Credit by Exam
The Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.023, allows students in primary grades to accelerate a grade level and students in secondary academic courses to earn credit for a course on the basis credit by examination. Credit-by-Examination assessments (CBEs) must be approved by each local board of trustees.
Credit by Examination for Acceleration, Grade 1 – Grade 5
A student in grades 1-5 must be accelerated one grade if the student scores 80% or higher on each CBE including language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies for the grade level the student wishes to advance past. Additionally, in order to qualify for acceleration, the student must be recommended, and the student’s parent or guardian must give written permission.
Credit by Examination, Grades 6 – 12
A student in grades 6-12 may be awarded credit based on performance on a CBE taken either with no prior instruction or with prior instruction. Students may not attempt to earn credit by exam for the same high school subject more than two times. A student in grade 6 or above will earn course credit with a passing score of at least 80 on the exam, a scaled score of 50 or higher on an exam administered through the CLEP, or a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam, as applicable. A student may take an exam to earn high school course credit no more than twice. If a student fails to achieve the designated score on the applicable exam before the beginning of the school year in which the student would need to enroll in the course according to the school’s high school course sequence, the student must complete the course
No Prior Instruction
A student will be permitted to take an exam to earn credit for an academic course or subject area for which the student has had no prior instruction, i.e., for advancement or to accelerate to the next grade level. The exams offered by the district are approved by the district’s board of trustees, and state law requires the use of certain exams, such as College Board Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, when applicable. Students who have had no prior instruction must be awarded credit for the applicable course if the student receives one of the following scores on a CBE approved by the local board of trustees:
- Three or higher on an AP exam
- A scaled score of 50 or higher on a CLEP exam
- 80% or higher on any other locally approved exam
- If a student fails to earn credit by exam for a high school course before the beginning of the school year when the student would normally be expected to enroll in that course according to the district’s schedule, the student must satisfactorily complete the course in order to earn credit.
Prior Instruction
Students who have had prior instruction in a course may be awarded credit for the applicable course if the student scores 70% or higher on a CBE approved by the local board of trustees. Prior instruction is determined by Anna ISD.
If a student plans to take an exam, the student (or parent) must register with the school counselor no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled testing date.
Credit by Exam 2023-2024 Testing Windows
During each testing window provided by the district, a student may attempt a specific exam only once.
October 2 - 6, 2023 (application deadline: August 31, 2023)
January 8 - 11, 2024 (application deadline: November 30, 2023)
April 15 - 18, 2024 (application deadline: March 18, 2024)
July 14 - 18, 2024 (application deadline: June 16, 2024)