Testing in California: An overview
Other tests
The California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) is given to students with significant cognitive difficulties who are unable to take the CSTs. The CAPA measures achievement in English-language arts and math. A science CAPA test was added in 2008.
2008 was also the first year of administration of the California Modified Assessment (CMA). The CMA was first given only in grades 3 through 5 to a small percentage of students for whom both the CST and the CAPA were not appropriate. In 2009 the CMA was given in English-language arts to students in grades 3 through 8, in math to students in grades 3 through 7, and in science to students in grades 5 and 8.
The Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) are given to Spanish-speaking students who have been enrolled in California schools for less than 12 months. These Spanish-speaking students in grades 2 through 11 take the STS in reading-language arts, and those in grades 2 through 7 take the STS in mathematics.
The Aprenda, La prueba de logros en español, Tercera edición (Aprenda 3) is a nationally norm-referenced achievement test of general academic knowledge in Spanish for Spanish-speaking English learners, given in grades 8 through 11. The STS will replace the Aprenda 3 for grades two through eleven beginning in 2009.
California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE)
The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE, pronounced KAY-see) is a test used to determine whether students have mastered key skills before graduating from high school. High school students must pass the CAHSEE in order to graduate. The CAHSEE is a standards-based test, which means it measures whether students have learned specific skills defined by the state in-English language arts and mathematics. The CAHSEE is administered to all grade 10 students.
The test is divided into two sections: math and English/language arts. The math portion covers academic content standards for grades 6, 7 and algebra I, including: statistics, data analysis and probability, number sense, measurement, algebra and functions, math reasoning and geometry. California has decided that algebra is important for all students because it helps students to learn math reasoning - an important skill needed when students enter the workforce, whatever profession they may choose. The English/language arts portion includes the content standards through grade 10, including vocabulary, reading, and writing strategies and conventions. In addition to answering multiple-choice questions, students write an essay on a specific topic. To see sample questions on the CAHSEE, look for "released test questions" under Program Resources on the California Department of Education Web site.
The CAHSEE is a pass/fail test, which is not timed. Over 90 percent of the class of 2008 passed both portions of the CAHSEE. The California Department of Education provides multiple opportunities for test administration. School districts have some flexibility in setting test administration dates, offering testing dates in the fall, winter, and spring/early summer. You can see the testing schedule on the California Department of Education Web site.
Even though the CAHSEE is called an "exit exam," students take the exam in 10th grade so that those who aren't able to pass have time to receive assistance prior to graduation. Students who do not pass one or more sections of the test have up to five opportunities to retake the sections they have not yet passed. According to California law, schools must provide assistance in the form of tutoring, additional courses or summer school for students who are not showing progress toward passing the test. If students repeatedly fail the test, they can take the General Education Development Test (GED), or they can attend adult school classes to earn a diploma. Students who are 18 or older, regardless of whether or not they have a high school diploma, can attend a community college in California.
Special versions of the test are available to help students who have special learning challenges or whose first language is not English. For example, the test can be administered in Braille, audio CD and large print format, and when necessary schools will provide a scribe. Students with physical disabilities will be entitled to the same accommodations they have during classroom instruction. Students must pass the exam in English in order to graduate. However, test variations for English learners have been added to the CAHSEE. A school district can wait as long as two years after the student enrolled in a California public school to administer the test if the student needs more time to learn English.
