The California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) provides residents with the chance to earn a Certificate of Proficiency, a credential that's comparable to a high school diploma approved by the state, as long as they've fulfilled one of these two prerequisites: 1) Has met the minimum age requirement (16 years old) or 2) Has completed, or will have completed, tenth grade during the test-taking window.
The paper-based CHSPE assesses student abilities and knowledge of English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The ELA portion is further organized into two subtests in language and reading consisting of 48 and 84 multiple-choice prompts, respectively, with the former requiring a writing assignment. Test-takers have three-and-a-half hours to complete both parts of the exam, neither of which is individually timed.
To pass the CHSPE, examinees must achieve a minimum scaled score of 350 on the mathematics and reading subtests, respectively, which they can prep for using the CHSPE Exam study guide. To pass the language subtest, students must score at least 365 on the multiple-choice portion and a 2.5 on the writing assignment.
| Content Cluster | % of questions |
|---|---|
| Capitalization | 16% (≈8 questions) |
| Content and Organization | 19% (≈9 questions) |
| Prewriting | 10% (≈5 questions) |
| Punctuation | 17% (≈8 questions) |
| Sentence Structure | 21% (≈10 questions) |
| Usage | 17% (≈8 questions) |
The 48 multiple-choice prompts on the Language Subtest determine how well a candidate pursuing the Certificate for Proficiency can apply standard English conventions (mechanics) when expressing themselves on paper. Here, exam emphasis is on how individual words, or groups of words, like direct and indirect objects; predicates, and subjects, function in a grammatically correct, well-organized sentence.
The writing assignment requires examinees to construct an expository essay, whereby they craft an argument based on fact-based information and solid reasoning that support their main idea. Essays are evaluated using a 5-point scoring rubric that weighs the writer's argumentative abilities and mechanical proficiencies, including those related to sentence complexity and variation; word choice and usage; grammar, and organization. Carefully constructed and proofread essays with few if any errors qualify as a five, with those scoring a three or four displaying either negligible errors or those with little-or-no potential to confuse readers. Essays demonstrating an inability to adhere to standard English language conventions and a clearly stated main idea are likely to receive a one or two, a critical situation that can be avoided by reviewing the lessons and taking the quizzes associated with this guide.
| Content Cluster | % of questions |
|---|---|
| Critical Analysis | 17% (≈14 questions) |
| Context Clues | 14% (≈12 questions) |
| Interpretation | 24% (≈20 questions) |
| Initial Understanding | 12% (≈10 questions) |
| Multiple-Meaning Words | 7% (≈6 questions) |
| Strategies | 12% (≈10 questions) |
| Synonyms | 14% (≈12 questions) |
The 84 multiple-choice questions on the ELA Reading Subtest assess a student's ability to comprehend and digest different types of passages, including:
Test-takers are also evaluated on their knowledge of vocabulary, such as:
When preparing for this subtest, students should aim to broaden their knowledge and understanding of how opposite and similar words relate to each other in a text. Exposure to a variety of texts can also help them enhance their ability to read for meaning.
| Content Area | % of questions |
|---|---|
| Data, Statistics, and Probability | 24% (≈12 questions) |
| Geometry and Measurement | 28% (≈14 questions) |
| Number Sense and Operations | 18% (≈9 questions) |
| Patterns, Relationships, and Operations | 30% (≈15 questions) |
The 50 multiple-choice questions on the CHSPE Mathematics assessment are based on the conceptual, or content, areas taught in high school Algebra I and II and geometry or Mathematics I, II, and III, depending on the curriculum pathway (traditional or integrated), plus Advanced Placement (AP) Probability and Statistics. Almost a third of the prompts on the exam focus on a student's ability to determine numerical sequences or sets and the operations and rule(s) that dictate their relationships to each other.
While calculators are neither necessary nor required to answer any of the multiple-choice math questions, especially for examinees who've completed all of the lessons and quizzes associated with the California High School Proficiency Exam study guide, students may use a basic device during the test, as long as it's in compliance with administrative regulations. For example, scientific and statistical calculators; devices that have in excess of 27 buttons; and those with the capability of performing a series of, rather than simple, mathematical operations, are strictly prohibited. Please note that students who opt to use a basic calculator must bring their own devices. That said, all test-takers will be provided with a handout containing the equations and formulas they'll need to solve the problems, a handy reference tool, especially when responding to prompts about geometry.
