Proficiency Exams
Beginning with Spring 1998 all rising juniors have been required to take the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP).
A total of 1,942 students were required to take the exam in Spring 1998. The number tested during a two-week period in April was 1,848. Deferments were granted individually.
Exam results were compared to the national norms. In all four testing areas (writing, mathematics, reading and science reasoning) South Dakota students tested higher than the national norms.
The results of the CAAP improvement report do not compare institutions, but rather compare students who have similar initial ACT scores. To arrive at percentage gains in achievement by South Dakota students, the ACT scores of entering freshmen at each South Dakota university are compared to their scores on CAAP. The percentage gains in achievement by South Dakota students are then compared to gains by students with similar ACT scores attending other universities.
Source: Board of Regents & American College Testing Inc.
Advanced Placement Exams
The Advanced Placement (AP) program administered by the College Board offers high school students a chance to study courses that are equivalent to first-year college courses. Following instruction in special AP classes, in honors classes, or in extra independent study, the students can take examinations that demonstrate that they have obtained the knowledge and skills of comparable college courses. When those students later enroll in a college or university that accepts AP credit they can present their AP scores. Currently all South Dakota public universities award credit for acceptable exam scores.
The chart to the left shows the number of high school students taking AP exams and the number of exams taken in 1988 through 1998.
Source: The College Board