAASP and ELPAC (SBAC website), will give you practice training tests and resources; but personally, that always left me more confused and overwhelmed.
In this guide, I’ll break down exactly how characterization and analysis are tested on the 7th and 8th grade SBAC, provide sample test questions, and share engaging test prep activities to set your students up for success.
How Characterization Is Tested on the ELA SBAC Test
Students will encounter characterization questions in various formats, requiring them to analyze character traits, motivations, relationships, and development throughout a text. The three most common question types on the ELA SBAC test are:
1. Selected-Response & Multi-Select Questions
These multiple-choice questions ask students to identify direct and indirect characterization in a passage, analyze how a character changes, or determine which piece of text evidence best supports a given trait.
Example Question:
Which sentence best shows that Amari is resilient?
A. “She thought about quitting but decided to keep trying.”
B. “She trained every day, even when it was hard.”
C. “They felt unsure about their abilities.”
D. “He didn’t know what to do next.”
✅ Test Prep Tip: Use character trait task cards where students match text evidence to specific character traits. Create multi-select questions that require them to choose more than one correct answer, mimicking the SBAC format.
I have been making this a habit for years, when designing resources for teachers because it helps students grow that “SBAC muscle” and know what to expect when the test comes! I created this assessment for “The Lottery” with only these types of questions: 
2. Short Constructed Response (SCR) Questions
These questions require students to write a brief analysis citing specific evidence from the text.
Example Question:
The author describes Marcus’s reaction in paragraph 4. What does this reveal about his personality? Use two pieces of evidence to support your answer.
✅ Test Prep Tip: Use exit tickets with a short passage and have students highlight evidence that reveals a character’s traits. Then, have them write one strong sentence explaining the trait and citing the text. I have created so many resources that do just this! One of my favorites (and best-sellers) is: The Giver Characterization Activity: Engage Students with Rigor and Creativity
3. Performance Task (PT) Literary Analysis Essay
These extended writing tasks require students to analyze characters across multiple texts and write a full essay with textual evidence.
Example Prompt:
Read two passages about characters who face moral dilemmas. Write an essay explaining how the authors develop these characters’ perspectives and the impact of their decisions on the story.
✅ Test Prep Tip: Use paired texts (e.g., “Thank You, Ma’am” and “The Treasure of Lemon Brown”) and have students compare character development, using sentence starters and graphic organizers to plan their responses.
Engaging ELA SBAC Test Prep Activities
1. Characterization Sorts
Give students character quotes and have them sort them into categories of direct vs. indirect characterization (S.T.E.A.L. method: Speech, Thoughts, Effect on Others, Actions, Looks).
2. Direct and Indirect Characterization Activity
I might be biased, but I would definitely use the Direct and Indirect Characterization Lesson Presentation and Characterization Task Resources I created during my time in the classroom to help students analyze how authors reveal character traits. This activity includes:
- Editable Cornell Note-Taking Templates for breaking down S.T.E.A.L. characterization.
- The Sally Instagram Activity, where students craft a social media post from a character’s perspective, incorporating direct and indirect characterization.
- Engaging task cards that allow students to practice identifying characterization in various contexts.
✅ Test Prep Tip: Have students complete an Instagram-style post from the perspective of a novel’s character to demonstrate their understanding of direct and indirect characterization.
3. Digital SBAC Practice on Google Forms
Create SBAC-style multiple-choice and short-response questions in Google Forms to mimic the online test environment and provide instant feedback.
4. Literary Analysis Task Cards
Use task cards (you know… those instructional resources I’m obsessed with) with different types of characterization-based questions (MCQs, SCRs, evidence-based responses). Rotate through stations to reinforce different question styles.
SPOILER ALERT: A new set is coming soon and will be added to me ELA Common Core Task Cards MEGA Bundle
Don’t know what task cards are? Check out this quick overview here:
5. Timed Quick-Writes for SCR Practice
Have students write a one-paragraph response analyzing a character’s traits using two pieces of textual evidence in five minutes or less.
When I first started teaching, timed Quick-Writes scared me and my students. I eased into it with “Collab-o-writes” and it’s something I used ON REPEAT throughout the year! See more about that here (FREE RESOURCE): Collab-O-Write Activity
Final Thoughts: Helping Students Succeed on the ELA SBAC Test
Effective ELA SBAC test prep should focus on analyzing characterization in multiple ways, from quick exit tickets to full literary analysis essays. By using authentic test-like questions, students will feel confident tackling selected-response, short-constructed response, and performance tasks.
Need ready-to-use resources? Grab my SBAC-style characterization task cards (coming soon but will be added to me ELA Common Core Task Cards MEGA Bundle) and digital test prep practice sets to help your students prepare with ease! 🎯
Looking for more ways to save time and engage your students? Don’t miss my FREE resource: 5 Game-Changing ChatGPT Prompts for Teachers, designed to revolutionize how you plan and teach.
And if you’re ready to take it to the next level, grab my ebook, Design Smarter, Teach Better: Task Cards in Under 10 Minutes, and learn how to create custom resources in minutes! Get it here!
