Credit by Exam
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It is important to note that Credit by Exam is intended solely for students who already possess a comprehensive understanding of the course content prior to taking the assessment—for example, through prior learning, independent study, or relevant experience.
It is not recommended for students to register for an exam merely to “see how they do” or to practice test-taking skills. This assessment is not intended as a practice opportunity; rather, it is a formal measure of subject mastery. Students who do not yet possess a solid foundation in the material are unlikely to earn credit and may be better served by enrolling in the course for direct instruction and support.
Application Packet for Winter 2025 Credit by Exam
The link to the application is on the last page of the packet. Please review the entire packet before signing up for the test.
The link to access study materials for Credit by Exam, Winter 2025, becomes active two weeks prior to the exam. Please click the button below on or after November 19, 2025.
Winter 2025 Credit by Exam Study Materials
12th Grade Composition and Language
Literature of the Strange and Mysterious
What is Credit by Exam?
The credit by Exam measures a student’s current understanding of a course’s curriculum prior to taking the course. The material and resources provided will not be all inclusive of the specific exam questions.
Rochester Community Schools establishes semi-annual dates for implementing the District's Credit by Exam procedures. Students who wish to take an exam for credit are required to adhere to the schedule outlined by the district.
Important Note: The Credit by Exam opportunity involves multiple staff members at an additional cost to the district. By law, these costs cannot be passed on to students. It is imperative that students who register but, subsequently, choose not to participate in an exam notify the Curriculum Department at least one week prior to the exam. Your cooperation in this will save time and valuable school resources and is much appreciated. Students who register and do not attend the exam may not be eligible to participate in future Credit by Exam opportunities.
If you have questions about Credit By Exam, please contact the assistant principal at the high school your child attends or will attend for high school (see below). You may also contact Pasquale Cusumano, Asst. Superintendent of Secondary Education, who oversees the Credit by Exam process.
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Information on Michigan Merit Curriculum Law
The term “exam” refers to the assessment tool(s) used to measure the student’s understanding of the subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit. The appropriate Rochester Community Schools staff will determine assessment tools.
The information below is to provide consistent, equitable guidelines for Rochester secondary schools to comply with the State mandates, rules and regulations, specifically with regard to the Testing Out legislation (P.A. 451 of 1976, Section 380.1279b and Revised School Code, Section 380.1278a)
- 380.1279(b) The board of a school district shall grant high school credit in any course to a pupil enrolled in high school, but who is not enrolled in the course, who has exhibited a reasonable level of mastery of the subject matter of the course by attaining a grade of not less than C+ in a final exam in the course, or, if there is no final exam, by exhibiting that mastery through the basic assessment used in the course which may consist of a portfolio, performance, paper, project, or presentation. For the purpose of earning credit under this section, any high school pupil may take the final examination in any course. Credit earned under this section shall be based on a “pass” grade and shall not be included in a computation of grade point average for any purpose. Credit earned under this section may or may not be counted toward graduation, as the board of the school district may determine, but the board's determination shall apply equally to all such credit for all pupils and credit earned under this section shall be counted toward fulfillment of a requirement for a subject area course and shall be counted toward fulfillment of a requirement as to course sequence. Once credit is earned under this section, a pupil may not receive credit thereafter for a course lower in course sequence concerning the same subject area. (1993)
- 380.1278(a)(4)(c) A school district or public school academy shall also grant a student a credit if the student earns a qualifying score, as determined by the department, on the assessments developed or selected for the subject area by the department or the student earns a qualifying score, as determined by the school district or public school academy, on 1 or more assessments developed or selected by the school district or public school academy that measure a student’s understanding of the subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit. (2007)
Eligibility
The Credit by Exam process applies equally to all students currently enrolled in Rochester Community Schools. Students scheduled to take a high school level course during the following semester and students currently enrolled in private or parochial schools who are registered to enter a Rochester Community Schools’ high school or middle school qualify for Credit by Exam. Credit by Exam pertains to high school courses only. Students who meet the eligibility requirement will be permitted to test out of a class for credit during the designated test period.
NOTE: Students will be welcome to take an Credit by Exam in World Language at the end of their 8th grade year. Testing for current 7th graders is offered in the Spring testing period only and is limited to students currently enrolled in Accelerated Math 7 who would like to test out of Algebra 1.
Some courses require group participation; these are therefore exempt from Credit by Exam.