CBE (without prior instruction) provides a way for students to skip a grade level or receive credit in a subject area. Students must be registered in a Galveston ISD school in order to be eligible for CBE.

Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade may test to move ahead one grade level. Middle and high school students may earn credit in a course that they have not taken.

Elementary students must take exams in Science, Mathematics, Social Studies and Language Arts. Students who demonstrate 80% or higher mastery on all four tests will be considered for advancement to the next grade level.

Middle and high school students who wish to earn credit for a course, in which they have had no prior formal instruction, may test through credit by exam. Students must demonstrate 80% or higher mastery on the exam in order to earn credit. Students are encouraged to review the course objectives and exam specifications before applying for a CBE.

Students and parents should be aware that these exams are academically challenging and cover the TEKS for the entire grade-level and/or subject.

CBE (without prior instruction) testing is available between October 1 and December 1 or January 9 and March 31 for high school students. CBE (without prior Instruction) testing is available for all students between June 1 and June 30 or July 1 and July 30. A student may take a specific examination only once during each window. The deadline to request CBE testing in Fall or Spring windows November 1 and March 1 respectively. The deadline to request CBE testing for the June and July testing windows is April 27.  

A student may not attempt to earn credit by examination for a specific high school course more than two times.

If a student fails to earn credit by examination for a specific high school course before the beginning of the school year in which the student would ordinarily be required to enroll in that course in accordance with the district's prescribed course sequence, the student must satisfactorily complete the course to receive credit for the course.

CBE tests are developed and scored by Texas Tech University and proctored by Galveston ISD. You can download CBE study guides from https://www.depts.ttu.edu/ttuisd/cbe_review_sheets.php

To register for testing or for general questions about Credit by Exam contact your school counselor or Gabriel Flores at gabrielflores@gisd.org.