KEYSTONE EXAMS

Click the link below for a PowerPoint explaining our Keystone Exam Policy and graduation pathways (Act 158.)

Blackhawk High School will administer Keystone Exams during the following windows:

The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to evaluate proficiency in academic content. The Keystone Exams serve a dual purpose.

1) The Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams replaced the 11th grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests in Mathematics, Reading, and Science for purposes of satisfying the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)/Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. All students must participate in the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams by the conclusion of Grade 11.

2) Beginning with the class of 2017, students must demonstrate proficiency on the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams in order to graduate. Students will be offered multiple opportunities to take the Keystone Exams throughout their high school careers. If a student does not achieve a proficient score, a Project Based Assessment would need to be completed in order to meet state graduation requirements.

PDE requires all non-proficient students to receive remediation in the corresponding Keystone content area, and all non-proficient students will retake the exam during the following Keystone administration after completing the remediation class or program. Please continue to encourage your child to do their best on their scheduled Keystone Exams and know that remedial actions are State-mandated. As a result, course selections will be altered to include interventions in the course or courses your child’s results indicate he/she needs to ensure success.

Pennsylvania adopted the Common Core Standards, which are standards aligned with expectations for success in college and the workplace. The Keystone Exams are designed to measure these standards.

Winter Wave: Any students who scored below the proficient level on a previous Keystone administration will re-take that Keystone exam during the Winter administration (after having completed remediation work). Also, any student who has previously completed a Keystone related course but has not taken the corresponding Keystone Exam.

Spring Wave: Students enrolled in Algebra 1, Biology, and any 10th grade English course will take the Keystone exam for those courses in May. Along with any students who scored below the proficient level on a previous Keystone administration (after having completed remediation work). 

There is no time limit for a student to complete a Keystone Exam. Each Keystone Exam should take approximately two to three hours to complete. There are two modules on each test, and each module (or Test Session) of the Keystone Exam should take one to one and half hours to complete.

The Keystone Exams will include multiple-choice questions and constructed-response, or open-ended, questions. For each Keystone Exam, approximately 60% to 75% of the total score will be from multiple-choice questions and 25% to 40% of the total score will be from constructed-response questions. The English Composition Keystone Exam will be an exception, with 20% of the total score from multiple-choice questions and 80% of the total score from constructed-response questions.

The written responses for constructed-response questions are scored by evaluators trained in applying a pre-determined scoring system. Scores are based on content only. Except for English Composition, spelling and punctuation are not included as part of the scoring process. Most constructed-response questions require students to show their work or explain their reasoning. These Keystone Exam questions will ask students to explain, analyze, describe, or compare. Some questions will also require students to perform calculations or create graphs, plots, or drawings.