Frequently Asked Questions about the Proficiency Exam:

1. When is the Proficiency Exam taken?
2. How is the exam set-up?
3. What is the passing score?
4. What are the consequences of passing the State Proficiency Exam?
5. What are the consequences of failing the State Proficiency Exam?
6. What happens if the student passes the Proficiency Exam with a low grade?

When is the Proficiency Exam taken?

The exam is taken at the end of 8th grade.  The speaking part is scheduled 
in May and the written part of the exam is at the end of June.

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How is the exam set-up?

The exam has five parts to it.  There is the listening component worth 40 
points, reading comprehension worth 20 points, the writing component worth 
10 points, class participation worth 10 points and the speaking component 
worth 20 points.

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What is the passing score?

65%

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What are the consequences of passing the State Proficiency Exam?

If the student passes, she/he will be awarded one high school credit and 
will be placed into Second Language 10 (Level 2) during the freshman year at 
the high school.  The Proficiency Exam score will be posted on the student�s 
high school permanent record, but will not appear on the student�s high 
school transcript.  The course grade will be computed according to the high 
school formula by averaging the grades from Italian 7 and 8 and the 
Proficiency Exam.  It will then appear on the high school transcript 
as �Second Language 1 (MESMS)� as the student will have received one high 
school credit by passing the State Proficiency Exam.  This course grade will 
be computed into the high school GPA.

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What are the consequences of failing the State Proficiency Exam?

The student will take Second Language 9 (Level 1) in the freshman year 
depending on the availability.  The Proficiency Exam score still must be 
posted on the high school permanent record, but will not appear on the 
student�s high school transcript.  However, in the case the course grade 
will be computed according to the middle school policy; i.e. the local final 
counts as a test grade in the 4th quarter.  The course grade will not appear 
on the high school transcript, as no high school credit will have been 
awarded

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What happens if the student passes the Proficiency Exam with a low grade?

Course grades earned in both Level 1 (MESMS) and Level 1 (YHS) will be 
posted to the transcript; however, the first course grade Level 1 (MESMS) 
will be used to compute the student�s GPA.

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