Credit by Exam is not designed for grade level recovery after being retained in a previous grade level.

 

Q: What are the eligibility requirements for a student to register for CBE?

A: Students must meet all eligibility requirements to register for CBE testing:

1. Student is enrolled in a Trinity ISD school.
2. Student will be at least 5 years old by September 1st of the current year.
3. Registration form is completed and returned to school principal by the deadline listed on the form.
4. Campus principal must sign the registration form to verify student’s grade level and eligibility.

 

Q: How many tests will my student take?

A: Students attempting to earn credit for a grade level K-8, will take four subject-area exams: English language arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

Students attempting to earn high school course credit will take two tests per course, one for semester "A" credit and one for semester "B" credit. The following courses are not available for CBE for Acceleration at this time: Algebra 1, Biology, English I, English II, or US History.

 

Q:What are the dates for the CBE?

A: Trinity ISD offers four testing opportunities throughout the year.

Kindergarten – 8th grade:

Students must pass Math and Science in order to take the Reading and Social Studies exams on day two of the session.
High School:
If a student is testing out of a two semester course, they must pass the semester "A" exam in order to sit for the semester "B" exam.

Credit by Exam administration dates for the school year are listed in the application for each administration.

 

Q: What are the registration deadlines?

A: The registration deadlines are listed on the CBE applications. 

 

Q: Where do the tests come from?

A: Trinity ISD orders the tests from The University of Texas at Austin’s K-16 Education Center.

 

Q: What is on the test?

A: The tests are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and skills, found here: http://tea.texas.gov/curriculum/teks/

 

Q: How do I access the CBE registration form?

A: The CBE registration form can be found at the links provided above.

 

Q:What time should my student arrive at the testing location?

A: All students must arrive at the testing location by 8:00 a.m. The maximum amount of time allowed for each exam is 3 hours. If there are two tests administered that day, the afternoon session begins promptly at 12:00 p.m.

 

Q: What is the testing address and location?

A: Testing locations may change, depending on the availability of campuses.

Testing locations will be verified through a letter you will receive from the Assessment Center which will include a confirmation of dates, times and location. You will receive this letter about 10 days prior to the first established testing date in the testing window.

 

Q: We will be out of town on the testing dates listed can my child take the test on a different day?

A: Testing opportunities are offered four times throughout the school year. The district will adhere to the scheduled testing dates provided for parents and students.

 

Q: How can my child study or prepare for the CBE exams?

A: Review materials may be found at: https://highschool.utexas.edu/cbe_study_guides

The above website contains information about the structure of the exam and question samples. High school students should access this site in order to read specific selections before some exams. Obtaining student textbooks referenced in the study materials will be the responsibility of the parent.

 

Q: What score does my student need to earn in order to accelerate?

A: Students must earn 80% on all four subject-area exams to earn credit for an entire grade level in K-8.
High school students must earn 80% on each semester exam to earn credit for a course.

 

Q: If my student does not score a minimum of 80%, will the score be recorded on the student transcript? 

A: Scores below 80% will not be recorded on the student’s permanent transcript.

 

Q: My child does not make an 80% on the exam. Can I appeal the results?

A: The state has established a passing standard of 80%. Therefore, appeals of student results cannot be considered.

 

Q. If my child meets the passing score of 80% or above, can I choose whether or not to have my student to enroll in the next grade level or course?

A: If the student meets the score requirements for an elementary grade level, once the parents sign the authorization to promote they do not have the option not to promote. If the student meets the score requirements for a secondary course, the student must be placed in the next grade level or course. The parent/guardian does not have the option of not promoting the student if they meet the grade level or course credit required.

 

Q:  What grade will my student test out of it he/she is taking the assessment during the Fall administration?

A: A student may not take a CBE for a grade level or course in which that student is currently enrolled. A student currently in 2nd grade would take Grade 3 CBE. If the requirements are met, the student will remain in the current grade level (2nd grade) until the end of the school year and enter 4th grade in the fall of the following school year.

Q:  What grade will my student test out of if he/she is taking the exam during the Spring, Summer 1 or Summer 2 adminisrtations?

 

A:

A student may not take a CBE for a grade level or course in which that student is currently enrolled. All Credit by Exam tests will be for the next grade level or sequential course. For example, a student currently enrolled in Grade 1 will take the exams to test out of Grade 2. If the requirements are met, the student will remain in the current grade level until the end of the school year.

 

 Q: When will we receive CBE results?

A: With the exception of some exams that must be hand scored by UT, most scores will be mailed to the parents within ten business days from the testing date.

 

Q: What will happen if the results are not received before the first day of school?

A: The Credit by Exam schedule is designed with the intention that parents and campuses will receive the CBE results before the start of the school year. However, if the CBE results are not received by the first day of school, the student will begin the school year in the current enrolled grade level. If the student does meet the criteria to advance to the next course or grade level, the student will be moved to the new course or grade level, once the CBE results are received.

 

Q: IS there a cost for taking the CBE tests?

A: There is no charge to students for the first administration of a credit by exam covered by this application. Tests are ordered upon receipt of completed registration form. Therefore, students who cancel, fail to attend, or decide to test at another time will be responsible for paying the $25 fee per exam.

 

Q: How many times can my child test for CBE?

A: A student is allowed one attempt at the grade level or course exam during a testing window.

 

Q: What if my student does not pass one or more parts of the exam? Can they retake the exam they did not pass the first time?

A: If a parent requests an alternate examination as a second test during another testing window, the parent will pay for the cost of the alternate examination. Each exam costs $25 and payment must be received by the Assessment, Evaluation, and Accountability department along with a completed registration form by the deadline before make-up exams will be ordered.

Students are allowed only two attempts per subject area.

 

Q: Can my student attempt to accelerate through several grades/courses at one time?

A: Students must earn credit for one course or grade level as a prerequisite to attempting CBE for the next course or grade level. For example, a student must earn credit for Spanish I before he/she can attempt the CBE for Spanish II.

 

Q: Can my student's CBE score be used for Gifted/Talented identification?

A: No. CBE tests are not designed for nor are they appropriate for Gifted/Talented identification.

 

Q: What is Credit by Exam (CBE) with prior instruction?

A: Credit by Examination/With Prior Instruction (CBE/WPI) provides a student who has prior instruction in a course to use credit by examination for earning credit for that course/subject.  With the recommendation of the campus principal, a student may use credit by examination to demonstrate mastery in any subject in elementary grades or to earn credit in any academic course at the secondary level.  Eligibility is also determined on the basis of a review of the student's educational records.

 

On recommendation of the campus attendance committee, a student who has excessive absences may be permitted to earn or regain course credit through credit by examination.
 
Credit by examination shall not be used to gain eligibility for participation in extracurricular activities.

 

 

 

Q: What score does my student need to earn in order to earn credit with prior instruction?

A: Students must earn 70% on subject-area exams to earn credit for an entire subject area in K-8.
High school students must earn 70% or above on each semester exam to earn credit for a course. If such credit is given the district shall enter the examination score on the student's transcript.  No weighted grades will be given.  THE COURSE/GRADE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE STUDENT'S GPA (GRADE POINT AVERAGE) AS STANDARD GRADE POINTS.

 

 

Q: If my student does not score a minimum of 70%, will the score be recorded on the student transcript? 

A: Scores below 70% will not be recorded on the student’s permanent transcript.

 

Q: My child does not make an 70% on the exam. Can I appeal the results?

A: The state has established a passing standard of 70%. Therefore, appeals of student results cannot be considered.