Pennsylvania Keystone Exams
Please read: new state testing and graduation requirements
Information for:
Students and Parents/Guardians
Pennsylvania Keystone Exams
What are the Keystone Exams?
The Keystone Exams are end-of-course
assessments designed to evaluate proficiency
in academic content. Beginning with the class
of 2017 (the current 8th grade), students
must demonstrate proficiency on the
Algebra 1, Literature, and Biology Keystone
Exams to graduate. Students not
demonstrating proficiency will be offered
multiple opportunities to take the Keystones
throughout their high school careers.
Who will participate in the Keystone Exams?
1) Beginning in the 2012-2013 school year,
the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology
Keystone Exams will replace the 11th grade
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
(PSSA) tests in mathematics, reading, writing,
and science. Keystone Exams will now be
used for purposes of satisfying No Child Left
Behind (NCLB)/Adequate Yearly Progress
(AYP) requirements.
2) All students in grade 11 must participate in
the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology
Keystone Exams.
3) Students in grades 7 through 10 who are
currently enrolled in a Keystone- related
course and students in grades 8 through 10
who previously completed a Keystone-related
course must also participate.
When will the exams be offered?
Council Rock 11th grade students will take all
three Keystone Exams in the first week of
December. Current 8th, 9th and 10th grade
students who have previously completed a
course with a Keystone Exam will also test at
this time. All other students in grades 7
through 10 currently enrolled in a course with
a Keystone Exam will test in May of 2013.
Because Keystone Exams are course specific,
not all students in the same grade will be
taking the same Keystone Exams in the same
year. (See chart on back of page.)
How are the results reported?
Keystone Exam scores will be processed as
quickly as possible and provided to Council
Rock. Two copies of the individual student
report for all Keystone Exams will be sent to
the school district. One copy will be sent
home to parents/guardians; the other will
kept by the school/district.
How long is a Keystone Exam?
There is no time limit for a student to
complete a Keystone Exam. For most
students, the Exam should take 2 to 3 hours
to complete. There are two modules on each
test, and each module (or Test Session) of the
Keystone Exam should take 1 to 1.5 hours to
complete.
What types of questions are on the Keystone
Exams?
The Keystone Exams will include multiplechoice questions and open-ended (shortanswer) questions. For each Keystone Exam,
approximately 60% to 75% of the total score
will be from multiple-choice questions and
25% to 40% of the total score will be from
open-ended questions.
How are the open-ended questions scored?
The open-ended questions are scored by
evaluators trained in applying a predetermined scoring system. Scores are based
on content only. Most open-ended questions
require students to show their work or
explain their reasoning. These Keystone Exam
questions will ask students to explain,
October 2012
(OVER)
analyze, describe, or compare. Some
questions will also require students to
perform calculations or create graphs, plots,
or drawings.
May parents see the Keystone Exams?
Parents and guardians may review the
Keystone Exams only if they believe the exam
may be in conflict with their religious beliefs.
This requires the parents/guardians to review
the test under a confidentiality agreement.
These arrangements should be made with the
School Principal once the exams arrive at the
school. No copies of the Keystone Exams or
notes about exam questions will be permitted
to leave the school.
Must all students take the Keystone Exams?
Parents or guardians who do not want their
child to participate in one or all of the exams
due to a conflict with their religious beliefs
after a review may write to the school district
superintendent. No other exemptions are
permitted.
Additional information specific to your
child’s school will be sent home prior to your
child participating in this testing.
For additional information about the
Keystone Exams, contact your child’s school).
or visit the SAS website at www.pdesas.org.
2012 – 13 Testing Schedule Information
*Note: beginning with the 2013-14 school year, all students in grades 7 – 12 will take the Keystone Exam
when they take a Keystone-related course - Algebra 1, Biology, Literature (10th grade English). Students
not proficient in a Keystone Exam will re-test at various times throughout the year. Eleventh grade
students who previously scored proficient on a Keystone Exam will not participate again.
Testing Period
Algebra 1 Keystone Exam
December 2012
 All 11th grade students  All 11th grade students  All 11th grade students
May 2013
Biology Keystone Exam
 8th, 9th and 10th grade
students that have
previously taken an
Algebra 1 course.
 Any student above
that did not score
proficient in the
December Exam.
 9th and 10 grade
students that have
previously taken a
Biology course.
 Any student above
that did not score
proficient in the
December Exam.
 All students currently
enrolled in an Algebra
1 course.
 All students currently
enrolled in a Biology
course.
Literature Keystone Exam
 Any student above
that did not score
proficient in the
December Exam.
 All 10th grade
students.
A full explanation of the Keystone Exams will be presented to the School Board at the October 18, 2012 meeting at 7:30 PM.
October 2012