CISD students may earn credit by examination either with or without prior instruction in the subject or grade level being tested.

Exam content is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) which can be viewed on the web at TEA TEKS.

To view a list of available exams, please visit University of Texas Education Center. To view Credit by Exam review sheets, please visit University of Texas Credit by Exam Review Sheets.

With Prior Instruction

• Students may use credit by examination to demonstrate mastery in any subject in elementary grades or to earn credit in any academic course at the secondary level, with the prior approval of the appropriate administrator. Such examinations shall assess the student's mastery of the essential knowledge and skills in the subject and level being tested.
• To be eligible to earn credit by examination, a student shall have had prior instruction in the subject or course as determined by the District on the basis of a review of the student's educational records.
• On approval of the attendance committee, a student who has excessive absences may be permitted to earn or regain course credit through credit by examination.
• Credit by examination shall not be used to gain eligibility for participation in extracurricular activities.
• To receive credit, students shall score a grade of 70 or above on the examination.

CBE for Acceleration (Without Prior Instruction)

• The District will accelerate a student in grades 1-5 one grade level if the student meets the following requirements:
  • The student scores a 90 percent or above on a criterion referenced test for the grade level to be skipped in each of the following areas: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies;
  • A district representative recommends that the student be accelerated; and
  • The student's parent or guardian gives written approval of the acceleration.

• The District will give a student in grades 6-12 credit for an academic subject in which the student has received no prior instruction if the student scores 90 percent or above on a criterion-referenced examination for acceleration in the appropriate course.
  • If credit by exam is awarded, it shall be entered on the transcript but no grade points will be earned for the course and it will not be counted toward the student's cumulative grade point average.
  • For middle school courses, students must earn credit for both semesters of a two semester course.
  • For high school credit courses, students may earn credit for individual semesters of a course.
  • Students are allowed to take the credit by examination for acceleration each time it is offered by the district.

• Credit by examination for acceleration is offered by CISD at least six times per year. At least three of the test dates will fall between January 1^st and June 30^th, and at least three of the test dates will fall between July 1^st and December 31^st.
• Students must complete the Credit by Examination application by the appropriate deadline in order to participate in the posted test dates.