California High SchoolCalifornia High SchoolExit ExamExit Exam(CAHSEE)(CAHSEE)

1010thth Grade Grade

General InformationGeneral Information

►Test Dates for 10Test Dates for 10thth graders graders March 13March 13thth, 2012: English Language Arts, 2012: English Language Arts March 14March 14thth, 2012: Mathematics, 2012: Mathematics

► If you do not take, or if you fail one or If you do not take, or if you fail one or both of the March exams, you will both of the March exams, you will have only 4 opportunities to pass the have only 4 opportunities to pass the CAHSEE before your graduation date.CAHSEE before your graduation date.

Test Information: Multiple Test Information: Multiple ChoiceChoice

►79 Multiple Choice questions.79 Multiple Choice questions.►Only 72 actually count (7 are thrown out)Only 72 actually count (7 are thrown out)►Each multiple choice question has four Each multiple choice question has four

possible choices (A, B, C, D) only one of possible choices (A, B, C, D) only one of which is correct.which is correct.

►Always look for the “BEST” answerAlways look for the “BEST” answer►Multiple choice section is worth 80% of Multiple choice section is worth 80% of

overall scoreoverall score►Multiple choice exam is untimed.Multiple choice exam is untimed.

Test Information: The EssayTest Information: The Essay► Essay is worth 20% of overall score [approx. 18 pts.]Essay is worth 20% of overall score [approx. 18 pts.]► You MUST write an essay to passYou MUST write an essay to pass► Essay is scored on a 1 to 4 grading scaleEssay is scored on a 1 to 4 grading scale► Remember who your audience is (a retired, female Remember who your audience is (a retired, female

teacher, 70 yrs.)teacher, 70 yrs.)► Essay section is also untimed.Essay section is also untimed.► Essay prompt can be any of the following:Essay prompt can be any of the following:

PersuasivePersuasive Business LetterBusiness Letter Response to fiction or nonfictionResponse to fiction or nonfiction ExpositoryExpository Biographical/Personal narrativeBiographical/Personal narrative

► Check your prompt as soon as you open the booklet. Check your prompt as soon as you open the booklet. It’s always at the end of the booklet. Think about it. It’s always at the end of the booklet. Think about it. Talk about it with friends during break (No one can Talk about it with friends during break (No one can stop you!)stop you!)

Test InformationTest Information

►Multiple choice = 72 pointsMultiple choice = 72 points►Essay = 18 pointsEssay = 18 points►Total points possible = 90 (72 + 18 = 90)Total points possible = 90 (72 + 18 = 90)►Passing is 60% of 90 points (approx. 55)Passing is 60% of 90 points (approx. 55)►Score range is 250 – 450Score range is 250 – 450►350 is passing350 is passing►Pass or Not Passed onlyPass or Not Passed only►You only retake the exams you fail.You only retake the exams you fail.

Getting Ready for the ExamGetting Ready for the Exam

► Get a good night’s sleep (approx. 8 hrs.)Get a good night’s sleep (approx. 8 hrs.)► Eat a nutritious breakfast (protein!!!)Eat a nutritious breakfast (protein!!!)► Bring quiet snacks (nothing too crunchy)Bring quiet snacks (nothing too crunchy)► Bring a bottle of waterBring a bottle of water► Dress in layers. Cold in morning, but gym Dress in layers. Cold in morning, but gym

heats up in afternoon.heats up in afternoon.► You will not be allowed any purses or You will not be allowed any purses or

backpacks near your seating area. Bring backpacks near your seating area. Bring things in your pockets (snacks, water, things in your pockets (snacks, water, highlighter, etc.)highlighter, etc.)

Test StrategiesTest Strategies

►DO NOT RUSH! Every answer counts.DO NOT RUSH! Every answer counts.► Read each passage and the corresponding Read each passage and the corresponding

questions carefully.questions carefully.► Answer every question: leave none Answer every question: leave none

unanswered. Better to “guess” than leave unanswered. Better to “guess” than leave any question unanswered.any question unanswered.

► You You cancan write in the test booklet!!! write in the test booklet!!!► For the reading sections, write brief notes in For the reading sections, write brief notes in

the margins of each paragraph to remind the margins of each paragraph to remind yourself of main ideas.yourself of main ideas.

Test Strategies (Continued)Test Strategies (Continued)

► UnderlineUnderline, highlight, or circle key words that , highlight, or circle key words that identify the important ideas in each identify the important ideas in each paragraph.paragraph.

► A frequently asked question on the exam is A frequently asked question on the exam is “What is the main idea of the selection?” “What is the main idea of the selection?” Remember, “selection” means the paragraph Remember, “selection” means the paragraph or story you just read.or story you just read.

► Always read all four answer choices before Always read all four answer choices before you choose the one you think answers the you choose the one you think answers the question best.question best.

► Always reread things you don’t understand Always reread things you don’t understand until you understand them. Especially until you understand them. Especially poems!!!poems!!!

Test Strategies (Continued)Test Strategies (Continued)

► Pre-read the test questions and all four Pre-read the test questions and all four possible answers before reading the possible answers before reading the selection. It will help you focus your selection. It will help you focus your reading.reading.

► Avoid the temptation to answer the Avoid the temptation to answer the questions without reading the passages.questions without reading the passages.

► Remember, words can have more than one Remember, words can have more than one possible meaning. When you are asked the possible meaning. When you are asked the meaning of a word, it needs to be the meaning of a word, it needs to be the meaning of the word in the context of the meaning of the word in the context of the selection, not any other meaning.selection, not any other meaning.

Test Strategies (Continued)Test Strategies (Continued)

► There may be words you don’t understand. There may be words you don’t understand. You can still get the right answers even You can still get the right answers even when you don’t know the meaning of all of when you don’t know the meaning of all of the vocabulary. Look for context clues!!!the vocabulary. Look for context clues!!!

►When you write the essay, organize it first. When you write the essay, organize it first. A brainstorm and outline would be the best A brainstorm and outline would be the best way to organize your thoughts before you way to organize your thoughts before you start writing your essay.start writing your essay.

► Use any available space in the booklet to Use any available space in the booklet to brainstorm and outline.brainstorm and outline.

Test Strategies (Continued)Test Strategies (Continued)

► Use the process of elimination to find some Use the process of elimination to find some answers. Cross out any answer you know answers. Cross out any answer you know for sure are wrong. It’s easier to choose for sure are wrong. It’s easier to choose from two than four possible answers.from two than four possible answers.

► All multiple choice questions use All multiple choice questions use “distracters” to distract you away from the “distracters” to distract you away from the correct answer. Look out for them.correct answer. Look out for them.

►Go back to the selection and “find the Go back to the selection and “find the answers,” don’t just guess. This test is too answers,” don’t just guess. This test is too important to fail.important to fail.

Information Tested:Information Tested:

►Different types of reading passages Different types of reading passages are presented. You need to are presented. You need to understand the following:understand the following: Fiction (stories, novel excerpts, etc.)Fiction (stories, novel excerpts, etc.) Non-fiction (articles, journals, Non-fiction (articles, journals,

advertisements)advertisements) PoetryPoetry DramaDrama Functional documentsFunctional documents Charts and GraphsCharts and Graphs

Information TestedInformation Tested

►Other questions will check your mastery of:Other questions will check your mastery of: GrammarGrammar SpellingSpelling PunctuationPunctuation CapitalizationCapitalization Sentence structure (run-ons, comma splices, Sentence structure (run-ons, comma splices,

etc.)etc.) Paragraph structureParagraph structure Essay structureEssay structure Research techniques and strategiesResearch techniques and strategies

Again!!!! The EssayAgain!!!! The Essay

► Check the essay out at the beginning!Check the essay out at the beginning!► You will have several breaks before your You will have several breaks before your

write the essay.write the essay.► Talk to friends about how they might answer Talk to friends about how they might answer

the prompt.the prompt.►Get some ideas together!!!Get some ideas together!!!► But don’t forget to brainstorm and outline.But don’t forget to brainstorm and outline.► Thesis Thesis Thesis!!!!Thesis Thesis Thesis!!!!► Use parts of the prompt in your opening Use parts of the prompt in your opening

paragraph.paragraph.

Reminder on how to Get Ready Reminder on how to Get Ready for the Examfor the Exam

► Get a good night’s sleep (approx. 8 hrs.)Get a good night’s sleep (approx. 8 hrs.)► Eat a nutritious breakfast (protein!!!)Eat a nutritious breakfast (protein!!!)► Bring quiet snacks (nothing too crunchy)Bring quiet snacks (nothing too crunchy)► Bring a bottle of waterBring a bottle of water► Dress in layers. Cold in morning, but gym Dress in layers. Cold in morning, but gym

heats up in afternoon.heats up in afternoon.► You will not be allowed any purses or You will not be allowed any purses or

backpacks near your seating area. Bring backpacks near your seating area. Bring things in your pockets (snacks, water, things in your pockets (snacks, water, highlighter, etc.)highlighter, etc.)