Laymen’s Guide to Student Testing Schedule

Overview of Education Testing in Georgia Schools

State and National testing programs are administered to Georgia’s students as a means for educators, parents and the students themselves to measure educational progress against benchmarks and goals appropriate for a grade and age group. The results for many tests taken in the 2007-2008 school year will be announced between April and July.

The tests include:
Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT)
Students in Grades 1-8 take this test. Some sections of the test determine if students in Grades 3, 5 and 8 move onto the next grade. The CRCT is designed to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the curriculum standards know as Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) and the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC).

End of Course Tests (EOCT)
The EOCT align with the Georgia curriculum standards and include assessment of specific content knowledge and skills for students in Grades 9-12. Core subjects include:
Mathematics: Algebra I and GeometrySocial Studies: United States History and Economics/Business/Free Enterprise
Science: Biology and Physical Science
English Language Arts: Ninth Grade Literature and Composition and American Literature and Composition

Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT)
To earn a high school diploma, students must pass the Georgia High School Graduation Tests in four content areas as well as the Georgia Writing Assessment. Students in Grade 11 take the Writing Assessment in the fall and tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies occur in the spring.

Georgia Writing Assessments
Georgia’s Writing Assessments are performance-based writing assessments administered to students in Grades 3, 5, 8 and 11.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress
This program is administered in Grades 4, 8 and 12.

Click here for more information from the Georgia Department of Education.

Click here for information on Georgia’s Education Scoreboard.