The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) is a mandated test that must be passed by all high school students in California prior to receiving a high school diploma. In 1999, California state laws were passed to develop standardized tests to address concerns that many California students were graduating high school without the necessary skills to succeed in higher-level universities. The CAHSEE was developed in response to these laws. Though it began to be offered in 2001, it was first imposed as a graduation requirement on the class of 2006.
The CAHSEE is a two-part exam covering language arts and mathematics. The math portion includes basic arithmetic problems as well as basic algebra concepts. Students must demonstrate knowledge in probability, measurement, basic geometry, basic statistics, and first year high school algebra skills.
The second part of the CAHSEE is language arts. Students must be able to demonstrate reading comprehension, knowledge of grammar conventions, and writing skills. Writing skills are tested in an essay-writing format, requiring the student to show his or her ability to write a basic five-paragraph essay with logical flow, proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Students begin taking the CAHSEE in the 10th grade. Sections passed count toward the graduation requirement, and sections not passed can be taken again, sometimes two to three times a year. Passing the CAHSEE is not always accomplished, and many parents of kids with learning disabilities claim that the test is inherently unfair since it allows for few modifications.
When modifications, like needing a calculator or word processor to complete the test are allowed, the test score is not counted as passing. There are some ways to get around this. A school administrator can petition the school board to award a diploma to students who needed modifications to pass the test.
Still this may not always occur, and even students with high-level thinking but with learning disabilities may finish high school with only a certificate of completion, as opposed to a diploma. Most state universities do not accept certificates of completion, but they are usually accepted by junior colleges, where more remediation and aid can be given to the student as needed. High school seniors who don’t receive a diploma usually have opportunities to take more classes at a high school in order to pass the CAHSEE.
Unlike many standardized tests, there is no charge for taking the CAHSEE and it is frequently administered during regular school hours. Legally, public schools cannot charge for the CAHSEE because it is a diploma and graduation requirement and public education must be freely available to students. Most private schools also administer the CAHSEE without charge.
As with all standardized exams, the CAHSEE has both faults and merits. Proving that certain basic skills have been mastered assures that most students who pass are ready to enter at least freshman college level courses. On the other hand, inflexibility regarding modifications for students who do need them can make the CAHSEE burdensome for some students. Concern exists that dropout rate will increase if students know they will not be able to pass the CAHSEE without modifications, since the certificate of completion fails to be recognized by most colleges.
