Sophomores at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools spent March 16 and 17 completing the California High School Exit Examination, required by the state Department of Education.

The purpose of the untimed test is to improve student achievement and to ensure high school graduates can demonstrate competency in reading, writing and mathematics. Based on state content standards, the March 16 portion of the exam focused on English-language arts, while the March 17 portion focused on mathematics.

Current juniors and seniors are off the hook. They can graduate without passing the test. The past two years, the state has rescinded the CAHSEE requirement because of lawsuits regarding students not being prepared enough to pass the test. The scores both years were also extremely low statewide, according to Kathleen Eaton, assistant principal at Los Gatos High School and CAHSEE test coordinator—though the pass rate at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools was in the 90th percentile.

"Over half of the students in California didn't pass, and that's pretty dismal," Eaton said. "It's scary. It's really scary."

Students need a 60 percent or better to pass the English-language arts section, she said, and a 55 percent pass rate on the math section.

"They implemented this thing without giving the students eight years of elementary education where the teachers knew these things were going to be tested," Eaton said. "It scares the heck out of the students because there's so much on the line."

Saratoga High School Assistant Principal Gail Wasserman, CAHSEE test coordinator at the school, said sophomores will be given six more opportunities before they graduate to take the test if they didn't pass the March 16 and 17 exam. Wasserman said they will also be given tutorial assistance in preparing to take it again if necessary.

"It's a competency test, so it does not look for advanced levels of confidence," Wasserman said. "We feel certain they will do very well."

The first year the test was given, 98 percent of Saratoga High School students who are now seniors passed on their first try. The second year, 99 percent of students who are now juniors passed the test.

"It's very, very easy for some of the students," Wasserman said.

One criticism of the test is from the special-education community that says it's not a fair requirement for students with disabilities to have to pass the test, Eaton said. At Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools, special-education students were primarily those who didn't pass the test the last two years.

Wasserman added that the state Department of Education did a better job of preparing students this year, giving every sophomore a booklet on English-language arts and math to review. The results of the CAHSEE won't come in until this summer, and a retest will be offered in May for those who were unable to take the test in March.

"It isn't a pressure situation since they will do well, and we will certainly help them if they don't do well," Wasserman said.

Sophomore Taryn Hunter, 15, breezed out of the Los Gatos High School large gymnasium with confidence after finishing the English-language arts portion on March 16 in less than two hours. Hunter said she was nervous going into the test, but knew she could take it again if she didn't pass the first time.

"It wasn't challenging," Taryn said. "It was pretty basic."

Taryn added that her English teacher, Doug Garrett, gave his students writing prompts to prepare them for the essay portion of the CAHSEE, which helped lessen any apprehensions they may have had.

"Our high school does an excellent job of preparing our students, and our previous years' results reflect that," Garrett said. "The students are already being taught the standards."

Eaton said the first year seniors at Los Gatos High School took the CAHSEE, the pass rate was 97 percent on English-language arts and 92 percent in math. The second year, the pass rate was 96 percent on English-language arts and 93 percent on math.

"The test is a good thing in that the students aren't getting a diploma for seat time," Eaton said. "They are getting diplomas because they actually know how to do something."