California High School Proficiency Examination

Understanding Results

The CHSPE Mathematics section consists entirely of multiple-choice questions. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing. Therefore, if you are uncertain about the answer to a question, you should select the one option you think is most likely to be correct.

The CHSPE English-language Arts section includes the Language subtest and the Reading subtest. The Language subtest consists of multiple-choice questions and a writing task, both of which must be completed at the same administration. Your score for the multiple-choice questions is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, and there is no penalty for guessing. Your essay in response to the writing task is scored on a 5-point scale, with 1 the lowest score and 5 the highest. The essay is scored independently by at least two trained scorers, resulting in two scores. Your writing task score is the average of the two scores. For the Reading subtest, which consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing.

Multiple-choice results on both CHSPE sections are reported using scale scores that typically range from 250 to 450. Raw scores (i.e., the number of questions answered correctly) are converted to scale scores to correct for any differences in difficulty across test forms. Regardless of the particular test form taken, or the particular test date on which the test is taken, equal scale scores represent essentially the same level of performance.

To pass the Mathematics section, you must earn a scale score of at least 350. To pass the English-language Arts section, you must pass the Language subtest and the Reading subtest. To pass the Reading subtest, you must earn a scale score of at least 350. The passing standard for the Language subtest is based on the combination of your multiple-choice and writing task scores as shown below.

Approximately five weeks after the test date, a score report will be mailed to you. Additionally, if you have passed both sections of the test, a Certificate of Proficiency will be mailed to you. Your score report will show your current status on the CHSPE (i.e., whether you have passed or not passed the CHSPE) and your most recent performance on the part(s) of the test you have taken through the most recent test date. For the Mathematics section, English-language Arts Reading subtest, and the multiple-choice questions on the English-language Arts Language subtest, your most recent performance on each of the content clusters of the test is shown. (The content clusters are described on the Test Specifications page.) The number of questions in the cluster and the number you answered correctly are shown, and your performance is rated in one of three catagories: "Adequate or Better," "Below Adequate," or "Far Below Adequate." This information identifies areas in which you may need improvement. (Cluster information is not provided for administrations prior to 2007.)

If you do not pass the Mathematics section, the English-language Arts Language subtest, and/or the English-language Arts Reading subtest, you may retake what you have not passed. You do not need to retake any subtest or section that you have passed. (Note, however, that on the Language subtest both the multiple-choice questions and the writing task must be completed at the same administration.) There is no limit to the number of times you may take the test, but you must register and pay each time.

If you passed the CHSPE English-language Arts section in 2004, 2005, or 2006, you do not need to take the current English-language Arts section. Results on the CHSPE taken prior to January 2004 cannot be combined with results on the CHSPE taken after January 2004. If, in the future, the CHSPE series changes, it is possible that results on the current CHSPE will not be combinable with results on the new test series.

Please note the following:

• Your results will be mailed to the address indicated on your Registration Form unless you changed that information on the day you took the test or notified the CHSPE Office in writing of a change of address. Be sure to include your CHSPE identification number on all correspondence.
• If your CHSPE account is not paid in full, your test results will not be provided to you until your account has been paid in full.
• If you attend a public school in grade 12 or below, and you provided your school's name on your Registration Form, when you have passed both sections of the CHSPE your name will be included on a roster of passing examinees sent to the superintendent of your school district.
• CHSPE data for all examinees (passers and non-passers) at each administration will be provided to the California Department of Education.

Your CHSPE results will not be provided to anyone else, unless you request to have a transcript sent as described in Transcripts.