Credit By Exam (CBE)

Credit by Exam for Acceleration provides an opportunity to earn grade level or course credit in which no prior formal instruction was completed. Credit by Exam is designed for a small percentage of students who have an academic and emotional need to advance to the next grade level.

Credit by Exam is not designed for grade level recovery after being retained in a previous grade level.

Students must meet all eligibility requirements to register for CBE testing:

1. Student is enrolled in a San Marcos CISD school.
2. Student will be at least 5 years old by September 1 of the current year.
3. Registration form is completed and returned to school principal by the deadline listed on the form.
4. Student has a unique 6 digit student identification number.
5. Campus principal must sign the registration form to verify student’s grade level and eligibility.

Study Guides for exams are available on the UT High School website and contain information about the structure of the exam and question samples. High school students should access this site in order to read specific selections before some exams. Obtaining student textbooks referenced in the study materials will be the responsibility of the parent.

UT High School Study Guides

Students attempting to earn credit for a grade level K-8, will take four subject-area exams: English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

Students attempting to earn high school course credit will take two tests per course, one for semester A credit and one for semester B credit. 

San Marcos CISD orders the tests from The University of Texas at Austin’s K-16 Education Center.

The tests are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and skills.

Review the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

Testing opportunities are offered four times throughout the school year. The district will adhere to the scheduled testing dates provided for parents and students.

Students must earn 80% on all four subject-area exams to earn credit for an entire grade level in K-8.
High school students must earn 80% on each semester exam to earn credit for a course.

If the student meets the score requirements for an elementary grade level, once the parents sign the authorization to promote they do not have the option not to promote. If the student meets the score requirements for a secondary course, the student must be placed in the next grade level or course. The parent/guardian does not have the option of not promoting the student if they meet the grade level or course credit required.

That is, a student currently enrolled in 1st grade  will take Grade 2 CBE. If the requirements are met, the student will remain in the current grade level (1st grade) until the end of the school year and enter 3rd grade in the fall of the following school year.

All Credit by Exam tests will test out of the next grade level. For example, a student currently enrolled in Grade 1 will take the exams to test out of Grade 2. If the requirements are met, the student will remain in the current grade level until the end of the school year.

There is no charge to students for the first administration of a credit by exam covered by this application. Tests are ordered upon receipt of completed registration form.

Students who have had prior instruction in a course but failed to earn credit may contact their high school counselor for details regarding how to regain credit through CBE. Credit recovery CBE has different policies, procedures, and requirements.

No. CBE tests are not designed for nor are they appropriate for Gifted/Talented identification.