The End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) is a statewide assessment program of end-of-course tests for gateway courses awarded units of credit in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The EOCEP encourages instruction in the specific standards for the courses, encourages student achievement, and documents the level of students’ mastery of the academic standards.  Gateway courses in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies will be defined by the State Board of Education. EOCEP examination scores count 20 percent in the calculation of the student’s final grade in gateway courses. Defined gateway courses currently include Algebra 1, Intermediate Algebra, Biology 1, English 1, English 2, and United States History and the Constitution, or courses with other names and activity codes in which the academic standards corresponding to these subjects are taught.

To meet federal accountability requirements, the EOCEP in English/language arts, mathematics, and science must be administered to all public school students, including those students as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and by Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

To receive a South Carolina high school diploma, students are required to pass a high school credit course in science, and a high school credit course in United States history in which the state’s end of course examinations are administered. Currently these courses are Biology 1 (science) and United States History and the Constitution (social studies).

Items Aligned to Standards – EOCEP test items are aligned to the South Carolina Academic Standards for each content area. Standards describe what schools are expected to teach and what students are expected to learn. EOCEP test items are written to assess the content knowledge and skills described in the academic standards. The academic standards, supporting documents, and other resources are available at the links shown below for each of the EOCEP subjects.

Students who are scheduled to take EOCEP tests shall be provided with paper or electronic copies of the academic standards assessed by those particular tests, no later than the first day of school.

The Department of Education provides paper copies of Individual Student Reports to districts. These reports are shipped from the testing contractors directly to the districts. Districts are responsible for ensuring that these reports are distributed to parents and schools as soon as possible following receipt.

All EOCEP assessments are administered in English. Foreign language translations of test items and response options are not allowed; however, translations of the test directions are permitted.