Preparation for High School Exit Exam

Our state requires high-school students to take an exit exam and receive a certain score in order to graduate. Otherwise, they only get a certificate of completion. Is there any way my daughter, an average student, can prepare for this test? -- Future Graduate
Answer: First of all, you need to realize that in most states, students do not have to receive high scores in order to pass exit exams. The cutoff score for passing these tests can be 60 percent or less. A high percentage of students pass the entire test the first time they take it. Plus, students usually have several chances to retake a section of the test that they have not passed.
The tests typically are tied to the state curriculum in English-language arts and math. The majority of these tests use the multiple-choice format. Some will require the writing of an essay. The level of content varies, but is typically below that which a high-school junior would have mastered. And the math section may or may not include algebra.
As far as preparation for these tests goes, sample tests can usually be seen online. Students should look at these tests to familiarize themselves with the content. For more help, there are test-preparation books for some states and online preparation Web sites.