Testing Information

(End of Course, CTE Post-Assessments, ACT, Advanced Placement [AP], SAT, WorkKeys)

End-of-Course Testing

The North Carolina End-of Course (EOC) Tests are used to sample a student’s knowledge of subject related concepts as specified in the Common Core and Essential State Standards and to provide a global estimate of the student’s mastery of the material in a particular content area. Students enrolled in the following courses beginning with school year 2012- 2013 will be required to take the North Carolina EOC Tests: NC Math I, NC Math III, Biology, and English II. All End-of-Course tests will be administered at the end of the semester or the end of the year for year-long courses. Schools shall use results from all EOC tests as twenty percent (20%) of the student’s final grade for each respective course. 

Each student shall take the appropriate EOC assessment the first time the student takes the course even if the course is an Honors or Advanced Placement course. Students who are identified as failing a course for which an EOC is required shall also take the appropriate EOC assessment. Students shall take the appropriate EOC assessment at the end of the course regardless of the grade level in which the course is offered. 

CTE Post-Assessments 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Post-Assessments are end-of-course tests provided by the Department of Public Instruction and are required in most CTE courses. These assessments provide documentation of the individual student’s attainment of technical competencies based on the goals and objectives of the CTE Essential Standards document. Scores are reported to the Department of Public Instruction and used to evaluate programs and the system-wide attainment of performance standards as required by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Act.

ACT

The ACT assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The ACT has five subscores: four multiple-choice tests covering skill areas of English, mathematics, reading, and science; and the Writing Test measuring skill in planning and writing a short essay. The ACT is administered at selected sites nationally. For these administrations, students must pay and register several weeks prior to the test date. Registration information is available in the school counselors’ office at each high school and at www.actstudent.org.

The new school accountability model starting in 2012-2013 includes ACT scores for all eleventh grade students. In early spring of each year, the ACT is administered at no cost to all eleventh grade students. The ACT results from this state administration can also be used by students for college admission purposes.

Advanced Placement (AP) Testing 

The College Board will coordinate the national administration of the Advanced Placement exams during May of each school year. Students should see their counselor for additional information. 

SAT 

The SAT is an optional test nationally administered by the College Board. It assesses students in three areas: Critical Reading, Math and Writing. Critical Reading skills are assessed by multiple choice questions using critical reading passages, paired passages, vocabulary in context and sentence completion. Math sections allow the use of a calculator and employ multiple choice questions and “constructed responses” to measure how well students understand and apply mathematics to new situations and non-routine problems. The section on Writing includes multiple-choice questions on grammar and usage and a student-written essay. The SAT is one of the admissions tests that may be used by post-secondary institutions to assist in selecting students.  The SAT is administered at selected sites nationally.  Students must pay and register online of by mail several weeks prior to the test date.  Registration information is available in the school counselors' office at each high school and at www.collegeboard.org.

WorkKeys® 

WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance workforce. Taking the WorkKeys assessments is an important first step to prepare for post high school education, training, or a career. WorkKeys is administered as a career readiness measure to all students who are projected to graduate in the current school year. There is no cost to the student. For more information on WorkKeys, see www.act.org/workkeys.