Many states across the country now require that graduating high school seniors pass an exit examination to receive an official high school diploma. Among these states are Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. High school seniors are required to take statewide standardized tests in these states to be considered high school graduates. As curricula may differ among different schools, it is important that students be prepared to take their state’s test by becoming familiar with the content being tested.
Students who earn their General Education Development (GED) are considered high school graduates and can reap all the rewards of graduating, such as applying for financial aid and receiving admission to colleges and universities. Similarly, California students who are at least sixteen years old, have enrolled in the second half of their tenth-grade year, or have completed tenth grade have the opportunity to take the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). A passing score on the CHSPE guarantees students the same benefits as a high school diploma. The EXPLORE test for eighth- and ninth-graders can help students plan their coursework for high school by providing information about students’ strengths and weaknesses and assessing students’ abilities, skills, and interests. The High School Placement Test (HSPT) and Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) are given to high school students to determine placement and potential academic success at various private and parochial high schools across the country. In Texas, the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) assesses all public college and university students to ensure they are ready to complete college-level academic training.
These primary and secondary tests are standardized, and students can prepare for them in a variety of ways, including taking practice tests and becoming familiar with test formats. Primary and secondary test preparation will contribute to student success at all levels.
Primary/Secondary Test Directory