How do I know if I passed the keystones?

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To determine if you passed the Keystone Exams, you can check your individual student score reports, which are typically mailed to your home address three to four months after the exams are administered, or you can log in to the SchoolNet website in the Parent Portal by August 1, 2023, and click on the Standardized Tests tab to view your scores. Your score report will indicate whether you achieved a Proficient score of at least 1500 on each exam, which is the minimum required to pass.

Understanding Keystone Exams

What are Keystone Exams?

Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to evaluate proficiency in academic content, and they are a component of Pennsylvania’s system of high school graduation requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a passing score on the Keystones? A passing score on the Keystones is 1500 for all exams, which is considered Proficient.
2. What happens if I fail my Keystones? If you do not score Proficient after taking the Keystone exam in the spring, you can retest in December of the following school year, and if you still do not score Proficient, you can meet the statewide graduation requirement by completing one of the PA Graduation Requirement Pathways.
3. What percent of people fail Keystones? In 2021, 52 percent of 11th-grade students who took the Keystone Algebra exam failed to achieve a Proficient score, while 37.6 percent of test-takers failed to score at the Proficient level statewide.
4. Can you graduate if you don’t pass Keystones? Yes, you can still graduate if you don’t pass Keystones by completing one of the PA Graduation Requirement Pathways.
5. What happens if you fail Algebra 1 Keystones? If you fail the Keystone, you will have to retake the test and pass it by the end of your junior year.
6. Is it easy to pass the Keystones? The Keystone tests are based on Pennsylvania Core Standards, which are closely related to national Common Core standards, and are considered more rigorous and difficult than most state standards were before their adoption.
7. Do you have to pass the Keystones to graduate in PA 2023? Starting with the graduating class of 2023, students will have the option to demonstrate post-secondary preparedness by completing one of four pathways.
8. Do Keystone scores matter? Yes, Keystone scores matter, as they are used to determine eligibility for a high school diploma.
9. Can an individual student opt out of a Keystone Exam? No, individual students cannot opt out of Keystone Exams, but parents can opt their children out of PSSA, PASA, and Keystone tests.
10. Are Keystones still required to graduate in PA? The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s system of high school graduation requirements.
11. Is 1500 a good Keystone score? A score of 1500 is considered Proficient, and it is the minimum required to pass the Keystones.
12. Do you study for the Keystones? Yes, it is recommended that you study for the Keystones to prepare for the test and develop the necessary skills.
13. How many Keystones do you have to pass to graduate in PA? Students who do not demonstrate proficiency or attain a minimum composite score on the three Keystone Exams may demonstrate their proficiency on the Keystone-related content by meeting locally established, grade-based requirements.
14. What is a 1500 on the Keystones? A score of 1500 on the Keystones indicates that you have achieved a Proficient level, which is the minimum required to pass.
15. How do Keystones work? Keystones are end-of-course assessments that evaluate proficiency in academic content, and they are a component of Pennsylvania’s system of high school graduation requirements, with each exam having a minimum and maximum score that stays the same across years.