Newletter Insert 2 - California High School Exit Examination (CA Department of Education)

he California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) is a graduation requirement for all public school students. The exam is divided into two parts: English-language arts and mathematics.

English-Language Arts

The English-language arts part of the CAHSEE tests California content standards through grade ten. The reading section includes vocabulary, decoding, comprehension, and analysis of informational and literary texts. This section includes 50 percent literary texts and 50 percent informational texts. The writing section covers writing strategies, applications, and the conventions for standard English (e.g., grammar, spelling, and punctuation). The CAHSEE English-language arts portion includes 72 multiple-choice questions and one writing task (essay).

The reading and decoding section covers:

• Word analysis, fluency, and systematic vocabulary development

• Reading comprehension

• Literary response and analysis

The writing section covers:

• Writing strategies

• Writing applications

• Written and oral English language conventions

Mathematics

The Mathematics part of the CAHSEE tests California content standards in grades six and seven and Algebra I. The exam includes statistics, data analysis and probability, number sense, measurement and geometry, mathematical reasoning, and algebra. Students must demonstrate computational skills and a foundation in arithmetic, including working with decimals, fractions, and percentages.

The CAHSEE mathematics portion includes 80 multiple-choice questions that cover the following:

• Statistics, data analysis, and probability

• Number sense

• Measurement and geometry

• Algebra and functions

• Mathematical reasoning

• Algebra I

More information about the number and types of questions covered on the CAHSEE can be found by downloading the CAHSEE Blueprints and Released Test Questions from the California Department of Education Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/