California High School Proficiency Exam

The California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) was an early exit testing program established under California law (California Education Code Section 48412). Testers who pass the CHSPE receive a high school equivalency diploma from the California State Board of Education.[1] All individuals and institutions subject to California law that require a high school diploma are required to accept the CHSPE diploma as requirement fulfillment. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has ruled it acceptable in federal civilian employment applications, and the U.S. Department of Education recognizes the CHSPE as a high school diploma equivalent for various purposes, including financial aid applications.[1]

California High School Proficiency Exam
TypePaper-based, early-exit testing program
Developer / administratorCalifornia State Board of Education
Knowledge / skills testedMathematics, English-language arts (reading and writing)[1]
PurposeEarly-exit from high school
Duration3.5 hours[1]
Score / grade range250–450 (multiple-choice) and 1-5 (writing).[1]
OfferedThrice annually
Countries / regionsCalifornia
LanguagesEnglish
Prerequisites / eligibility criteriaAge 16+ or enrolled in at least two semesters of 10th grade[1]
Fee$230 (2020-2021)
Websitecde.ca.gov/ta/tg/cp.asp

Featured in the TV show 7th Heaven[2][3] as a means for the character of Simon Camden to start college early, notable real alums include Grey's Anatomy's Chyler Leigh[4] and other entertainment industry professionals.

Eligibility

Testers must be at least 16 years old or enrolled in the second semester of 10th grade or higher. Students enrolled in school outside of California may not register until they are sixteen years of age.[1] There is no upper age limit. Testers must pay $230 (2020-2021) by the regular registration deadline or more if late, and sit during one or more of the three exam dates offered a year.

Structure

The exam tests individuals based on the high school curriculum in California, which may or may not be similar to curriculums in other states. Though accepted by state and federal governments,[1] testers must check to see if their college of choice outside of California will accept the test results. Another option for CHSPE test-takers is to enroll in a community college and transfer to their university of choice after two years. Those who have taken the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), required of all high school students to graduate in California, will find the CHSPE similar in format, but longer in length and with more difficult questions.

The CHSPE tests mathematics and English-Language Arts (reading and writing) ability. The English-Language Arts section includes grammar and vocabulary questions, and also asks the examinee to write an essay. The math section assesses students on geometry, algebra, and pre-algebra. Testers have three and a half hours to complete the exam, and are free to divide their time as they wish between the two sections. Because the math and English sections are graded separately and can be passed separately, some students can sit for the exam twice, with three and a half hours for the math section and three and a half hours for English.

Mathematics

The CHSPE mathematics section has 50 multiple-choice questions broken into 4 content clusters: number sense and operations; patterns, relationships, and algebra; data, statistics, and probability; and geometry and measurement.[1] Testers must score at least 350 within a range of 250–450 to pass the math section.[1]

English language arts

The CHSPE English-language arts section has two subtests of reading and language (writing).

Reading

The reading subtest has 84 multiple-choice questions broken into seven content clusters: initial understanding; interpretation; critical analysis; strategies; synonyms; multiple meaning words; and context clues.[1] Testers must score at least 350 within a range of 250–450 to pass the reading subtest.[1]

Language with writing

The language subtest has 48 multiple-choice questions broken into six content clusters: capitalization; usage; punctuation; sentence structure; pre-writing; content and organization, in addition to a writing subtask.[1] Testers must score at least 350 within a range of 250–450 on the language subtest, in addition to at least a 2.5 within a score range of 1-5 on the writing subtask to pass the English-language arts section.[1]

CHSPE vs. GED

The CHSPE is a HiSET, only given in English, and targeted at homeschoolers and students who want to legally exit high school before 18 and/or start college early. Others are entertainment industry or agriculture professionals who prefer to start working at an earlier age.

In contrast, the GED is for adults 18 or over, who did not graduate high school, and is given in English, Spanish, and French.

Benefits

Upon passing the exam, testers receive a legal, high school equivalency diploma and official transcript containing a score report,[1] which can be used to enroll in college early. As with any college enrollment, assessment tests may be required upon college entrance to determine the student's ability for placement in the appropriate courses.

Testers under 18 years of age who pass the exam may not leave high school without parent or guardian consent. The CHSPE eliminates the need for minors to get a work permit before being employed, but is not otherwise considered "emancipation," and laws regulating minors still apply.

Notable alumni

Fictional

See also

References
  1. "CHSPE Information Bulletin 2017-2018" (PDF). CHSPE Office, Sacramento County Office of Education. 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  2. "Watch 7th Heaven Online: How to Stream Full Episodes". 14 September 2018.
  3. http://www.brilliantbutcancelled.com/show/7th-heaven/pk-aka-preachers-kid/6/
  4. "Chyler Leigh Bio". TV Guide. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
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