High School Exit Exam

HSEE

At the beginning

of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term (starting with the 2000-01 school year, and each year thereafter), the governing board of each school district shall notify the parents or guardians of its minor pupils that:

• By the 2003-04 school year, each child completing 12th grade will be required to pass the high school exit exam.

Common HSEE Questions

Who must take the HSEE

• Spring 2001 9th grade students may take the test

• 2000 - 2001 all 10th grade students will take the HSEE

• 2004 all graduating students must pass all portions of the HSEE

What subject areas will the HSEE cover

• There are two sections to the HSEE– One section that students must pass is reading

and writing– Another section that students must pass is math

What happens if 10th graders don’t pass the test

• Students will have opportunities during the 11th and 12th grade years to receive additional instruction

• Students will have opportunities during the 11th and 12th grade years to retake the entire test or either part they failed

What about students who do not speak English

• They must pass the HSEE

• Testing may be delayed for 24 calendar months from enrollment until the student has completed six months of instruction

Will special education students have to take the HSEE

• Special Education students must pass the HSEE

• The test may be administered with accommodations if they are in the IEP

What if Parents do not want their children to take the test

All students will be required to pass the HSEE to get a diploma from a California public school

What can students do to prepare for the HSEE

“It is important that students take classes that include instruction in state content standards for English/Language Arts and Math”

How can parents help their students’ pass the HSEE

“Parents should ask their students’ teachers if the school curriculum is aligned to state content standards.”

Mathematics Test Design

100 Multiple choice Items

70% of the math test content is aligned to 7th grade standards

• Number sense = 21 items

• Pre-algebra and functions = 20 items

• Measurement and geometry = 21 items

• Statistics, data analysis, and probability = 8 items

30% of the math test content is aligned to Algebra 1

• Algebra standards 2-6, 8-10, 12-16, 21 and 23 = 24 items

• The remaining algebra standards = 6 items

Item mix on Math portion of HSEE

• Foundations = 50 items

• Pre-algebra/algebra = 50 items

Language Arts Test Design

• 100 multiple choice items

• Two 30 minute essays

70% of the Language Arts test is aligned to reading standards

• Word analysis = 10 items

• Reading comprehension = 30 items

• Literary response and analysis = 30 items

30% of the Language Arts test is aligned to writing standards

• Writing strategies = 12 items

• Written English Language conventions = 18 items

Essay items

• 1 item from standards 2.2 or 2.3– Response to literature or analytic essay

(expository)– Scored for both reading and writing

• 1 item from standards 2.1, 2.4, and 2.5– Biography or autobiography, persuasion,

business letter– Scored for writing only