CST – End of Course

Science Information

Students in grades 9-11 are required to take the California Science Standards EOC Tests that are course-specific. These tests are either discipline (Earth science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) or are designed for integrated science courses in which academic standards from all four science disciplines are taught in each course (Integrated Science 1-4).

Students in grades 9-11 only take a California science standards EOC test if they took a standards-based science course during the previous summer session or will be taking a course during the current school year.

All 10^th graders will take a life science CST test (which is contained in the grade-level multiple choice test booklet) regardless of whether they’ve taken a life science course or not. For this reason we encourage all students to take Biology during their 10^th grade year.

There are eight- standards-based science tests:

· Biology

· Chemistry

· Earth Science

· Physics

· Integrated Science 1

· Integrated Science 2

· Integrated Science 3

· Integrated Science 4

Note: Teachers of Integrated Science must identify the test most appropriate for their classes based on CST Blueprints. The blueprints can be found online at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/blueprints.asp. Each Integrated Science test covers different percentages of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science.

If a science course is not closely aligned with a test blueprint, no science test should be administered.

Students who complete two science courses between the beginning of the previous summer session and the end of the current school year are to take EOC CST for the science course taken during the school year.

Students in grades 9-11 who will complete more than one science course for which there is an EOC CST during the school year will take only one EOC CST for science as determined by the districts STAR Coordinator. The District STAR Coordinator recommends taking the higher level course EOC.

Second year and A-G science students must also take a science standard test.

Student may retake an EOC CST for science:

1. They completed a course during the previous school year and took the appropriate test, but are retaking the same course during the current school year.

2. They completed an A-G science course after already having completed the standards-based science course (For example, a student completed a Biology course and took the EOC for Biology one year could take an A-G Biology course and retake the EOC for Biology in another year.)

3. They completed a science course during the previous school year and took the appropriate test but are now taking a related course (For example, a student completed a Biology course and took the EOC for Biology last year. This year, the student will complete a related course such as Physiology and the course content closely aligns with the blueprints for the EOC for Biology.)

Not all 9-11 graders will take a science EOC test:

Examples:

· Chris, a sophomore, took biology as a freshman, but is currently taking no science course. Chris does not take any science EOC Test but will take the Life Science CST test because he is in 10^th grade.

· Pat took Earth Science last summer, but is currently taking no science. Pat must take the Earth Science EOC test.