California High School Proficiency (CHSPE) TEST

Everything you Need to Pass the CHSPE Test!

Free practice questions, Test registration information, Test Prep, Multiple Choice Tips and Strategy, free online practice questions, Test Tips, plus CHSPE study guide and practice tests (including math study guide) in every format – Printable PDF download and paperback.

About the Test

A Certificate of Proficiency is awarded to successful candidates of the California High School Proficiency Examination. To earn the Certificate of Proficiency and pass the CHSPE the aspirant must show his knowledge in two areas; English-language Arts and Mathematics.

The Certificate of Proficiency is technically not the same as a high school diploma but is regarded as an equivalent of a diploma, similar to the GED.  For more information on high school equivalency tests, see CHSPE vs. GED

This test is not a way out of High School. If you are under age you must have written authorization from your legal guardians to stop attending class.

More detailed information on the CHSPE Exam from Wikipedia.

Registration

The first requirement is that the aspirants had attended at least two semesters of the 10^th grade and be 16-years or older.

The test is held three times a year, so you must register electronically or in the CHSPE office before your preferred date.

Register at the  Official CHSPE site.

Who is eligible to take the CHSPE?

CHSPE is thus a viable option to people who do not have a high school diploma. The Test is open to high school students in California who are at least 16 years old and have completed their 10th grade. Students who are currently in the second half of their 10th grade are also qualified to sit for CHSPE. The CHSPE is comparable to GED although the latter requires candidates to be of 18 years and covers subject areas that CHSPE does not cover areas such as social studies and science.

The current cost is $130. The payment can only be made by cashier’s check or money order, and by credit card when registering online. Accommodations are made for homeless, who can submit a homeless youth or foster youth fee waiver request.

Scoring

The score of each section of the test goes from 250 to 450.

The English-languages Arts section as two parts; The Reading subtest and the Languages subtest.

The minimum score to pass the Reading subtest is 350, the score of the Language subtest is a combination of the right answers in the multiple-choice questions and the development in the writing task scores. Go to the official CHSPE site to calculate this score.

The minimum score for the Mathematics section is 350 or higher.

The results are delivered by mail, about 5 weeks after you’ve taken the test. If you passed, certificate will be delivered with the results.

If you don’t receive your results in 5 weeks contact the CHSPE office right away.

Retaking the Test

You can retake one section of the test if you failed, but you cannot retake a section of the test that you passed.  Tips on what to do if you fail

Can I use Calculator?

Calculators are allowed in the Mathematics section of the CHSPE, but with some limitations. For example, it must be a solar-powered or battery-powered basic calculator, which means non-scientific, non-programmable and non-statistical calculator.

Also, you cannot share your calculator with other examinees, to avoid that the aspirants use them to share information during the test.

Calculators that are NOT permitted are:

• Statistical calculators
• Scientific calculators
• Programmable calculators
• Any other calculator that can enter letters along with numbers, that makes noise, prints, or have raised screens.

What’s on the CHSPE?

• The CHSPE has a duration of 3 ½ hours that can be distributed by the examinee as preferred.
• The English-Language Arts section is composed by grammar and vocabulary questions and also an essay that the examinee must write.
• The Reading subtest has 84 multiple-choice questions, those assess seven aspects: initial understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, strategies, synonyms, multiple meaning words and context clues.
• The language subtest has 48 multiple-choice questions designed to evaluate six contents: capitalization usage, punctuation, sentence structure, pre-writing, content and organization.
• The math section assesses the aspirant abilities on geometry, algebra, and pre-algebra.  This section has 50 multiple-choice questions, divided into 4 sections:

1. Number sense and operations
2. Patterns, relationships, and algebra
3. Data, statistics, and probability
4. Geometry and measurement.

How to Prepare for the Test

The best advice?   Start Early! 

Complete Guide to Test Preparation

How to Concentrate

Last minute studying?   How to Cram

Test Tips

Simple small errors can cost you marks! Common Mistakes on a Test 

Test Anxiety is one of the main causes of poor test results   How to Handle Test Anxiety

Learn more about Test Strategy

Lots more Test Taking Tips here

How to Answer Multiple Choice

A few simple tips can increase your score!   How to answer multiple choice

See our Complete Guide to Multiple Choice Strategy for the CHSPE

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Study Guide with Practice Questions

Written by: Brian Stocker MA, Complete Test Preparation Inc.
Page Modified: April 3rd, 2018 April 3rd, 2018
Page Published: June 10th, 2014

Customer Reviews

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