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Exam Overview
Thecaliforniaproficiencyprogram(Cpp)
The California Proficiency Program (CPP) is the state's path to the Certificate of Proficiency, overseen by the California Department of Education. It replaced the former California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE). The CPP uses three State Board of Education-approved HiSET® subtests, and a student who passes all three receives the same State Board of Education-issued Certificate of Proficiency, the legal equivalent of a California high school diploma.
Exam Pattern
The three subtests are scheduled and taken separately, so a student can test in one subject at a time. Reading and Writing questions have four answer choices; Mathematics questions have five. There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Each subtest is available in English and Spanish.
Language Arts – Reading
50 multiple-
65 min
Literary texts (40%) and informational texts (60%); passages of
choice
about 400–600 words; comprehension, inference and interpretation, analysis, and synthesis and generalization
Mathematics
55 multiple-
90 min
Number and operations (19%), measurement and geometry
choice
(18%), data analysis, probability, and statistics (18%), and algebraic concepts (45%)
The Mathematics subtest is calculator neutral: every item can be solved without a calculator. Formulas for the distance formula, the Pythagorean theorem, and the quadratic formula are not provided, so memorize them (see Section 3).
Scoring and Passing Requirements
Each subtest is reported on a scale of 1 to 20. The essay is scored separately on a scale of 1 to 6 and counts toward the Writing subtest. To earn the Certificate of Proficiency, a student must meet all three requirements below. A score of 15 is required on every subtest, so a strong Reading score cannot make up for a weak Mathematics score.
Each subtest (Reading, Writing,
A scaled score of at least 15 out of 20 on every subtest
Mathematics) Combined score
At least 45 out of 60 across the three subtests
Eligibility and Registration
A student must meet one age or grade requirement and must be currently subject to California's compulsory education laws.
➜
➜
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myHiSET Proficiency account
If needed, before scheduling
With a high school transcript;
Test center or at home
about 7 business days
Exam at a Glance
Program
California Proficiency Program (CPP), overseen by the California Department of Education; former name of the proficiency exam: CHSPE
Questions
50 Reading, 60 Writing plus 1 essay, and 55 Mathematics: 165 multiple-choice questions in all
Testing options
Paper or computer at a test center, or online at home with live remote proctoring; English or Spanish
Score reporting
Computer-based scores usually within 3 business days (writing within 5); paper-based within 7 to 10 business days (writing within 10 to 14)
After passing
The student receives the Certificate of Proficiency and may remain in high school or leave with a parent's or guardian's permission
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