CAHSEE Exam for 10th graders
Scheduled this year for
March 8 and March 9, 2011
What is the CAHSEE?
• CAlifornia
• High
• School
• Exit
• Examination
Outline for today
1.
2.
3.
4.
Review CAHSEE content: math and English
Review CAHSEE structure
CAHSEE strategies
Practice problems
Why should I even care about the
CAHSEE???
• It’s very simple……
• If you don’t pass……
• YOU DON’T GRADUATE FROM HIGH
SCHOOL!
– No graduation ceremony
– No diploma
– No financial aid at many colleges
MATH SECTION OF CAHSEE
What is covered by the math
CAHSEE?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Number Sense (NS)
Statistics, Data Analysis, Probability (PS)
Algebra and Functions (AF)
Measurement and Geometry (MG)
Mathematical Reasoning (MR)
•Algebra I (1A)
• TOTAL
14
12
17
17
8
12
80
• CAHSEE covers 6th and 7th grade math standards, as well as
Algebra 1.
Additional facts you need to know
about the math portion
• 12 trial questions for future tests
– These don’t count against you, but you won’t
know whether they are trial questions or not
• Total questions: 92
• Two sessions with 46 questions each
• Approximate working times: 1 hour 30
minutes (i.e., 90 minutes)
• This means you have an average of about 2
minutes per question
Most important thing to know:
• You have unlimited time to complete the
CAHSEE!
• BUT……you must be ready to demand the
extra time!
• Be assertive!
• Don’t give in to peer pressure…take AND
DEMAND as much time as you need!
ENGLISH SECTION OF
CAHSEE
What is covered by the English
language-arts part of the CAHSEE?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Word Analysis (RW)
Reading Comprehension (RC)
18
Literary Response and Analysis (RL) 20
Writing Strategies (WS)
Writing Conventions (WC)
Writing Applications (WA)
TOTAL
7
12
15
1
73
Additional facts you need to know
about the English portion
• 7 trial questions for future tests
– These don’t count against you, but you won’t
know whether they are trial questions or not
• Total questions: 79 multiple-choice, 1 essay
Differences in the English-language arts
portion of the CAHSEE
Approximate working
times
Number and kinds of
question
Session 1
2 hours
21 multiple choice,
1 essay
Session 2
1 hour 30 minutes
58 multiple choice
Basic Strategies for CAHSEE
success
• Have a positive approach
– Look for questions you can answer and should get
right
– Skip the ones that give you a lot of trouble
– Don’t get stuck on any one of the questions
• Multiple-choice elimination strategy
– Eliminate the wrong answer right way
– Mark them in your question booklet
– Try to narrow your choices to two so you can take a
better guess
Miscellaneous FAQs
• TIME UNLIMITED
• No calculators allowed unless IEP allows it
• Can’t use scratch paper….but CAN write in
the test booklet.
• Passing score: 350 points
• Never leave a question unanswered: NO
penalty for guesses
Quick review of basic strategies
1. Do the easy problems first.
2. Don’t get stuck on one problem—they’re all of equal
value.
3. Eliminate answers; cross out the wrong choices in
your test booklet.
4. Don’t misread a question—circle or underline
important words.
5. Take advantage of being allowed to write in the test
booklet.
6. No penalty for guessing means “never leave a
question without at least taking a guess.”
Additional resources
• The California Department of Education has
many valuable materials on line:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/resources.asp
Good luck!