Credit by Exam FAQs
1. What are Credit by Exams?
Credit by Exams are elective tests taken for the purpose of skipping an elementary grade level or secondary
course.
2. Who creates and grades Credit by Exams?
For students in grades 1-12, exams are written and graded by Texas Tech University. The Iowa Test of
Basic Skills and an observation checklist are used for students testing out of Kindergarten.
3. When and where are Credit by Exams given?
The dates for 2013 Credit by Exam (CBE) testing sessions are:
 May 18 - 2 sessions - 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
 June 10-14 - 2 sessions daily - 9:00 -12:00 and 1:00-4:00
 July 8-12 - 2 sessions daily - 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
All tests are given in the College Station ISD Administration Building A at 1812 Welsh Avenue.
4. Can I take a credit by exam outside of the district testing session dates?
A parent/guardian of a student who is not available during the district testing sessions may work directly with
Texas Tech University to purchase and register for credit by exams. The list of available tests and study
materials can be found at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/uc/ec2k/Heading.asp?heading_id=222 . The toll-free
number for Texas Tech University Credit by Exam Department is (800) 692-6877. Please discuss testing
and grading timelines with Texas Tech to ensure that testing, grading, and campus receipt of the official test
results can be accomplished prior to the beginning of the school year.
If you need assistance locating a proctor, contact the CSISD Assessment Department at 979-764-5594.
5. How do I register for a Credit by Exam?
You may download a registration form and information from the CSISD website (www.csisd.org) under
Parent Information or you may pick up a form from the counselor at your child’s school. Completed forms
are returned to the counselor.
6. What are the deadlines for returning the registration form?
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Deadline for May testing is Friday, April 5
Deadline for June testing is Monday, April 22
Deadline for July testing is Monday, May 20
7. How will I know what date and time my child is testing?
Following registration, parents will be notified as to the dates and times of the appropriate exams for their
student.
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8. What score is required to test out of a subject or grade level?
Kindergarten
Students younger than 6 years old on September 1 who wish to skip Kindergarten and be enrolled in first
grade must:
 score in the top 10 percent nationally on all sections of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills AND
 rate “acceptable” on the College Station ISD Informal Observation Instrument for Beginning Grade 1
Students. This instrument measures maturity and readiness for first-grade.
Students who are not 5 years old by September 1 may not take a credit by exam.
Grades 1-4
Students entering grades 1-4 may advance an entire grade level if they score 90% or above on the credit by
exam tests in ALL of the following areas for the grade level they want to skip:
 English language arts
 mathematics
 science
 social studies
Grades 5-8
Students entering grades 5-8 may receive credit for a mathematics course in which they have received no
prior instruction if they score 90% or above on the credit by exam for that course. Students may also
advance an entire grade level if they score 90% or above on the credit by exam tests in ALL of the following
areas for that grade level: English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. (A fine arts CBE
may also be required at grade 6. Please consult with the counselor at your child’s school.) Single subject
advancement other than mathematics is occasionally approved if there are course options for the student.
Grades 9-12
Students entering grades 9-12 may take credit by exams for subjects in which they have received no prior
instruction. A score of 90% or above is required. A list of credit by exams for eligible courses can be found
at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/uc/ec2k/Heading.asp?heading_id=270.
Note: Students who score 90% or above on a credit by exam that has an End of Course requirement must
take this test on the next administration date. The first EOC opportunity for students taking credit by exams
is during the first week of December 2013.
9. Can students younger than 5 years old take a credit by exam?
Students who are younger than 5 years old by September 1 cannot complete a credit by exam to be enrolled
in Kindergarten.
10. Is there a charge for taking a CBE?
All Credit by Exam testing is free of charge during the district testing session dates. The district does not pay
for testing outside of these dates.
11. Will I need to bring supplies to the testing session?
All materials are provided for students who take exams during the district testing sessions. Students who
arrange with Texas Tech University to take tests outside of these sessions will need to provide their own
materials.
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12. How long does it take to get the results back?
Official results are received from Texas Tech University within 3-4 weeks after testing. Copies of these
results are then mailed to the student’s address listed on the application.
13. Are review materials available for CBEs?
Yes. Texas Tech University provides credit by exam information and study materials at this website:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/ec2k/Heading.asp?heading_id=222
14. If my child is placed in an above grade level course, does he/she have to take an above level State
assessment (STAAR test)?
If the course the student is taking covers all of the State standards for the course, the student is required to
test at this higher level. One exception is in the grade 6 advanced math course. In this course, all of the 6th
grade and half of the 7th grade standards are taught. Since only half of the 7th grade standards are taught,
the students take the 6th grade STAAR math test. The 7th grade advanced math class is different. In this
course, the remaining 7th grade standards and all of the 8th grade standards are taught so students are
required to take the 8th grade STAAR math test. State law requires students to take State assessments that
match their highest level of instruction.
15. Do students have to take an End of Course exam if they take a credit by exam for one of the courses
that has this State testing requirement?
Yes, students who score 90% or above on a credit by exam that has an End of Course requirement must
take this test on the next administration date. The first EOC opportunity for students taking credit by exams
is during the first week of December 2013.
16. Will I have to provide transportation for my child to take a higher level course if that course is on
another campus?
If a course is only offered at another campus, families are responsible for transportation.
Course enrollment is currently high enough to allow us to offer Grade 7 Advanced Mathematics on the
intermediate school campuses and Geometry Pre-AP on the middle school campuses.
17. Will my child “run out” of math courses to take in high school if he/she advances via credit by
exams?
AP Statistics is the only course available for students who take calculus prior to their senior year. Students
in this situation might consider taking college level courses at Blinn College or Texas A&M University.
Arrangements must be made by the students.
18. What are the most commonly given credit by exams in College Station ISD?
The most commonly given credit by exams in College Station ISD are for grades 5-8 mathematics. Here are
the CBE and State assessment requirements specific to most mathematics scenarios:
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Students entering grade 5 who desire to test out of 5th grade mathematics must take a grade 5
mathematics credit by exam. Students scoring 90% or better will be enrolled in Grade 6 Advanced
Mathematics. Students in this course are required to take the STAAR Grade 6 Mathematics test.
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Students entering grade 6 who desire to test out of Grade 6 Advanced Mathematics must take three credit
by exams (first and second semesters of grade 6 and first semester of grade 7). These tests are required
since the Grade 6 Advanced Mathematics course covers all 6th and the first half of 7th grade State
standards. Students scoring 90% or better on each grade level will be enrolled in Grade 7 Advanced
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Mathematics. In this course students cover the remaining 7th and all of the 8th grade standards. Students
in this course are required to take the STAAR Grade 8 Mathematics test.
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Students in regular 6th grade mathematics who desire to enroll in Grade 7 Advanced Math must take the
first semester grade 7 credit by exam and score 90% or better. This test is required since the Grade 6
Advanced Mathematics course covers all 6th and the first half of 7th grade State standards. In the 7th
grade advanced math course, students cover the remaining 7th and all of the 8th grade standards.
Students in this course are required to take the STAAR Grade 8 Mathematics test.
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Students in advanced 6th grade mathematics who desire to enroll in Algebra I Pre-AP in grade 7 must
take second semester grade 7 and both semesters of grade 8 credit by exams (3 total tests). A score of
90% or better on each grade level is required for advancement. Students enrolled in Algebra I are
required to take the Algebra I End of Course (EOC) exam.
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Grade 7 students who are in Algebra I Pre-AP will take Geometry Pre-AP in 8th grade. No credit by exam
is needed. Students enrolled in Geometry are required to take the Geometry End of Course (EOC) exam.
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