Keystone Testing What you need to know!

Who? Students in the graduating class of 2017 and later

What? Need to pass all 3 Keystone Exams – Algebra – Biology – Literature

When? Students will be taking the Keystone Exams towards the end of their corresponding course Literature – English 10 Algebra – Algebra 1 CP or later Biology – Biology All testing will be booklet…no online!

What if I Fail a Test? PDE states that any student failing any Keystone must be remediated before re-taking that Keystone Exam. If a student fails all three exams, they must be remediated in all 3 subjects.

How Will Remediation Work? Students who fail the Algebra Keystone Exam will take an Algebra Keystone class next year. At the conclusion of the semester course, the student will re-take the Keystone Algebra Exam. The class will be an elective…not a required Math credit for students in the College Prep track.

How Will Remediation Work? Students who fail the Keystone Literature or Biology Exams will take the Bio/Lit Remediation Course their Junior Year. The class will meet on alternating days.

How Will Remediation Work? This class will also be an elective credit. If you fail only one of the tests, you would remediate in the one subject area all semester.

If You Fail a Keystone Again Students move on to the Project Based Assessment their Senior Year. The PBA’s take anywhere from hours. You could end up having to do six projects.

Why Six Projects? Each Keystone Exam is broken into two modules. Each module has a separate score. The scores are averaged to come up with a combined score. The passing score is

Why Six Projects? If you do not reach 1500 on either module, you will have to do a project for each failed module. 3 (exams) X 2 (modules) = 6 projects!

Fail a module but Pass the Exam If the average of the two scores is over 1500, you will be proficient and do not need to do a PBA (project).

Fail the Exam but Pass a Module You would end up doing a PBA (project) for the failed module. A student may do anywhere from 0-6 modules.

When Do I Complete the PBA (projects) The PBAs will be completed in an elective class your senior year. The project is monitored in class by a certified teacher. The project is not something you create…the state creates it and you have to do the academic work to complete it.

When Do I Complete the PBA (projects) After a project module is completed, it is submitted to the state for evaluation. All PBAs (Projects) must be completed by Jan 15 th of their Senior year for grading by the state. The PBA class will be in the fall semester.

What is the Overall Damage if I do not pass the exams? Students could potentially lose up to three electives over a three year period. Students do extensive work in areas where they failed the Exams. Students could not graduate who fail to complete the PBA (project).

What is the Overall Damage if I do not pass the exams? The scores will also be on your transcript. If you end up passing the project instead of the exam, it will indicate that you were proficient in the project.

Cell phones in Testing Do not bring them! If a cell phone comes out during testing… – Your phone will be confiscated – Your test will be considered invalid – You will automatically be placed in remediation next year

Testing Dates Semester 1 Literature – December 10 & 11 Biology – January 7 & 8 Algebra – January 13 & 14

Any Suggestions? Pay attention in class. The question “Why do I have to learn this?” is easily answered! Take the exams with the seriousness it deserves. Every correct answer counts! Do not give up on a question.

Code of Conduct State requirement to read to every student taking the test.

Any Questions?