End of Course Exams

South Dakota provides two opportunities for students to earn high school credit by completing an end of course exam and receiving a minimum required score. All school districts wishing to participate in any end of course program must apply for, and receive, a waiver from administrative rule in order to give the exams. For additional information on waiver application, please contact the Carol Uecker, Office of Accreditation, at (605) 773-4771.

The Credit Before Grade Nine exam is required when students below 9th grade want to take a high school level course for credit. The student must actually take the course and then pass the required end of course exam with a minimum proficiency of 80%. Students may take this exam twice.

The Course Equivalency exam is required when students in grades 9-12 want to ‘test-out’ of a high school level course. Students may take a content area exam one time and must pass the exam with a minimum proficiency of 85% in order to receive credit for the course.

Both the End of Course and Course Equivalency tests are delivered through iTester Client within the SDAP( South Dakota Assessment Portal).

Tests Offered by the South Dakota Department of Education:
Algebra I	Physical Science	Chemistry
Algebra II	Physics	Spanish I
Geometry	World History	Government
Biology	US History	Geography

For additional information on End of Course Exams contact:

Viki Crichton
Office of Learning and Instruction
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-8193