Keystone Exam Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
adapted from the PA Department of Education
1. Q: What are Keystone Exams?
Keystone Exams are state mandated end-of-course tests intended for students in the Class of 2017 and beyond to
demonstrate proficiency in core subjects. The expectation is that all students will pass these tests in order to graduate.
2. Q: What subjects have a related Keystone Exam?
Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature, are the first three Keystone Exams to be implemented.
Council Rock students taking the following courses will take the respective Keystone Exam:
 Algebra 1, Accelerated Algebra 1, and Honors Algebra 1 pairs with the Algebra I Keystone Exam
 Biology, Accelerated Biology, and Honors Biology pairs with the Biology Keystone Exam.
 Foundations English 10, English 10, Accelerated English 10, and Honors English 10 pairs with the English
Literature Keystone Exam.
3. Q: How are Keystone Exams related to high school graduation requirements at Council Rock?
Students graduating in 2017 and after must demonstrate proficiency in Algebra I, Biology and English Literature and earn
23 credits to fulfill the graduation requirements. Students graduating before 2017 will be required to take the Keystone
Exams as required by the state but their results will not be counted towards their graduation requirements.
4. Q: When do students take Keystone Exams?
Keystone Exams are attached to a particular course, not a student’s grade level. The exam is administered like a final exam
when the course is completed and according to the exam schedule as determined by PDE.
5. Q: When are the Keystone Exams administered?
May, August and December/January of each year.
6. Q: May parents see the Keystone Exams?
Parents and guardians may review the Keystone Exams if they believe they may be in conflict with their religious beliefs by
making arrangements with the School Test Coordinator. Confidentiality agreements must be signed, and no copies of the
Keystone Exams or notes about exam questions will be permitted to leave the school.
7. Q: Can an individual student opt out of a Keystone Exam?
No. Due to federal and state regulations this will not be permitted for students. The only exception is, upon parent review
of the exam the parent finds the test to be in conflict with their religious beliefs. If this is the case, the student must
participate in the Project-Based Assessment (PBA) to fulfill their graduation requirement. Additional information on the
PBA can be found below.
8. Q: If a student misses a Keystone Exam, will he or she be allowed to take the exam some other time?
The state identifies certain testing windows during which students may take the Keystone Exams. The student can take it in
the next testing window.
9. Q: Can a student earn credit for a course by passing a Keystone Exam without taking the course?
The District has no plans to enable students to earn credit for a course by examination.
10. Q: What happens if a student is not proficient?
Students who do not achieve a score of proficient or advanced on the Keystone Exam score must receive remedial
instruction and must retake the Keystone Exam until a passing Keystone Exam grade is achieved. After two unsuccessful
attempts, students will be eligible to demonstrate proficiency through the completion of a Project-Based Assessment (PBA)
that will be scored by a team of regional teachers. The PBA is an online learning and assessment module aligned to a
specific Keystone Exam course.
11. Q: Will Council Rock offer remediation for students who do not pass a test?
Yes, Council Rock is required to provide remediation and students are required to successfully complete remediation before
re-testing.
12. Q: Will there be testing accommodations for students with special needs?
As with the PSSA tests, students with special needs may take Keystone Exams with accommodations listed in a student
Individualized Education Plan, subject to any limitations the state applies to a particular test.
Council Rock School District
Summer 2014
13. Q: Will the scores be on the high school transcript?
Keystone Exam scores shall be listed by proficiency level (Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic) on student
transcripts, as required by the Commonwealth.
14. Q: Will colleges and universities view success on Keystone Exams as an advantage during the college admissions
process?
Current information about college acceptance patterns indicates that state test results are not important factors in acceptance
decisions. If you have questions about a specific college’s admission process you should contact that school’s admission
office directly.
15. Q: Will my child be prepared for Keystone Exams?
District courses aligned with Keystone Exams are designed to address the requirements of these tests.
16. Q: Are there any study guides or practice tests online to prepare students for the Keystone Exams?
Specific preparatory Keystone Exam materials have not been released. District administrators and teachers will review and
recommend materials as they are released and make them available on this website for students, parents, teachers, and
community members.
17. Q: Are electronic devices (cell phones, smart phones, iPods, tablets, personal computers, etc.) allowed in the
testing room?
No. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, all cell phones, smart phones, and other prohibited electronic
devices are to be collected as students enter the testing site.
The consequences for using and/or having a cell phone or other electronic device during the test administration includes:
 A “Do Not Score” label will be placed on the student's answer booklet and the student must retake the exam during
the same administration testing window in order to receive a score.
 The phone or electronic device will be viewed to ensure that no information or material regarding the assessment is
present.
 The student will be disciplined and that discipline will vary depending on whether test material has been
compromised.
 The parents and student may be responsible for the cost of replacing compromised items.
18. Q: How are the results reported?
Two copies of the individual student report for all Keystone Exams will be sent to the schools. One copy will be sent home
to parents/guardians; the other is kept by the school/district.
School-level reports will be used for curricular and planning purposes. School districts may publish the results of Keystone
Exams for each school. The state will also release school-by-school exam data.
19. Q: If a student scores proficient on the Exam, but would like to improve his score, can he have the option to retest?
No. Once a student scores proficient they may not re-take the exam for the purpose of improving the score.
20. Q: Have the teachers providing the test preparation seen the actual tests?
No. Sample questions have been provided through PA Department of Education in the Keystone
Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content documents.
21. Q: What are other school districts in Pennsylvania doing for the Keystone Exams? Do they have to take the
Exams?
Yes. Keystone Exams are required of all Pennsylvania public school entities - school districts, AVTSs (Area Vocational
Technical Schools), Charter Schools, and Cyber Charter Schools.
22. Q: Are other states doing this?
The Keystone Exams are specific to Pennsylvania, however all states are required to assess students’ proficiency toward
meeting state standards as an accountability measure, required by the No Child Left Behind mandate.
23. Q: I have further questions. Whom shall I contact?
You should contact the administrator coordinating Keystone Exams for your child’s school.